Every Friday, Lada, a 54-year-old former sex worker, walks through Prague's Wenceslas Square, leading a group of tourists through the city’s underworld. As she recounts her life story, including how addiction and the sex trade led her to the streets, she offers a rare, firsthand account of what it means to be homeless in the Czech capital. "I pass on my cautionary tale," said Lada, as she chain-smoked her way up the bustling square.
"At least my ruined life can be useful. I can make a clean breast of it. It's a relief.
" Lada is one of six guides for Pragulic, a social enterprise that offers guided tours led by individuals who have experienced homelessness in Prague . Through these tours, Pragulic aims to challenge the myths and stereotypes surrounding street life by allowing those who have lived through it to share their stories directly with the public. Prague, once infamous for its criminal underworld and drug problems in the 1990s, still has a substantial homeless population of around 4,000, according to local social services.
The Pragulic tours help tourists understand that homelessness is not just a result of personal failings but often stems from complex, systemic issues that can affect anyone. Challenging Stereotypes “We are trying to open people’s eyes,” said Petra Jackova, a spokesperson for Pragulic. “We want to teach them how someone may end up on the street.
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