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Description
Presented project is aiming to strengthen and improve the potential that we see in Brno, and therefore in the South Moravian Region, in the field of volunteering. We offer solutions to current problems: the conceptual work in the region, addressing new volunteers, the need to professionalize organizations regarding their work with volunteers, networking and a joint event. We see informing the public about the activities of NGOs, understanding our work and involving the public in activities in the local community as essential. Project is focused on the general public, youth (15 - 30 years), NGOs and informal groups, and representatives of municipalities. We will organize a PR campaign to promote volunteering opportunities for the public in the region, including information about the potential of NGOs to raise active civic participation. PR campaign will include usage of social media, creation of videos and dissemination of evaluation questionnaires. Youth will be provided with volunteering opportunities consultations, regular meetings focused on strengthening civic competencies and project management and one weekend seminar resulting in support and implementation of 2 local youth projects. Intense networking with NGOs will be supported by holding regular business breakfasts, networking event and conference, providing NGOs with the space for exchange of good practise and plan for successful motivation and recruitment of new volunteers. We will organise public event “Volunteering days” involving regional NGOs to promote their volunteering programs and raise awareness about impact of their work among public. We will organize participative meetings for representatives of regional municipalities and local stakeholders to create regional volunteering support conception.
Summary of project results
Our intention was to strengthen and improve the potential that we see in Brno, and more specifically in the South Moravian Region, in the field of volunteering. The tools to support this goal were conceptual work in the region, reaching out to new volunteers, the need to professionalize organizations regarding their work with volunteers, networking and joint, larger, events. At the same time, we wanted to inform the public more about the work of CSOs so that they could better understand our work. After two years of new experience, we see public involvement in local community activities as even more crucial
We are noticing a higher interest in the topic of volunteering and engaging with us, not only among the new organisations that have been networked (currently 95 organisations in total), but especially in the regions - with organisations and local governments. Especially in local government the increase is significant - we currently have active contact with 16 municipalities and cities. We are improving our knowledge in setting up volunteering programmes, cooperation across sectors and also legislative issues related to the topic of volunteering. We also manage to connect organisations with donor organisations and companies. We have substantially increased the number of followers on social media. The working breakfasts, where we have increased the number of visitors by an average of 45%, and networking are essential for cooperation and exchange of experiences. The professional side of the work is strengthened by conference-type meetings, which we intend to hold regularly once a year. Within the framework of the project, we have officially launched the numbering of conferences. The participants of all the listed events evaluate them very positively and are interested in these formats in the future.
The big star of the project is the Volunteering Days. In the end, we expanded the number of days from 3 to 4 and held them in 6 counties instead of the planned 2. Gradually discussing the format of the event with partners from other regions allows us to formulate our mutual expectations. This year we are already organising the event in 12 regions.
Thanks to the network of Regional Volunteer Centres, we are transferring our project experience to other regions. A new topic for us is the impact analysis of the activity, especially considering the fact that we are a service organisation.
General public/all target groups
necessary knowledge about civil society (PR campaign, 3 videos, increasing the number of followers)
enable active involvement (1100 people Volunteer Days + 130 involved - consultation)
Young people (15-30 years old)
activate new interested parties, awareness (PR campaign, 130 consultations)
increase involvement in projects (10 people weekend, 2 projects)
motivate to create own projects (10 people, 6 meetings)
Non-profit organizations / informal groups
involve 20 new organizations - increasing the quality of work with volunteers - 20 organizations involved
support for professionalization and exchange of experience between NGOs - 95 organizations (21 working breakfasts=142 people / number reduced based on request, 1 networking meeting/33
persons, 1 conference/61 persons)
recruit new volunteers + strengthen cooperation with the public (Volunteering days, PR campaign, videos)
Self-government (8 - 16 municipalities)
improve conditions in the field of volunteering (cooperation with NGOs and other entities) - networking meetings, conferences, online, personal, participatory meetings - on an ongoing basis
involve employees as DD participants