Roma in former Czechoslovakia have historically experienced economic and political marginalisation and been treated and portrayed as inferior to ethnic Czechs and Slovaks. Roma thereby became perceived as different from non-Roma citizens, as not belonging to the Czech or Slovak nation, as an 'exception'. The post-socialist transition produced economic precarity, new inequalities, and a climate of rising nationalist sentiments in Central and Eastern Europe. The perception of Roma as not having the same rights as ethnic Czechs or Slovaks to access state care became even more salient than during the socialist period. Following the enlargement of the European Union in 2004, Roma are now able to move freely across EU borders and to find employment and settle in the United Kingdom. Migration to the UK, including Leeds, offered Roma new economic opportunities as well as the promise of escaping ethnic stigmatisation. It seemed to offer the possibility to lead what I refer to as a 'normal life' as equal citizens. This thesis is based on ethnographic research among Czech and Slovak Roma in Leeds. It reveals the processes that contribute to Roma becoming defined as an exception after migrating to Leeds, and looks at the ways in which Roma resist this. It recounts the interactions that Roma have with different aspects of state care, namely welfare provision, services and projects aimed at improving the well-being of Roma, and with non-Roma Czech and Slovak interpreters. Some Roma in Leeds have converted to a Roma Pentecostal Church, the Life and Light. In this thesis I argue that by providing material support to Roma, both converts and non-converts, and through a narrative that Roma are a lost tribe of Israel, the Church constructs Roma as a moral collectivity and subverts their position of inferiority and 'exceptionality'. The Church provides a way for Roma to be respectable, to live with dignity and to have what they understand to be a 'normal' life, whilst retaining their Roma identity.

The growth of children who are given to the state care, forces us to dwell on their further destiny. It seems that the state children care system is still considered the only way of solving the problem, without taking into consideration the individuality of each situation. Children who get into children institutions lose family warmth and care, but every child should have these rights. A lot of socially and pedagogically abandoned children get into foster care institutions. Organizing the work in foster care institutions it is important to pay a special attention to children and adults communication, in solving different children’s problems. The staff of foster care institutions is an organizer of life in these institutions, on whom a lot of things depend, such as children attitude towards themselves and others, feelings and beliefs, values and ideals, character traits and behavior, preparation for independent life, positive communication with peers and adults. The educator organizing the whole work seeks for the harmony of inner and social life. Correctly chosen way of communication with children, based on good will, understanding and respect will help educators to solve a lot of problems connected with children. Education in foster care institutions where relationships between children and adults are positive may be similar to the education at home. The data of the research revealed that the educators of foster care... [to full text]

My diploma work purpose is to frame and describe the development of some monuments of rural architecture in region {\clqq}Podšumaví``. In the first chapter I briefly open the main topic of the work. More detailed description of typical features of rural buildings is presented in next part, concentrated on specific area - the South Bohemia. In this range I aimed the focus especially on mikroregion {\clqq}Volyňsko`` and {\clqq}Vlachobřezsko``. Jakub Bursa, the bricklayer´s master, worked in this area in the second third of the 19th century and influenced on the final figure of local architecture. The principles of the bricklayer´s guild {--} J. Bursa was a member of it {--} are mentioned in the third chapter. Tha last and main part of this diploma work is presented by the state protected collection of rural architecture in the village {\clqq}Zechovice``. In this place we can understand the development of particular buildings in various moments of its history up to now (it depends on the fact, if the period documents are reachable). I also think about the possible, but not proved authorship of J. Bursa´s work in the case of some mentioned buildings. At the end of this part I remind the consequences of the state protection of buildings in the village.