FSLD's Activity in Eastern Europe

The most important activities in Eastern Europe:

Belarus

Moldova

Russia

Ukraine

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BELARUS

1. Establishing Structures of Civic Society in Belarus (1998-2000):
The project contributed to the formation of a team of thirty well-trained educators and trainers and the publication of a manual entitled Da demakratyi praz gramadzjanskuju supolnasć. In the districts of Grodno, Vitebsk, Minsk and Brest the conference promoted the idea of civil society and transfer of knowledge on democracy through workshops. A conference in Minsk (May 2000) crowned also the project.

2. Journalists; the Development of Democratic Society in Belarus (2000):
The project enabled training for 60 young Byelorussia journalists (from Minsk, Brest, Mohole and Grodno); publication of 12 issues of workshop newsletters in Belarussian, the book Dawiednik biełaruskaga żurnalista and delivery of training on public relations for about 100 Belarussians.

3. To Civil Society Through Education (2001-2002):
The project was implemented by the FSLD Training Center in Szczecin in association with the Grodno branch of the Lew Sapieha Foundation. The project was targeted at Belarussian teachers and, to put it more broadly, at individuals active in education in the Grodno region. The European Commission funded the project. It was implemented through workshops and training courses in Poland and Belarus. Altogether more than 100 persons attended one-day workshops. Two groups of 20 most active individuals were selected and invited to two-day workshops in Nowogrodek. The workshops enabled selection of 25 Belarussian teachers who attended 12-day workshops in Szczecin. Publications were an activity parallel to training.

4. Development of Civil Society in Belarus (2002):
The project was a follow-up to the project entitled To Civil Society Through Education (2001-2002) (completed owing to a grant from the Polish Prime Minister's Chancellery). Teachers trained during that project conducted in the presence of Polish trainers one-day workshops for groups composed of about 20 young people (October/November 2002).

5. Education Outside School in Poland - Study Tours for Belarussian teachers (2002):
The FSLD Center in Kielce hosted a group of 15 teachers from Belarus who were acquainted with the objectives and implementation of the DIALOG programme. The purpose of the visit was to present the Polish experience with using interactive teaching methods in a modern education system. Teachers from Belarus met with young people from the Youth Leader'sAcademy and with Polish teachers.

6. Teachers and Students for Civil Society in Belarus (2003):
The overall objectives of the project, which was implemented by the Regional Centre in Szczecin, was to support Belarusian society in establishing structures and activities that support development of democracy and free market. The project concluded with the Polish-Belarusian Young Poles and Belarusians in one Europe conference, and drafting Polish-Belarusian Charter of European Teachers and Instructors.

7. Teachers and Parents for the Development of Belarusian Education System (2004-2005):
The Regional Centre in Szczecin implements the project-taking place from June 2004 to February 2005, in cooperation with Lew Sapieha Foundation in Grodno. The objective of the project is the transfer of Polish experiences in cooperation between teachers and parents, and to equip parents with the necessary skills and tools to support Belarus teachers in building civic education and attitudes in schools. It is expected that the project shall aid a partnership in determining the future of Belarusian education.

8. Stimulating the Civic Society Through Tourist Activities in Belarus (2005):
Tourism and agrotourism represent a chance for establishing integrated local communities that are ready to take up social and economic challenges. The project involved the creation of a website, www.na-bialorus.home.pl, workshops organised in Szczecin for a group of future Belarusian tourism organisers and the Poles' study tour to Belarus. Tourist circles were established in several Belarusian schools.

9. Awaking the Civic Society Through Tourist Activities in Belarus (2005-2006):
The project was aimed at creating integrated local communities ready for taking up social and economic challenges on the basis of the development of sightseeing and agrotourism.

10. Regional Tourism: A Chance for Local Development in Belarus (2006) is a project financed by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs within the framework of a competition entitled "Foreign Assistance and International Development Cooperation 2006". It was aimed at supporting the development of a civic society and improving the competence of local social leaders in small Belarusian towns. It was implemented through the organisation of workshops in Grodno, a study visit to Szczecin for 23 people from six Belarusian towns, and the establishment of local teams in those towns.

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MOLDOVA

1. Local Government Academy on the Dniester Riveranks (2006):
The project entitled was implemented by the FSLD Regional Centres in Krakow and Olsztyn and financed by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was aimed at preparing the representatives of Moldavian local administration for changes that are slowly occurring among others as a result of the implementation of the "European Union's Action Plan - Moldova" and economic transformations. It was implemented in three stages: a cycle of training provided in Gagauzia (Moldova's autonomic district), which was devoted to the functioning of Polish local government structures, a study visit to Małopolska local governments, and a publication with the project's content. The project participants were the representatives of managerial staff from all the Moldavian regions: Basarabia, Transnistria, Gagauzia.



