Description
Belarusian democratic NGOs, due to unfavorable legal environment and persecution, emigrate to Lithuania. They continue activities in Belarus, however organizational and administrational support is based in Lithuania. Minimal physical presence in Lithuania and lack of language skills create difficulties in communication with various Lithuanian institutions and does not allow accessing resources available to Lithuanian NGOs. Addressing various forms of discrimination is also complicated to address. The project is designed to strengthen Belarusian democratic initiatives working from Lithuania as well as improve cross-border cooperation in order to promote democracy and protect human rights in Belarus. The project will boost active citizenship, promote democratic values and increase organizational capacity of Belarusian NGOs working in Lithuania which will be enabled to promote democratic change in Belarus more efficiently. Lithuanian NGO sector will also benefit from widened NGO networks and increased opportunities for cooperation and fundraising. The target group is the Belarusian democratic and human rights NGOs registered in Lithuania.
Summary of project results
The majority of Belarusian democratic NGOs are not able to work freely in their country. Due to unfavourable legal environment and persecution many Belarusian democratic NGOs move their legal registration and headquarters to Lithuania. These NGOs continue activities in Belarus, however, organizational and administrational support is based in Lithuania. Minimal physical presence in the country, lack of language skills and knowledge of Lithuanian legal environment create difficulties in communication with various Lithuanian institutions and does not allow accessing resources which are available to Lithuanian NGOs, i.e. funding opportunities, networking events, participation in umbrella organizations, attraction of volunteers. Social barriers also do not make life of Belarusian NGOs or individual activists in Lithuania any easier. Having more than 10 year of experience of working with Belarusian NGOs, project promoter decided to address the abovementioned issues by strengthening Belarusian democratic initiatives working in Lithuania and increasing cross-border cooperation for promotion of democracy and human rights in Belarus. The following tasks have been completed and results achieved: a) 9 Belarusians-led organizations were established or reorganized in Lithuania, 3 of those organizations have attracted external funding; b) NGO institutional building initiatives organized, including 6 trainings and seminars on issues critical to Belorussian NGOs operating from Lithuania; c) exchange of good practices with Lithuanian NGOs organized; d) 4 partnership agreements between Belorussian and Lithuanian NGOs signed e) Lithuanian volunteers attracted who assisted newly established Belarusian NGOs in setting up the processes for smooth operation. The project results are likely to have some sustainability as several Belarusian organizations shall continue their activities while many individual activists have gained valuable experience of operating in Lithuania and will likely share it with other NGOs and activists in Belarus.
Summary of bilateral results