June 29th – July 5th, 2006, Berdyansk, Ukraine

Preparation and prep-team

Preparation of the training has started with email discussions among Ukrainian members of the prep-team of training objectives and program topics. During PMT meeting in May concrete steps on preparation were discussed, draft program elaborated. PMT member Olga Karelova, who has attended Project Management Multiplier Course in the project framework, shared her impressions with participants, which helped to create a common vision among the prep-team, and make some improvements in preparation and carrying out the training.

Prep-team: Andrey Kurasov, Darya Myronova, Caroline Riegel, Marilou Ruijter (trainer) and Julia Myasyshcheva. Due to exams and university internship two PMT members from SVIT, who were involved in the preparation actively from the beginning, could not come to the training (Andrey Denshchyk and Galyna Uvarova).

Andrey and Darya, and later Victoria Zhurbyk (participant) helped with translation during the program sessions.

The prep-team decided not to divide sessions and tasks in advance, but only during the prep-team meeting. This decision was made to have equal possibilities for all prep-team members and also for the trainer to contribute to planning and realizing the program, and have the tasks equally divided. Thus we all had complete overview of what was planned and what was happening, could be flexible during the program and support each other, when needed.

During the prep-team meeting the program was discussed in general, and first two days were elaborated in detail. The prep-team was meeting each evening after the reflection groups to make conclusions of the day and prepare, amend detailed program for the next day. The prep-team members were willing to make comfortable working atmosphere and support each other, the role of leader who was facilitating program preparation and discussions was rotating.

Objectives set up for the training activity:

• to increase participants’ knowledge on fundraising, different types of donors
• to provide knowledge and practical skills on proposal writing
• to exchange information and experience between participants
• to develop 4 project proposals (1 per country)
• to develop support materials for fundraising (as follow-up)

One of the challenges for the training was, that none of Ukrainian prep-team members was involved in preparation of long international training activity before, so being a prep-team member was a learning by doing process for SVIT activists as well, and involvement of SCI volunteer and trainer strengthened international atmosphere of the activity, allowed to include other wrk and facilitation approaches.

General remarks about the program

The program was compiled in such a way to have mix of different methods and tools, practical group work and theoretical sessions, brainstorm and discussions. At the end of each day reflection groups were organized.

Exercise on annual planning and example of VIA-NL helped to make clear to the participants, that effective fundraising should be planned well in advance. Practicing PR and presentation skills woke up creativity of the participants and resulted in four proposals for leaflets of the YTNF project. Sessions on SWOT and logical framework equipped participants with some professional tools in project developments. Other program sessions included presentations of participating organizations, information on different funders and Youth program, proposal writing and making budgets.

A positive moment was to have strategy workshop parallel to working groups, when participants were developing project proposals. Open space workshops gave possibility to discuss issues of interest, and brought some new ideas and proposals to life (job shadowing, organizational management project). Generally the training activity in the framework of international project with many partners involved creates space for people to discuss problems and developments in each country, exchange news and make personal links, have intercultural communication, discuss and bring to life new ideas for common activities (Euridea, bilateral projects on human rights, parallel actions on international volunteer day etc.) Altogether, this is increasing inspiration of volunteers to continue their work and creates mood for the future activities.

Participants and group atmosphere – representatives of AVI-Moldova, SCG, New Group, SVIT, IAL Sweden and EVS volunteers took part to the training. Some of the participants were familiar with each other from previous activities and trainings; some were new, which generally made communication easier. Russian and English were used in free-time and during the sessions, consecutive or simultaneous translation was provided, when needed.

The punctuality was not the strongest point of the group, neither reflection groups nor requests nor time-keeper helped to avoid this. No participant skipped any part of the training, with some few exceptions with reason. Some tension in the group (between participants from Ukraine and Belarus) was mostly resolved during the 2nd day, when common reflection round took place instead of reflection groups, on the initiative of participants. This helped to bring the whole group together and did not affect the working atmosphere. Next days common activities were proposed for free-time, which helped to keep and improve positive atmosphere till the end of the program.

Due to late arrival and early departure, changes with meal time and lack of punctuality among the participants there was a danger of having no time for some important issues in the program, but generally all the planned work was done and important sessions included. Despite the sea and vacation atmosphere participants did not feel relaxed and in vacation mood, and worked hard during the training program. Another positive aspect was willingness to learn from each other and exchange information – which happened during the open space workshops, in the discussions during the sessions. Some participants with more experience were welcome to make contributions and share their knowledge during the sessions.

Evaluation and outcomes

The aims set up for the training were generally achieved; we managed to meet different needs and level of knowledge of participants. Some “unexpected” outcomes, besides project proposals and idea for new fundraising handbook:

job shadowing project

• annual and long-term planning developed (first draft)
• celebrating international volunteer day
• Euridea festival’07
• proposals for flyer and slogan for the YTNF project