Ukrainian NGOs Reaching Out

is a new program of Milieukontakt Oost-Europa realized in

Ukraine

in 2003-2005. Main aim of the program was to increase sustainability of the environmental NGO community in

Ukraine

through better cooperation as a result of improved communication skills and strategies. The new program was financially supported by the Social Transformation Program Central and

Eastern Europe

(Matra) of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mobilisation of potential supporters and volunteers was one of the components of the new program. This component included the organisation of community-based volunteer actions supported by series of educational training seminars. Main idea was to increase NGO credibility in local civil society and thus provide a basis for broader public involvement in environmental decision-making. SVIT-Ukraine and Alternative-V Ukraine were actively involved in realization of this component.

1. Training seminars on community-based action and volunteer management 4 training seminars for 25 people were organised to help develop, prepare, organise and evaluate the community-based volunteer actions at national level. The trainings were prepared in co-operation with Ukrainian organisations that work in the field of volunteering as well as with several international resources persons from international voluntary service organisations.

Here you can find more detailed information about some of them: Training on Volunteering, Berdyansk, July 2004

Training on Volunteering, Krivy Rih, May 2005

1. Community-based volunteer projects NGO activists identified the projects while project goals and objectives are identified and prioritised by the community itself. The general framework for a community-based action is: a) start up workshop (spring), b) project implementation (spring/summer), c) international volunteer project as highlight event (summer) and d) local evaluation workshop (autumn).
2. Publications on community action and volunteer management The publications aim to share the know-how built up in the community-based actions with other interested groups. The publications will be both theoretical and practical with guidelines and instructions. SVIT has developed a Manual for Campleaders.