Projects Archives - Page 13 of 16 - Fellows eapcivilsociety.eu

Increasing the Leadership Potential of Adolescents Studying at Vocational Schools

The action aimed to increase the leadership potential of adolescents/students of vocational schools within a non-formal education program Development Studies. The project brought together 50 students (aged from 14 to 25) in Kyiv who endeavored to improve the personal and social competencies. Hence, Katerina organized five one-day training sessions covering the trending topics, including social change, public activism, youth participation, creative thinking, and social project visibility. The young leaders applied newly-developed skills in practice and brainstormed/implemented ten socially-beneficial initiatives in their communities. Finally, the project deliverables and action results were assessed at the final event engaging all project beneficiaries.

The project produced a training program Development Studies, tailored to enhance the personal, social, and leadership skills of the young people. The action delivered five thematic training and raised awareness of the 50 young students in the Kyiv region, Ukraine. The training sessions served as a platform to discuss the social challenges faced by the local community, develop creative thinking, brainstorm special methods (SMART, Mind Map, Skill Swap) of the project management. As a result, the participants of the Development Studies program developed a proactive attitude and implemented ten initiatives after the completion of the training.

Country	Ukraine
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Team

Advocacy of Better Implementation of Public Consultations in Ukraine

The project aimed to draw public attention to the importance of the Draft Law on Public Consultations in Ukraine. To achieve the above objective, Olena conducted research, community outreach, and capacity-building activities. First, she analyzed the Draft Law on Public Consultation across the country covering 27 Local Authorities, 14 Public Agencies, 18 Ministries, and 21 public Services of Ukraine. Then, based on the accumulated data, Olena developed an analytical study, policy brief, and guidelines. Following this, she submitted a list of recommendations to the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine and organized workshops in two regional Ukrainian cities – Cherkasy and Kryvyi Rih. To share the project deliverables on a larger scale, Olena and two EaP fellows from Ukraine Anna Yemelyanova and Karina Litvinova organized E-Democracy Forum, engaging up to 70 public servants from Ukraine.

The action produced an analytical paper and guidelines (online + 500 copies) researching the legal process of public consultations in Ukraine, both at the central and local levels. The policy brief: E-consultations as a Part of Public Consultations in Ukraine and relevant guidelines evolved public discussion among the officials and other stakeholders at the E-Democracy Forum. Through sharing the list of recommendations with the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, the project facilitated public dialogue with the government of Ukraine. Thus, two regional seminars served as a collaborative platform for the non-governmental organizations, public authorities, and local deputies to discuss the draft law recommendations. On top of that, the advocacy video about the benefits of public consultations raised awareness of the local authorities and the general public.

Guidelines on public consultations (in Ukrainian):

‘e-Consultations’ Policy Guide (in Ukrainian):

Country	Ukraine
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Team

Bicycle-Friendly Business Certification Programme

The project aimed to design and launch a Bike-Friendly Certification Programme in Kyiv, Ukraine. Also, Marianna intended to check whether tourist services such as gastronomy, accommodation, campsites, tourist attractions, or shops in Kyiv had stores, basic repair tools, or information about cycling in the region. To achieve the latter objective, she implemented the action through 3 stages. First, Marianna collected and analyzed information from Germany (ADFC German Bicycle Club) and France (FUB – French Federation of Bicycle Users). Then, she created a website with promo video, and exclusive Bike-Friendly Certificates. The program was designed with two-level certificates – Green (basic) and Gold (advanced). At the final stage of the project, Marianna held a final conference engaging business companies and local authorities, including the Tourism Department of the Kyiv City Administration, media representatives, cyclists, and other interested parties. As a result, first bicycle-friendly companies (cafés, restaurants, business centers, and even a law firm) were awarded the programme certificates at the press-briefing. Afterwards, the Program developed an exclusive Orange Certificate for non-profit organizations, such as theatres, libraries etc.

The action launched the first bicycle-friendly business certification system in Ukraine. Through the program website and other visibility materials, the program promoted the most socially responsible partner companies. The Program sustainability tool is a website, where users can access all relevant information such as conditions of the Program, rules for participation, types of certificates, map with company location etc. Also, the action produced 2 videos about the program. The Project developed three certificates: Green award was given to the companies with the basic parking services and stores for the bicycles when the Gold certificate was granted to the enterprises with advanced facilities, such as toolkit box for repair work, maps with bicycle infrastructure, etc.; the Orange was designed for the non-profit organizations. The final conference served as a platform to facilitate collaboration among governmental agencies, businesses, and other NGOs. The action improved Marianna’s professional skills; during her internship at the ADFC German Bicycle Club Berlin, she learned how to design and launch the certification program while the traineeship at the French Federation of Bicycle Users (Strasbourg) was an opportunity to extend her international contacts. Thus, having launched the final press-conference, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Regional Development of Ukraine – Lev Partschladze actively supported the Project.

