Nový Prostor
A Nový Prostor, a weekly street magazine sold by the homeless, focuses on
controversial issues which are often overlooked by other publications. But Nový
Prostor attempts to be more than just a magazine.
B The name "Nový Prostor" translates as 'New Space' which suggests
the goal of the publication: to provide a new platform to everything in society which isn't normally accepted. So
it is referring to issues that are often sidelined
in the mainstream media: such as minorities, racism, feminism and
homosexuality. But of particular interest would be issues such as poverty,
unemployment, and social welfare which deal directly with the lives of people
most affected by Nový Prostor: the homeless.
C This counter-culture magazine is unique because it's run as a
non-profit organisation to help provide an income to the unemployed and
homeless. I caught up with two Nový Prostor vendors at Muzeum Metro Station in Prague... "Every day we sell about 25 to
30 copies each, from which we earn about 300 Czech crowns a day; that pays just
enough for food and rent. Currently, where we live it costs about 110 crowns
per day for rent... but we have to make sure we have enough for the weekend or
else we'll end up on the street. I'm still waiting for the construction company
that I used to work for to pay me... they owe me money and that's how I ended up
on the street...."
D Although many marginalised
people in the Czech Republic
end up in Prague, Nový Prostor is also sold in
smaller quantities in Brno, Plzen
and Ostrava.
Nový Prostor's Project Co-ordinator, Robert Sztarovics, is the man who
initially brought the idea from Great Britain
to Eastern Europe. He stressed his hopes that
Nový Prostor will be able to use its resources to benefit the marginalised
groups which it originally intended to help, beyond simply providing jobs.
E "The first social event we co-ordinated was the Christmas gathering where about 40 of our one
hundred vendors showed up, which is quite promising. We hope that this clubroom
will become their own. We want to offer these people an opportunity to engage
in a lifestyle similar to the average citizen. We are hoping to provide them
with an opportunity to become involved in social functions that may by be
otherwise out of their reach, in an attempt to return their sense of being part
of greater society. Some of the activities we're hoping to start up here are a
drama club, a writing club, and a soccer team. These may not seem like common
activities for a social organisation which deals with the marginalised in
society, but we're reacting to the great deal of interest that was shown in
these areas when they were proposed to our vendors.
gathering – shromáždění
marginalised – opomíjený
platform – stupínek
to sideline – postavit na
vedlejší kolej
vendor – prodejce
1) Read the article and match each of the headings to a paragraph.
1 Questioning two vendors
2 Topics of articles in
Nový Prostor magazine
3 Other activities for
magazine vendors
4 Introduction
5 Where is Nový Prostor
sold?
2) Read the article and answer the questions.
1 What is the article about?
2 What are the magazine articles
about?
3 Where is the magazine
sold?
4 How much do the vendors
earn? How much money do they need for everyday life?
5 What other activities are
provided by Nový Prostor?
3) Explain the following words.
1 unemployment
2 poverty
3 rent
4 to owe
5 provide a job
4) Answer the following questions.
Where do the majority of
homeless people in the Czech
Republic live? Where do
they sleep? What are their main problems? What are conditions for selling Nový
Prostor?
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