More information
Description
Developing the capacity of civil society in marginalized and rural areas of Suceava County is an essential condition for the development of democracy. The low level of civic participation, the lack of basic knowledge related to fundamental rights, the functioning of the state and local authorities lead to weaker rural communities, vulnerable to corruption, lack of transparency, local authoritarianism, lack of social cohesion and passivity.
„Radauti Community Organizing Academy” project addresses these challenges and the rising need of development and consolidation of a democratic culture across the local communities of Suceava County. Established in 2017, initially as a simple group initiative of the local community and as of 2018 established as an NGO, Radautiul Civic Association is the only active civic association in Suceava County with a clear mission to promote good and efficient local administration, enhanced civic education along with the principles of collaborative democracy. Unlike in the larger cities, county headquarters or university centres, in the smaller cities the civic participation is rather non-existent.
The goal is to develop the capacity of the local civil society using the community organizing model in the rural area surrounding Radauti town. The project will comprise not only a direct work with those communities, but also tailored training programs, coaching activities and other components embedded in order to ensure the sustainability of the project, such as creation of local civic network or local community hub for long term impact.
Sustainability of the project: On the long term, the civic network, the community hub will enforce the local civil society to transform those communities through initiatives and actions that ensure the accountability of the local decision makers, enhance public participation and inspire other communities in the surrounding rural areas to take action and promote the basic principles of a democratic culture.
Summary of project results
The challenges addressed in the project are related to the low level of civic participation, the lack of basic knowledge about fundamental rights, lack of transparency, local authoritarianism, lack of social cohesion and passivity, so .on.
The implemented activities contributed to the development of civil society´s capacity in marginalized and rural areas of Suceava County, using the community organizing model in the rural area surrounding Radauti town. ln the project, 2 ToT workshops were organized for volunteers, a diagnosis was made regarding the local needs of the communities (220 respondents). A functional space dedicated to civil society has been set up, where numerous initiatives are already taking place - network meetings, non-formal education activities, activities for the integration of Ukrainian citizens, activities dedicated to young people from the target area. Training workshops have been organized in the field of public policies for a number of 46 beneficiaries, 5 civic groups were established, a newly established association and a workshop on the right to petition and access to information of public interest was organized. A network of local civic groups was created. A civic campaign was carried out, the petition submitted being signed by at least 100 citizens. An information campaign was carried out among high school students, in the workshops organized in the school units, attended by a number of 135 participants.
The "Community Organization Academy" project had a double component - one to increase the Promoter''s capacity to guide and support civic initiatives in the targeted area, and the other to form and support new civic groups in small towns, underserved areas.