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RUSSIA

1. Our City and Democratic Gmina in the 21st Century (2000-2002):
The programme DIALOG and the Russian Center for Civic Education from St. Petersburg have been implementing from the early 2000 a two-year project called: Our City and Democratic Gmina in the 21st Century. The participants come from three Siberian cities: Abakan, Norylsk and Uralski Kamien. The project consists of seminars in Poland and Russia as well as individual consultations.

2. Study Tour (2001):
The Training Center in Bialystok collaborates also with citizen organizations from the District of Kaliningrad. In May it organized a study tour for 12 representatives of citizen organizations from the District of Kaliningrad during which they could learn about the experiences of the DIALOG Program and the rules of cooperation with NGOs in podlaskie voivodship. As a result of that visit the first Volunteer Center was established in Kaliningrad.

3. Trilateral Co-operation in the Gmina (2002):
a project in 3 cities in the District of Kaliningrad, funded by RITA. The purpose of the project is to transfer the Polish experience with establishment of public-private partnerships for the sake of gminas' and local communities' development.

4. Information and Consultation Project INFRUST (2001-2002):
The project was implemented since 2001 in association with the Kaliningrad Youth for Freedom of Speech Centre. The purpose is to develop contacts between NGOs in Poland and Russia (District of Kaliningrad)

5. Atlas of Non-Governmental Organisations in the District of Kaliningrad (2002):
The FSLD Center in Olsztyn and the Molodiozh za Svobodu Slova from Kaliningrad, NIDA Foundation and Education for Democracy Foundation have published the Atlas of Non-Governmental Organisations in the District of Kaliningrad.

6. Tripartite Cooperation in Municipality - Training of Trainers (2003-2004):
The project aimed at transferring Polish experiences in stimulating tripartite cooperation between local authorities, non-governmental organisations and social groups at the local level through training of eight trainers in the subject matter, development of trainers' handbook and training materials for training course participants.

7. Foundations for Local Development (2003-2004):
The project was implemented in cooperation with Russian non-governmental organisation Molodioz za Swabodu Slowa in three municipalities of Kaliningrad Region: Slawsk, Nesterow, Krasnoznamiensk. The objective of the activities was technical assistance to establishment of Foundation for Local Development. The project included 27 persons who participated in training courses and study visits to Poland, where they learn about establishing and operating Foundations.

8. Treasurer - the Role and Responsibilities in the Democratic Local-Government (2004-2005):
The project aimed at transferring experiences and know-how to nine Treasurers by the local government professionals - members of the FSLD Treasures Forum in Warminsko-Mazurskie Voivodship.

9. Democracy in Rural School (2004):
The project facilitated exchange of experiences and ideas by two 24-person groups of teachers from Warminsko-Mazurskie Voivodship and Kaliningrad District. They discussed the implementation of pro-democratic projects and initiatives in small rural schools. The Stefan Batory Foundation's East-East Programme financed the project.

10. Supporting Local NGOs in Activities for the Development of Condominiums and the Occupants' Rights Movement in Russia - on the Basis of Polish Experiences (2006):
The project financed by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs was implemented in 2006 in partnership with the New Eurasia Foundation (NEF) based in Moscow. It was aimed at supporting the development of the occupants' rights movement in Russia drawing on Polish experiences from municipal housing management and the transformations of the housing sector. The project included a study visit to Poland arranged for experts and the representatives of NGOs from five Russian cities and a seminar organised in Moscow for the representatives of regional organisations, which focused on identifying crucial problems concerning the situation of occupants and defining their status in the housing policy and in practice in Russia and abroad. The project resulted also in a publication in the Russian language entitled: "Under One Roof: Owners and Occupants, Administrators and Suppliers. A Handbook for NGOs Operating in the Area of Housing and Occupants' Rights Defence".

11. The project entitled Join Us (2006) was implemented by the centre in Olsztyn in cooperation with Kaliningrad-based YULA and Aktion West-Ost from Germany within the framework of the "Community Initiatives Partnership Programme Germany - the Kaliningrad District - Poland" implemented and financed by the Stefan Batory Foundation and the Robert Bosch Foundation. The project was aimed at promoting the idea of volunteerism in the Kaliningrad District and the establishment of long-lasting cooperation between Polish, German and Russian youth actively working for their local communities and NGOs.


