Our story

From a place for young children to support for the whole family.

Klub Barvínek grew from more than ten years of Sugar Cube's work with families building a new home in Czechia.

01 / WHERE IT BEGAN

First, we created a safe place for children.

Sugar Cube has worked with families with young children for more than ten years. At first, the task seemed simple: create an environment where a child feels safe, develops, learns Czech and gradually becomes accustomed to life in a new country. At the same time, parents can return to work with peace of mind.

Most of our families come from abroad. Over time, we realised that moving to another country can make even ordinary things difficult for a while.

02 / FAMILIES' QUESTIONS

A capable parent can feel lost simply because they do not know how the system works here.

Does my child need a speech therapist?How can we manage starting nursery?Where can we find professional help?How does Czech education work?How can I explain a complex situation in Czech?

03 / AN IMPORTANT INSIGHT

Truly helping a child means seeing the family in which they are growing up.

Parents gradually began coming to us not only with questions about nursery, but also about child development and behaviour, adaptation, relationships, school, doctors and other professionals. Sometimes they needed a consultation, sometimes a contact, and sometimes simply help deciding where to go next.

Klub Barvínek emerged where the possibilities of a children's group reached their limit.

04 / A PLACE TO BEGIN

Not another separate world. A clear way into the system that already exists.

Czechia has well-developed education, health, social and other services. But finding the right door can be difficult for someone who has only recently arrived.

Come with a question

You do not need to formulate it precisely or know which professional you need.

Understand the options

We help describe the situation, find information and understand the possibilities.

Find the next step

Sometimes we can help directly; at other times we connect the family with the right service.

Good support does not make a family dependent on the club. It helps them become able to find their own way next time.

Anna Demyanenko, founder of the Sugar Cube children's groups and Klub Barvínek community family club in Prague 10

More than 10 years
working with families

05 / FOUNDER

Anna Demyanenko

Founder of Sugar Cube and Klub Barvínek

Anna founded Sugar Cube to create a safe and stimulating environment for young children. Everyday work with their parents gradually showed that the needs of the child, the parents and the whole family cannot be separated.

Barvínek builds on this experience, connecting practical knowledge of family life with guidance, education, community and accessible professional support.

Discover the Sugar Cube story

06 / FAMILIES AND PROFESSIONALS

Barvínek is a meeting place for families and professionals.

Among those who have moved to Czechia are many psychologists, educators, speech therapists, counsellors and other professionals. After moving, they too must find their place again, understand Czech requirements and build new professional connections.

We get to know one another, share experience and learn to recognise where our own competence ends and another professional's work begins. In this way, a network of people whom families can turn to gradually replaces isolated services.

We do not want to decide for families. We ask parents, gather their experiences, hold meetings and round tables and build support around real needs.

We already know some answers thanks to more than ten years of Sugar Cube. Others we are only beginning to find together with families and professionals — and that is an important part of Barvínek's work.

07 / FROM A CHILDREN'S GROUP TO A COMMUNITY

This is how Barvínek came to stand alongside Sugar Cube.

Not as just another service, but as a community of families and professionals that helps people gradually feel:

I understand how things work here.I know whom I can turn to.And from here, I can manage on my own.

Start a conversation