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Description
The nation-wide project entitled “Let It Work - Let''s Act Healthily!" offers support to the non-governmental sector in the area of organizational culture. We focus on counteracting burnout, which is an increasing threat to people related to the sector (our own study by Burnout Aid 2019-20), creating psychologically safe working conditions, increasing an awareness of activism (study by Klon/Jawor 2019-21). So far, current activities related to burnout and a change in organizational culture have been conducted on a very limited scale and it is usually payable support. There are no system and internal standards which would stipulate how to prevent or cope with problems such as mental crises or conflicts in a team. Our activities will fill the gap. The project is both continuation and development of our previous project entitled Burnout Aid, which indicated significant problems at the level of management and communication as well as a severe problem of lack of supervision and support in crisis. Our activities are addressed to entities i.a. from smaller centers working with disadvantaged recipients: LGBTQ+, women, senior citizens, people with disabilities, migrants, and environmental activists. By conducting educational activities, consultations, advisory, networking, supervision, coaching, and workshops, we offer support on 3 levels: individual, organizational, and sectoral. Our objective is to increase knowledge about burnout, well-being, safety of employees involved in activism, tools to increase both strength and mental resilience - institutional development of NGOs. The project is implemented in partnership between Poland and Iceland, which provides unique support tools: a training course in mental resilience and social efficiency MTQ48 (“Good Life" Development Foundation) as well as consultations with regard to engaging and inspiring presentation of activists'' stories (LDI Consulting from Iceland).
Summary of project results
The “Let It Work: Let''s Act Healthy” project responded to the problem of burnout affecting 47% of those active in NGOs. The lack of support and supervision procedures in small organizations, especially those working for LGBTQ+ people, migrants, women, seniors and persons with disabilities, further compounded the difficulties. The baseline situation required support in building a healthy organizational culture and awareness of well-being management.
The project implemented a number of activities at the individual, organizational and sectoral levels. 72 hours of individual coaching, 8 self-care workshops, 110 crisis intervention sessions and 120 psychological support sessions were conducted for 40 people. 10 team workshops were also held and supervisions were provided for 4 NGOs. Networking activities included the creation of a Facebook peer group of over 200 people and intervention support for 30 organizations. The project''s launch and closing conferences were also implemented. Activities were adapted to new challenges, such as the humanitarian crisis and the war in Ukraine, expanding psychological support for activists.
The project resulted in a number of sustainable products. The project resulted in the expansion of the Burnout Aid platform, including 15 podcasts, 5 vlogs, 2 e-learning courses, 5 webinars and 10 expert articles. 4 model organizational policies were developed: anti-discrimination, administrative, welfare and anti-crisis. These resources are available to NGOs and support the sustainability of the results.
The outcome of the project was improved awareness of burnout and implementation of well-being management tools in NGOs. Evaluation surveys indicated that 91% of course participants rated the acquired knowledge very highly, and 87% of participants in self-care workshops confirmed their practical value. The introduction of new organizational policies strengthened NGO structures, and 50% of participants made new professional contacts. The project contributed to a better response to crises and strengthened cooperation in the sector.
The project was successful in bringing lasting change to the civil sector. The availability of materials on the platform for at least three years, the policies implemented and the networks built ensure long-term impact. The project activities have raised awareness of the problem of burnout in the third sector and the need to build a healthy organizational culture.
Summary of bilateral results
The inclusion of a donor project partner brought invaluable expertise and perspective to the project. The Icelandic partner, ILDI, contributed through consultations, workshops, and content creation that significantly enhanced the project’s impact. Specifically, ILDI conducted consultations on community management and storytelling in activist narratives, which were instrumental in framing burnout topic effectively. This approach not only supported participants'' personal and collective regeneration but also improved outreach&engagement strategies. The bilateral collaboration enriched the project through the sharing of unique knowledge and experiences. I.e. ILDI’s expertise was showcased in an article on anti-burnout practices in Iceland, a presentation at the Burnout Aid Conference&online workshops. These contributions deepened the project team’s understanding of burnout and equipped them with innovative tools&methods. The partnership also led to the creation of diverse resources such as podcasts/videos/articles, amplifying the project’s reach&legacy. The partnership resulted in tangible shared outcomes, including the development of expert materials like the article on Icelandic NGO practices and insights into using storytelling as a therapeutic and outreach tool. This collaboration fostered mutual learning, expanding team’s knowledge&capacity to address burnout in a more integrated and impactful way. The partnership contributed to broader effects by highlighting best practices and innovative approaches that can inspire other NGOs. The successful outcomes& synergies from this partnership laid a strong foundation for future collaboration. Plans are being considered to explore new opportunities for joint initiatives, particularly in areas like storytelling techniques and community-focused burnout prevention strategies. This partnership has demonstrated its value in fostering innovation and shared understanding, making continued cooperation a promising prospect.