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UKRAINE

1. Community Partnership (1999-2002):
Community Partnership is a project designed for 4 years (1999-2002). Under this project Polish trainers will conduct training for Ukrainian local authorities in the following areas: public utilities, citizen participation, transportation, economic development and local finance. It is implemented through a partnership between FSLD centres and Ukrainian training centres, established by USAID and based on the model of the FSLD network. Co-operation has been established between the following partners: the FSLD centre in Rzeszów and the training centre in Kherson, the FSLD centre in Szczecin and the training centre in Cherkasy, the FSLD Centre in Katowice and the training centre in Donyetsk, and the FSLD centre in Krakow and the training centre in Lviv.

2. Democratic City Management (2000):
Under its project Krakow Centre organised a study tour for 20 students from the Academy of Public Administration in Kiev (December.2000) as part of the Polish - American - Ukrainian Cooperatives Initiative (PAUCI).

3. Ukraine-Poland: Through Local Government to Democracy (2000-2001):
In December 2000 under the project Ukraine-Poland: Through Local Government to Democracy the Rzeszów Local Government Centre organised two seminars for representatives of local authorities from Ukraine. The project was implemented in association with the Centre for Economic Development and Local Government of the Ukrainian Academy of Public Administration in Dniepropietrovsk.

4. Professional Trainer, Professional Training (2001-2002):
In 2001 Polish trainers conducted training for Ukrainian local authorities on public utilities, citizen participation, transportation, economic development and local finance. In addition, study tours were organized at FSLD Regional Centers in Rzeszow, Szczecin, Katowice and Krakow for directors and deputy directors of cooperating Ukrainian training centers founded by USAID (in Kherson, Cherkassy, Donetsk and Lviv). The FSLD office in Warsaw launched also a training program entitled Professional Trainer, Professional Training for 10 participants from Ukraine. The program will be completed in May 2002.

5. Improving Democratic Transformations in Ukraine by Strengthening Local Government (2001):
The project is supported by the Ukrainian Academy of Public Administration (based in Odessa) and funded by PAUCI. It assumes 100 local government and NGO representatives will participate in training on strategic planning, management, economic development, structure of gmina office and citizen participation. It is also expected that on-the-job training in gminas and non-governmental organizations will be available for 25 trainees with the highest grades.

6. Poland's Experiences in Supporting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Ukraine (2001-2002):
Krakow Centre was involved in two business support projects. In association with the Association for Democratic Development of Ukraine, it implemented (September 2001 - March 2002) a project called Poland's Experiences in Supporting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Ukraine. The primary goal of activities taken as part of this project is to share Polish experiences in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises by various levels of local government and the central authorities The other project is implemented in association with the Academy of Local Economy in Kharkov and is entitled: Improvement of Regional Policy for Development of Institutional Infrastructure and Investment-Friendly Business Environment.

7. Supporting Democratic Transformation in Ukraine by Strengthening Local Governments (2002): The project was carried out between March and end of 2002. The purpose was to transfer the Polish experience with organisation of work in the local administration and experience relating to the role of local authorities as initiators and co-ordinators of economic initiatives. It was targeted at local government employees and representatives of non-governmental organisations from the Mikolayevsk region in Ukraine. As part of the project the FSLD Centre in Krakow conducted weekly training courses for five groups of twenty participants and organised five-day on-the-job training in selected gminas for the best participants. (25 participants selected through a competition for on-the-job training in Poland). The project was funded with a grant from the Polish-American Ukrainian Cooperation Initiative - PAUCI).

8. Co-operation Between Local Governments and Citizens in Poland and Ukraine (2002):
The project was implemented by the FSLD Centre in Szczecin thanks to funding from PAUCI. The purpose of the project was to share the Polish local government experience with mayors of small and medium-sized cities from central Ukraine. In order to transfer these experiences in the broadest possible way, the two sides were represented in the project by two journalists - their reports appeared in the press, radio and television in both countries. The project consisted of two-day recruitment workshops in Cherkassy, eight-day workshops in Szczecin, a conference in Cherkassy and publication of materials prepared by journalists.

