Training Seminar on Volunteering

July 10-11 2004

The project was realized in the framework of UNCRO Program of the Dutch Environmental Foundation Milieukontakt Oost-Europa.

The informational support and expertise of Milieukontakt to SVIT during the realization of this project helped us to go through these developments and start a crucial process of redefining the structure and statutes, and preparing official registration. Due to financial support several physical meetings of SVIT activists were possible, allowing us to discuss important issues and make plans for further elaboration via email. Training activity itself, and meetings with other activists from SVIT and Alternative-V provided the members opportunity to develop their skills, receive new information and exchange ideas and experiences with the others. Presence of SCI resource person Mihai Crisan had an added value to the training and communication outside the training program.

We’d like to express our gratitude to Milieukontakt Oost-Europa and personally to Willem Tjebbe Oostenbrink and Katerina Malkova for their involvement and support during the realization of the project, and hope to continue cooperation between Milieukontakt and SVIT in the future.

Preparation

Preparation towards the training has started in April, when prep-team members selected and draft program compiled. From the side of SVIT, while identifying prep-team members the issue was raised to clarify responsibilities of prep-team members, what skills and qualities they should have. Finally, Julia Myasyshcheva and Irina Bogdanova were selected as prep-team members. From Alternative-V, those were Oksana Yurik and Irina Bodnar. Mihai Crisan was selected as SCI resource person, to assist Ukrainian prep-team and bring in experience and expertise of SCI.

The first prep meeting took place in Kiev on May 22^nd,2004. Some prep-team members were not able to attend (Mihai and Oksana), additionally; Katya Malkova from MKOE-Kiev was involved. During the meeting detailed planning of program was made, timing of each session confirmed, methods and materials needed for each session and exercise. Also responsibilities within prep-team members were divided, sessions of program and additional tasks (minutes). Procedure and terms for recruitment and selection of participants was discussed and agreed upon. In early June a prep-visit to Berdyansk took place, to confirm on the venue of the seminar and to make all necessary technical arrangements with hosting institution and team in Berdyansk, which was to deal with technical logistical support during the training. As Irina resigned, she was replaced by Evgeny Myasyshchev from SVIT.

The second prep-team meeting took place a day before the training, on July 9^th. All prep-team members attended. During this meeting the whole program was discussed again, and quite many changes made. It was stated that the program is very ambitious, there are many subjects, which need a lot of time to be covered properly. Thus, priority sessions were identified and included in the 1^st day of the program, so that enough time could be spent on them. The order and timing of sessions was changed as well.

Training, July 10-11 2004, Berdyansk

The training has started on the 10^th in the morning. Quite many participants arrived day before, but some (from Kiev), because of transportation schedules, could arrive only around 11 am. Also because of transportation, participants from Kiev had to leave on Sunday July 11^th shortly after lunch.

The group was quite active and with good discipline, language used during the training was both English and Russian, depending who are leading the session. During the program prep-team members were making small changes and adjustments, following the progress of sessions, additional time needed to cover certain issues, or which sessions are to be shortened.

Detailed information on the training is available in the minutes, based on notes taken by participants during the training.

Evaluation and Follow-up

Evaluation was conducted at the end of the training. Due to time shortage, only questionnaires and posters were used for evaluation. The results are included in the annex table. General remarks given by many participants were, that there was little time to cover all sessions, and because of transportation schedules program had to be shortened even more, so for the future events arrival and departure timing should be considered while planning the program.

Participants indicated their priorities for the future events, which include the following subjects:

·         Conflict solving – in detail, not a basic level

·         Project management – in detail, not a basic level

·         Organizational management – not only basic level

·         Motivation of volunteers – practical issues

·         Work with new volunteers (how to involve them in activities and projects of organization)

·         Detailed technical preparation toward a workcamp

·         Preparation of multipliers on work with volunteers

·         Fundraising, information about funders supporting bilateral projects

·         Development of program of workcamps, selection of projects for the program, fundraising and financing of camps

·         Long-term volunteer programs and work with long-term volunteers (including foreign ones), preparation and coordination

Representatives of AVI Moldova and NG Belarus expressed their interest to participate to the next training events.

Prep-team members conducted brief evaluation for themselves, which covered the following subjects: group involvement, program and timing, issues to consider and improve for the future trainings. One of the outcomes made is that for the future trainings it’s better to focus on one subject in detail, instead of covering many briefly. Additionally, in August SVIT activists (as part of work on internal rules of procedures) has developed list of criteria and skills for prep-team members recruitment and selection, which are to be applied for future trainings and seminars.

For more information please see Training minutes