The “NPO without Borders” project is being implemented by the Institute for Social and Creative Development of Assets together with the Gorchakov Foundation in partnership with Rossotrudnichestvo, the Presidential Grants Fund, the Association of Volunteer Centers and the Social Information Agency.
“NPO without Borders” is an educational project, which, thanks to a team of professionals, experienced experts from Rossotrudnichestvo, the Presidential Grants Foundation and A.M. Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Support Fund has been keeping everyone on their toes for almost two months now and motivating everyone who passed the high competition and got into the group of trainees to get new knowledge. Among the lucky ones who actively participated in the learning process are leaders of non-profit non-governmental organizations, managers of international humanitarian cooperation programs from the Russian Federation, the CIS and other foreign countries. It is noteworthy that the representative of the NGO “Co-creation of Peoples for the Name of Life (“Senezh Forum”) also became a participant in an educational project, which is especially important for international NGOs and those who plan to work on the international track.
Let us recall that the Senezh Forum NGO in the period from 2020 to 2022 successfully implemented two international projects under the general name “Eurasian Bridges of Friendship”.
The three-month training program consists of three stages. At the first stage, the project organizers offered a basic video course on a wide range of international issues. Its completion allowed listeners to receive very useful information about Russia’s foreign policy agenda, expand their knowledge in social planning and finding sponsors for projects, and learn a lot of interesting things about the intricacies of intercultural communication, considering national traditions and existing legal mechanisms.
The next period of training, gaining momentum, turned out to be no less meaningful, dynamic and more productive, since the participants who passed the second stage of the educational marathon received access to webinars. The online educational process moved to a different, interactive level, when speakers, expert teachers and curious listeners were able to see each other, at least on computer screens. There was feedback, and most importantly, dialogue, the opportunity to ask the lecturer a question during classes, as well as answer the questions. The topics of the lectures and the presentation of the material were very interesting and extremely useful. For example, such as: “The place of international cooperation in the development strategy of your NPO”, “Social design and strategy of the organization”, “Project funding”, “Media support for projects” and others.
Judging by the number of questions asked and the intensity of the discussion, the emotional mood and creative atmosphere in the classes, none of the topics of the educational program left any of the listeners indifferent. And this, of course, contributed to the fact that many were able to analyze their own work and integrate international cooperation into the development strategy of their NPOs.
The second stage of training is still ongoing. Upon its completion, experts will evaluate all completed tasks and determine the rating of each participant. Who will advance to the third stage of the project will depend on this rating.
During the final stage of the educational program, a full-time intensive course will take place in Moscow. The project organizers announced an exclusive program that will include discussion platforms, presentations of successful practices, master classes and trainings, including on typical mistakes in filling out grant applications and the secrets of working with socially responsible businesses, the basics of successful establishment of NPOs in the information space and video production.
A separate part of the program will be training on working with foreign partners. In addition, meetings of participants with key representatives of relevant departments, think tanks and foundations financing international projects are planned. Completion of studies is planned for mid-December.
Undoubtedly, the implementation of the international educational project “NPOs without Borders”, such a long and productive period of study opens up new opportunities for the professional growth of managers and specialists of non-profit organizations, as well as the development of the NPOs themselves, currently operating in humanitarian cooperation and, of course, for those who plan to work on the international track.
Many thanks to everyone who came up with this wonderful project, those who are involved in it and ensure its successful implementation.
Sergey Kuchinsky,
Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the Coordination Council of the All-Russian Public Movement “Co-creation of Peoples in the Name of Life (Senezh Forum)”