Country	Ukraine
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Team

Carrying out an evaluation of local youth work

The action aimed to evaluate a local youth work in the three South-Eastern regions (Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk) of Ukraine and determine youth in line with the state priorities as of May-November 2018. Also, the action addressed the problems, such as low quality of youth work management and low level of youth participation in the small Ukrainian communities. To achieve the above objectives, Valeria studied the Ukrainian and European Standards of youth work at the local level. Then, she contacted the regional Departments of Youth Policy and started to research the issue. Following this, she visited 8 Ukrainian towns (Including Mariupol, Melitopol, Zhovti Vody, Kramatorsk, Kamianske, Vasilievka, etc) and conducted focus groups in the field. Finally, she conducted an online survey of approximately 600 young people to define the qualitative trends and developed recommendations for the local authorities. In addition, Valeriia organized a roundtable to promote the survey results.

The action produced an analytical digest: “Youth Work in the South-Eastern Part of Ukraine: Current Status and Prospects.” The study reviews the local conditions for youth participation and youth infrastructure and suggests successful practices of youth work in the target regions. The electronic and printed (150 copies) versions of the report were distributed among the local city halls, governmental divisions, and partner organizations. All in all, the analytical paper and roundtable event served as an instrument to raise awareness of the local government, media, and other stakeholders in terms of challenges and mitigation measures to increase youth participation in Ukraine.

Country	Ukraine
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Team

Raising awareness on EU visa free rules and opportunities for Georgia

The project aimed to raise awareness of the Georgian public on the EU-free movement in the EU/Schengen area and therefore, reduce the risks of the violation of the EU-Georgia visa regulations. To achieve the latter objective, Gogita conducted field research and interviews with local and international experts. Then, he prepared the Policy Brief on the EU-Georgia Visa-Free Movement and shared it with the relevant state institutions, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. In the final stage, he organized 10 interactive workshops across the country. The seminars were held in 8 Georgian cities and engaged the students, teachers, journalists, non-governmental organizations, etc. Finally, to share the findings of the policy paper to the international community, Gogita attended the Second Association Exchange Forum in Kyiv dedicated to Association Agreement implementation in Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine and delivered a speech at the panel discussion on the topic of Post-Visa Free Agenda for Political Associations and Corporations on Justice, Freedom, and Security.

The action raised awareness of the nearly 500 young people in the eight Georgian cities. Based on the desk research and interviews, Gogita developed a comprehensive Policy Brief – EU-Georgia Visa-Free Movement – Achievements and Challenges. The document incorporates a complex analysis of Georgia’s visa-free movement in the European Union and suggests recommendations for the Georgian Government. Thus, the project produced 25,000 informative leaflets about the visa-free movement regulations. The leaflets were distributed to the public during the regional meetings and different communication campaigns organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and the host organization – Georgian Center for Strategy and Development (GCSD). All in all, the training, policy brief, informative leaflets and online campaign served as an instrument to raise policy discussions and improve policy coherence on the EU-Georgia’s visa-free issues.

Country	Georgia
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Developing the national potential in re-socialization of justice-involved children

The project aimed to research the best practices, methods, and tools to help delinquent children in re-socializing and provide guidelines to the involved stakeholders, including the teachers, psychologists, officers from the National Inspectorate of Probation, police officers and volunteers. To achieve the latter objective, Corneliu did comprehensive and interdisciplinary research of the most effective ways of re-socializing justice-involved children. To explore the best practices, Corneliu undertook three study visits in Romania, Czech Republic, and Germany. During these visits at the Buzias Educational Center, Czech Probationa and Mediation Service, IRZ, Bruke, Don Basco Youth Center, Youth Detention Centre in Dusseldorf, he held discussions with more than 40 field experts. The interviews and in-depth discussions played a crucial role in developing a final publication offering the best role-models targeted on the Moldovan Justice system.

The project produced a research publication introducing international practices on general incentives and mitigation measures of delinquent acts. The book is a guide for the policemen, probation officers, psychologists, pedagogues, and social workers to help juveniles involved in criminal activity. Corneliu published 800 copies of the book and distributed it among the education directorates, policemen, and probation officers across the country. Thus, the guidelines were also shared with the Youth Centers in Chisinau and Social Assistants from Chisinau and Criuleni. Overall, he covered six Moldovan cities, including Chisinau, Balti, Cahul, Gagauzia, Criuleni, Hîncești.

Research paper ‘Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Guidelines (in Russian)’:

Country	Moldova
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Improvement of the Ukrainian Academy of Paediatrics accountability and link to its target groups by supporting care givers of the children with chronic diseases via Parent’s Initiative Social Accelerator

The project aimed to create and launch a Parents’ Initiatives Social Accelerator (PISA) – a training model to trigger and facilitate collaborative involvement of families with their professional counterparts (pediatricians and family doctors). To achieve the latter objective, Antin created a communication/collaborative platform for the parents of children with chronic diseases and their doctors. The interactive training and meetings were tailored to build mutual understanding among mothers and fathers with different initiatives selected for the project.

