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Description
The implementation of our project is necessary due to insufficient support for volunteer fire departments (OSP) with regard to management and their staffing problems. This affects the entire movement of volunteer fire departments as local non-governmental organizations pursuing also a great number of non-rescue socially important objectives.The fact that this is needed and important is confirmed not only by internal information of the applicant, but also by the data from the study conducted by Klon/Jawor Association (OSP – Local Cultural Centers), according to which 48% of respondents notice imperfections in management of organizations affecting the functioning of volunteer fire departments in local communities. They also point out lack of qualified personnel to work with the youth or suspension of generational cooperation.We plan to organize pilot educational program for young leaders and people working with the youth. It will benefit 100 people (with half of them aged 16-25) from 50 organizations. Furthermore, we plan to conduct a study among volunteer fire departments, with special emphasis laid on the situation of the youth, formal and legal advisory, and reconstruction of the website of the Association of Volunteer Fire Departments of the Republic of Poland.We assume that over 1,000 volunteer fire departments will take advantage of advisory and expert support, whereas our activities will not only improve the quality of management of organizations or the effectiveness of their activities in local communities, but also increase the number of young people involved in the activities of volunteer fire departments and managing particular organizations.The project is conducted in partnership with the Klon/Jawor Association, which will enable us to obtain professional support in the research part of our project, we will also take advantage of the experience of our partner with regard to providing expert support, conducting workshops, and offering consultations.
Summary of project results
The implementation of the project was needed because of the inadequate management support of volunteer fire departments (TSOs) and their personnel problems, in particular - the need to rejuvenate the management staff. This casts a pall over the entire TSO movement as local NGOs also pursuing many non-emergency socially important goals.
And that this is needed and important is evidenced not only by the applicant''s internal information, but also by data from a survey conducted by the Klon/Jawor Association "TSOs - Local Cultural Centers," according to which 48% of respondents note inadequacies in organizational management (e.g., an overly leadership style of leadership), affecting the functioning of TSOs in local communities. They also point to a lack of qualified staff to work with youth or a break in generational cooperation.
The "TSO - the potential of youth" project responded to the need for greater participation of young people in management in volunteer fire departments (TSOs). These are organizations often even based on a command model of management. Demographic problems and rural migration have worsened the human potential in local communities (generation gap in TSOs). Young people are also deterred by increasing bureaucracy, management responsibilities that require them to be above average.
The project began with an in-depth survey of the TSO community, with a particular focus on youth. The primary activity of the project was the TSO Leadership School. This is a training and workshop venture (leadership, communication and management skills). In addition, participants took part in study visits, received consulting support. The TSO Leadership School was completed by 54 TSO representatives, or 108 people (tandem: a young leader and a youth worker in TSO). The project''s open activities, primarily counseling for TSOs, i.e. webinars, live''s, texts, etc., were open to all interested persons (participation of 2224 TSOs). The counseling activities included 9 journalistic, research texts, 10 counseling texts, 21 educational materials (infographics, webinar recordings, animations).
The changes achieved will be long-term. This is indicated primarily by the awareness of the need in the firefighting community and the timeliness of the project''s products for a longer period of time. On this we can build a regular, comprehensive and attractive offer of TSO support.
From the perspective of the Polish TSO Association, the project was successful. Formal and legal counseling has been expanded and made more attractive, there has been an increase in leadership competencies in hundreds of male and female druzhas, and increased activities are being undertaken to network male and female leaders in the fire departments. Organizations that have benefited from the project''s activities have been strengthened. The communication system in the Polish TSO Association has improved - we are using remote communication tools more boldly, and establishing direct relations with TSOs.
Thanks to the project, there has been a significant change in the TSO sector. First of all, more than a hundred leaders received leadership skills that will allow multiplication of good practices, implementation of the open leader model in more TSOs. The second major change is the realization among firefighters and firefighters that TSOs are also NGOs. Hence the crucial integration with the ngo community and the partnership with the Klon/Jawor Association.