9. The FSLD Centre in Szczecin was involved in an initiative called Trilateral Co-operation Project Between Ukraine, Poland and the Netherlands to Support For Rregional Training Centres in Ukraine (2002) which produced a manual on citizen participation and enabled provision of assistance with the design and delivery of workshops for local government officials on this subject. The team of authors was composed of 8 individuals form four regions of Ukraine (Lviv, Cherkassy, Donetsk and Kherson) and of one trainer from Holland. The manual will be published in Ukrainian.

10. Public Policy Internship Program for Students from the Kiev Academy of Public Administration (2002): In June 2002 the College of Public Administration in Odessa,co-organised for the fifth time an internship programme for students from the Ukrainian Academy of Public Administration of the President of Ukraine. The internship was concerned with the local government system in Poland and covered lectures and seminars, site trips and consultations in local government offices. Fourteen students participated in the programme.

11. Local Governmental and Societal Cooperation - Training Courses for Mayors of Mining Towns of Donieck area (2003):
The project implemented by the Regional Centre in Katowice had the following aims: transfer know-how and experiences of legal setting of local authorities to mayors gathered in the Association of Donbas Mining Towns; organisation of social services system as a part of services provided by municipalities, and the possibilities of out-sourcing some of the activities to local non-governmental organisations. The programme had a threefold structure: training courses, study visit in Poland, and publication of a handbook Local Government in Poland and its Responsibilities in the Field of social services in Ukrainian.

12. Creating Coalitions of Non-governmental Organisations Acting for Development of local Communities in Donieck Region (2003):
The Regional Centre in Kielce implemented the project that aimed to precipitate federalisation of non-governmental organisations from Donieck Region through creation of the coalition of local NGOs that support the development of local communities and building democratic society in Ukraine. The project was implemented in partnership with Regional Development Agency 'Donbass' from Donieck, thanks to financial support from Stefan Batory Foundation.

13. TOP - Triangle of Partnership (2003-2005):
The project that began in December 2003, was implemented by Regional Centre in Krakow and Regional Centre in Opole in cooperation with Ukrainian organisations: regional centres of Filip Orlik Institute of Democracy in Chersonie, Czerkasy, Donieck and Lvive as well as Business Initiatives from Iwano-Frankowsk. The Project was financed through TACIS programme by European Commission.

14. Organisation of Social Assistance at the Local Level and Establishing Inter-sectoral Partnerships - Polish experiences (2003):
The aim of the project is the preparation of the Ukrainian local authorities for effective and modern management and supporting socio-economic development of regions whilst utilising internal resources. Polish experiences form a departure point for learning about the optimal structure of provision of social services at local level. The project was implemented by Regional Centre in Opole in cooperation with Social Centre "Business Initiatives" from Iwano-Frankowska and Regional Social Policy Centre in Opole. It is financed through RITA programme.

15. Internship Programme of Academy of Local Development (2003):
The project was implemented by Regional Centre in Rzeszow, in cooperation with Academy of Local Development, and its aim was to organised and facilitate internships for 24 persons from local government, business, non-governmental organisations from Uzgoroda, Ukraine. The project was financed through Polish-American-Ukranian Cooperation Initiative PAUCI and thanks to support from Foundation of Social-Economic Initiatives.

16. Student Council in Schools of Ukraine (2003):
The programme implemented by Regional Centre in Szczecin had a number of objectives: animating discussion about student councils in schools, establishing a task force of teachers and local government personnel for the issues of education, and creating a model cooperation scheme for cooperation between teachers and local government bureaucrats in Poland and Ukraine. The project was implemented through a series of interactive workshops, distance learning, and conferences. The programme was addressed to school principals from small towns of Central Ukraine, and local government employees responsible for education. The Foundation in Support of Local Democracy formed a partnership with Filip Orlik Institute for Democracy and Central Ukraine Regional Training Centre. The project was financed through RITA programme.

17. Together for the Future (2004):
Regional Centre in Katowice in cooperation with Agency for Development of Local Government from Donetsk) implemented 'Together for the future' project in the Donetsk region. The project's aims included transfer of Polish experiences in the field of cooperation between local authorities and non-governmental organisations, by the means of study visits and conferences. Due to political situation in Ukraine ('Orange revolution') it had been decided that publication of a handbook 'How to cooperate? Handbook for local authorities and NGOs' rather than a conference would be provide greater benefits for our Ukrainian partners. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland financed the project.

19. Organisation of Social Welfare at the Local Level Using Inter-Sectoral Partnerships - Polish Experiences (2004):
The project was implemented by the Regional Centre in Opole, and was financed through RITA programme of Polish-American Freedom Foundation. It took place between October 2003 and March 2004. The objectives, as encapsulated in the title of the project, were achieved through a series of placements and workshops for 10 persons from Ukraine. These activities took place in Poland. FSLD partnered with a Ukrainian organisation "NGO - Business Initiative" of Ivano-Frankivsk.

