Description
The project addresses the need for NGOs in Yambol District to develop their capacity for advocacy and monitoring and influencing local public policies. The project aims at enhancing the knowledge and skills of local NGOs for advocacy and monitoring by a series of training courses and practical activities. First, 20 NGO representatives will attend the qualification programme made up of 4 modules on advocacy and monitoring. Second, 5 NGOs will be able to send 2-5 of their staff to working meetings in the host organization to learn from its experience. Third, 15 young people will take part in a two-month internship to learn on the job. Finally, 30 NGO representatives will monitor for 1 month the relevant institution/topic and will prepare an advocacy campaign. The project will benefit the NGOs in Yambol District, their staff and the local communities in general.
Summary of project results
Most local NGOs from Yambol District were passive and inert mainly due to lack of sufficient capacity, competence, confidence and motivation to help them unfold their activity. That made it necessary for the Centre for Educational Programs and Social Initiatives (CEPSI). A 4-module training programme for NGOs was developed under the project and was delivered during practically-targeted seminars. 23 representatives of 17 NGOs took part in the programme and raised their skills and competence to have influence over policy-making. An advocacy campaign was carried out in Yambol District and the following three causes of public importance were formulated: Let’s give back young people their interest in and love of books, Let’s create more opportunities for young people in the city of Yambol and Let’s support young people with disabilities to start a job. The campaigns included the dissemination of three types of information materials, meetings carried out with representatives of organizations and institutions and three published journalistic materials about young people in Yambol District. The campaigns were attended by 32 participants and reached more than 2000 people. The other project activity was monitoring carried out by 3 groups of 11 people of education in Yambol District, social institutions in Yambol Municipality and institutions for informal education of children. Three reports were prepared about this monitoring. In addition, one-month exchange was carried out under the project with 16 participants from 11 NGOs and 3 good practices were presented. What is more, 15 volunteering young people took part in a two-month traineeship at the Centre owing to the well-developed mentorship system. The implemented project enabled the Centre to establish itself as a centre bringing together the NGOs in Yambol District. The participants in the projects (NGO members and young people - volunteers) adopted specific knowledge and skills on priority issues. They had the opportunity to express their views and proposals for development of the programmes and establish the most appropriate people for each task.
Summary of bilateral results