Averil: "The Czech Republic and I were destined to cross paths."

How I ended up in Prague

My first connection to the Czech Republic goes back to a high school exchange in Olomouc at age 15 — an experience I loved and that left me with friendships I still cherish. Add to that a Petrof piano, a mild obsession with the film ONCE, and falling in love with a Czech person... let’s just say the Czech Republic and I were meant to cross paths. I now share my life here with my partner and our two adorable cats.What pushed me to move here was a mix of professional opportunity and love. I was studying gender studies in Lyon. One of the mandatory elements of this master’s degree was to do an internship in the field of gender equality and human rights. Prague was not my first choice, but after a series of rejections, time was running out. So I applied to nearly every gender-related NGO in Prague. I mostly got rejected because of language barrier, but I managed to get an internship at the Contact Point for Gender and Science at the Institute of Sociology (Czech Academy of Sciences), working under Marcela Linková, a leading voice for gender equality in Czechia and Europe. The four-month internship turned into a three-year position where I gained deep knowledge and experience on gender equality and gender-based violence in academia. It was in that context that I started learning about Czech women’s history. But after three fulfilling but stressful years working in public research, it was time to move on to new adventures.

But what could I possibly do with my very niche set of skills and knowledge and with limited Czech language skills?

Starting a business as a migrant woman in the Czech Republic

Well, I decided to create my own job. That takes us to 2023. For five months, I received the unemployment support from the State and started working hard on my next project: Prague Feminist Tours. The idea is simple: I take participants on a guided walk where I share the often-unheard stories of women who shaped Prague and the Czech Republic. It’s a fun way to learn history, meet like-minded people, and do a bit of sightseeing!

It came from a personal need. I was lacking English-speaking resources on the topic of Czech women’s history and the feminist and queer movements here. I participated in a feminist walk back in Lyon and found the idea so cool. I looked for something similar here — but found nothing. I got the support of suffragette history expert, Jitka Gelnarová, who did occasional Czech-speaking women’s history tours. Gender Studies o.p.s. offers tours with a similar angle, but only in Czech. I told myself: just do it yourself!

I created this project as a self-employed person (živnost). The Czech administration is not easy to navigate, especially if you don’t speak the language. Every form you need to fill, every interaction with office clerks, every email you need to send is in Czech. Even with the relative advantages of EU status, I often felt lost and overwhelmed — not just by the paperwork, but by the emotional toll of navigating a new system in a second language. It wasn’t easy. But it’s possible when you’re well-surrounded. You can get help from intercultural workers from associations like SIMI or find support in women networks such as the Huddle Prague or Facebook group Prague Freelancers & Fempreneurs.

I applied to the Ministry of Regional Development, paid the administration fee, got my licence, registered my živnost, and spent months developing the first tour, brand identity, and online presence. And in the summer of 2023, I was all set!

Nearly two years in, I’ve created four different tours, welcomed over 1,000 curious minds, and found a community of over 2,000 people who believe in feminist storytelling and inclusive history. Save The Date for a party celebrating 2 years of Prague Feminist Tours on August 13!

Activism helped me feel like I belonged

When I moved to Prague, I knew I didn’t just want to live here — I wanted to participate, to contribute, and to feel part of something. For me, being an active citizen is not just about paperwork or legal status; it’s about showing up, staying informed, and standing up for the values I believe in.

As an EU national, I registered on the Czech list to vote in both municipal and EU Parliament elections. But understanding my rights as a migrant didn’t come overnight — it took time, mistakes, and lots of questions. I’m grateful to organisations like SIMI (you!), the Expat Centre of Prague, ICP, and MigAct for the workshops and resources that helped me feel more informed and empowered.

Volunteering played a big role in helping me find my people. I started with Konsent in 2021, and more recently joined the My Voice My Choice campaign — a European Citizens’ Initiative fighting for better access to abortion across the EU. Working with organisations like Ciocia Czesia, the Abortion Support Alliance Prague, and the Czech Women’s Lobby, reminded me of the strength of grassroots collaboration. Handing over the Czech signatures to the Minister of Interior Affairs felt like a small but powerful moment — a reminder that even as a migrant, I have a voice here.

Over time, I also began using my own platform, Prague Feminist Tours, to uplift local feminist and queer NGOs — not only through social media content but by hosting fundraiser tours. So far, I’ve raised 10,000 CZK, and I hope it’s just the beginning.

Prague Feminist Tours fulfils a personal need — to make feminist history visible, foster connection, and contribute to meaningful change. And in the process, I’m growing roots in a country I’m still learning to call home.

This article was created within the project Voices for Change: Empowering Migrant and Refugee Women in Czech Society, funded by the Lutheran World Federation Prague (LWF).

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