The action equipped target groups with relevant information and tools to build organizational and communication strategies; Also, the project raised public awareness about the medical and rehabilitation methods. Overall, the engaged adults advanced their access to medical services provided by health care professionals. Thus, the parents became more aware of the behavioral change specifics and learned how to adhere to therapies and modify behavioral risk factors of their children.

Country	Ukraine
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National Research on e-Petitions

The action aimed to identify the effectiveness of the newly-emerged (2015) e-petition instruments in Ukraine. To do so, Anya conducted the first national fact-based e-petition research in 393 cities of Ukraine. The data was collected through electronic applications requesting public information from the local authorities. To assess the level of public dialogue between the citizens and the local authorities, the survey measured various indicators, including the number of submitted, reviewed, supported, and implemented e-petitions. To follow the standards of representativeness, the research covered the big, small, and medium-sized cities, regional cities, and regional centers. In the final stage of the action, Anya developed a list of recommendations and submitted them to the local authorities. To discuss the project deliverables with a broader audience, she presented the survey results at the Forum Practice of e-democracy, held in Kyiv on December 7, 2018.

The project produced bilingual national-wide research on e-petitions in Ukraine. First of all, the document explored the advantages and disadvantages of electronic governance and citizens’ engagement in local policy-making. Thus, the study improved public dialogue between the civil society and the government, as the local authorities agreed to cooperate and follow the shared recommendations. Also, the survey raised awareness of respective public institutions as the publication was shared with the Government of Ukraine, including the Ministry of Justice.

Research paper ‘e-Petitions in Ukraine: the National Study’:

Country	Ukraine
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Energy efficiency for youth for sustainable future

The project Energy Efficiency Every Day aimed to raise awareness of young people in the middle schools on everyday energy-efficient behavior. To do so, Mykola organized three workshops within the pilot educational project “New Energy” for the different target audiences. The first workshop on Energy Efficiency, Practical Skills in Energy-Efficient Behavior in Everyday Life was delivered to elementary school students. It was followed by the second workshop for the secondary school student on the topic of Renewable Energy – the Main Measures of Energy Efficiency. Finally, the last two workshops on How to Calculate the Quantity of Lighting Required in the House – Practical Tips were conducted at the gymnasiums/lyceums. Along with educational activities, Mykola organized a round table to discuss the sustainability and significance of the New Energy pilot programs. Finally, he spent 3 weeks at the local non-profit organization Reanimation Package of Reforms (RPR Kyiv) to acquire practical experience and improve skills in communication and advocacy.

The action raised awareness of more than 100 students in energy efficiency and sustainability. Given that, interactive workshops enhanced young people’s understanding of everyday energy-efficient behavior following best European practices. Therefore, the project facilitated collaboration among the school administration, teachers, and the local authorities for future collaboration, as the roundtable initiated professional discussions on the “New Energy” pilot program and scientific center. The internship at the RPR Kyiv built capacity for Mykola, as he improved project management skills and extended his networks with sectoral experts, policymakers, and government officials.

Country	Ukraine
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Together we can More

The action “Together we can More” aimed to tackle the stereotypical perception of People with Disabilities (PwDs) and engaged different stakeholders to promote equality and accessibility for all. To achieve the above objectives, Tamila organized an inclusive cycling marathon ”I see! I can! I will” engaging cyclists with tandem bikes in Zhovkva, Lviv. The sports event involved overall 45 people from Lviv and neighboring cities. To demonstrate the importance of inclusive sports, two-day capacity-building seminars were held in Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Kherson. The training emerged discussions and joint activities between the visually impaired and sighted attendants. The project engaged up to 100 young people and disseminated in other Ukrainian cities shortly, as the participant organized an inclusive marathon on tandem bikes in Poltava, Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Kherson by communicating with municipalities, local volunteers, and media.

The action raised awareness about the challenges faced by PwDs in Ukraine and introduced an inclusive sports marathon as a creative solution. The capacity-building seminars and the cycling marathon “I see! I can! I will!” on tandem bikes established contact between visually impaired and sighted people. Also, the project built a sustainable network and cooperation among the initiative group leaders and non-governmental organizations from six different cities of Ukraine. During the events, participants discussed the importance of having equal rights for every member of society. All in all, the project engaged large audiences and promoted the inclusion of PwDs into society. Apart from running awareness-raising campaigns, the project assisted Tamila to enhance her skills in inclusive sport project management through a one-week internship in NGO “TarnovoRuns” in Bulgaria.

Country	Ukraine
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