20. School of Local Government Managers (2005):
The Regional Centres in Krakow and Kielce implemented the project thanks to financing from the funds of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The main goal of the project was to support the managerial staff of Ukrainian district units of the state administration (from Donieck and Ługań Voivodships (Eastern Ukraine) so that they could operate efficiently in the conditions of a civic society and state. The project included: training in public administration management, a study tour to Poland and the preparation of a publication entitled: Polish Experiences in Reforming the Local Government System in the Light of the Planned Administration Reform in Ukraine (Polskie doświadczenia w reformowaniu systemu samorządowego w świetle planowanej reformy administracyjnej na Ukrainie), which presents local government reform projects implemented in Ukraine and local government models existing in Europe along with comments given by Polish experts, including the authors of the local government reform.

21. Project entitled "Transparent Local Government in Ukraine" (2005), implemented by the Regional Centre in Lublin from the funds of the Polish-American Freedom Foundation. The project was aimed at supporting the building of local government in Ukraine as the fundamental form of democracy, providing the representatives of Polish and Ukrainian local authorities with education in the modern management of a local government, promoting "good practices" in the management of administration among Ukrainian local government activists, disseminating experience gained during the implementation of the Transparent Municipality Lab in Ukraine, promoting the "six principles of good governance" among the representatives of Ukrainian local governments, and providing assistance in establishing partnership co-operation between several cities in Poland and in Ukraine.

22. Establishment of Co-operation Between Polish and Ukrainian Business Circles (2005):
A project implemented in 2005 by the Regional Centre in Wrocław along with the Transformation and Society Institute from Kiev. It was aimed at establishing co-operation between Polish and Ukrainian companies and cities involved in the project. The project was composed of two stages: three tours of the representatives of Polish business and local government to Ukraine and a weekly tour of the representatives of the Ukrainian local government and business.

23. Strengthening Ukrainian Administration at the Local and Central Level, Paying Special Attention to Preparing Ukraine for Functioning within the EU Structures (2005-2007) implemented by the Executive Board Office as the partner of the Polish-American-Ukrainian Co-operation Initiative (PAUCI) Foundation. The project is aimed at improving qualifications of the officials of Ukrainian central and local authorities, paying special attention to implementing a policy oriented towards Ukraine's integration with the EU. Thanks to the project, five new training subjects such as the EU's regional policy, the functions of local authorities after the decentralisation reform, local development, and the creation of conditions for the development of investments were included in the curriculum of the Academy of Public Administration (and in those of the regional Regional Centres).

24-26. (2006): the Regional Centre in Lublin implemented three of them. These were: Transparent Local Government in Ukraine: Stage 2 and Transparent Local Government in Ukraine: Stage 2 (Continuation), both financed by the Polish-Ukrainian Cooperation Foundation (PAUCI), and the following project: Transparent Local Government in Ukraine: Training Ukrainian Local Governments in the Modern Management of Public Administration, financed from the funds of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

27. The Training Centre in Szczecin implemented a project entitled Transparently, Ethically and Effectively: The Development of Local Government in Ukraine (2006): It improved the local government competence of the mayors of 12 small and medium-sized towns of central Ukraine and marked the beginning of an integrated team of experts in the implementation and continuation of the programme in city offices all over Ukraine. Its participants, 22 people - the mayors of 12 cities of central Ukraine and seven experts - took part in workshops and a study visit to Poland. More than 200 officials acquired knowledge on the possibilities of establishing ethical infrastructure in offices (a series of training courses in ten local offices). A publication on the ethical aspects of self-governance was prepared. It was addressed to circles working for the local government reform in Ukraine. The project, which was financed from the funds of the Polish-American Freedom Foundation through the Foundation for Education for Democracy within the framework of the Region in Transition (RITA) programme, is continued through the project entitled Transparent Ukraine: Leaders for the Ukrainian Local Government.

28. From Ukraine to United Europe: Improving the Quality of Schools' Work (2006):
The project entitled From Ukraine to United Europe: Improving the Quality of Schools' Work was implemented in 2006 by the centre in Kielce and financed from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs' subsidy. Its partner was the Podole Centre of Human Rights from Winnica. The project was aimed at sharing the best Polish experiences from the implementation of the education reform with Ukraine.