Description
The need of the project reflects the need of the members for capacity building, the sustainability of the Federation and the profesionalisation of NGOs that work with volunteers for better results in the community and the need of long term institutional partnerships. After finishing the project the 50 NGO members of VOLUM will be strongly capacitated in specific fields and they will have access to a tailored package of services, based on their needs. The executive team will grow efficiency through using of specific procedures and communication instruments meant to facilitate the link with the members and other stakeholders, and the directory councils will build 3 long term partnerships with institutions that develop volunteering public policies in Romania. On the long term, this project will help the extensive and intensive growth of the federation, and its capacity to serve and activate members from 20 000 NGOs in Romania that work with volunteers. Because the team is very passionate about the cause subjected to the project, they will be dedicated for finding solutions at all times during the implementation for the next 20 months.
Summary of project results
The project had the objective of strengthening the VOLUM Federation's leadership in the volunteering movement in Romania. In 2014, the Federation had 48 member organizations and had no resources to strengthen internal development and to create resources for volunteering in Romania. By 2016, VOLUM Federation became one of the most active and representative federations of NGOs in Romania, reflecting the extensive and intensive growth of the coalition. Through the 7 trainings for members, meetings of the General Assembly and the National Volunteer Gala 2015, member organizations have accumulated expertise in different fields, interacted face to face and exchanged their experience and expertise. In order to increase the capacity of the secretariat, an internal assessment was conducted and a follow-up plan was drafted based on the results. Within the project, the Federation has consolidated its online infrastructure with software, which improved the support role in managing member organizations, the internal and external communication, and contributed to increased organizational and technical capacity of the Federation. The National Volunteer Gala 2015 edition included a competition with 193 applications, a Gala evening with 330 participants and the Gala website that had 60,226 unique users and 278,597 viewers. Collaboration with public institutions was a priority for the Federation, several meetings being held with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of National Education and National Agency for Community Programs in Education and Professional Training on topics related to volunteering law. The documents of the European Year of Volunteering 2011, used by the federation since 2011, were updated and printed, being important resources for Federation’s activity: Volunteer Public Agenda 2012-2020, Code of Ethics for organizing volunteer activities and Volunteering Supported by Employer.
Summary of bilateral results