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Description
The SOSNA is currently the only functional facility of its kind in eastern Slovakia. The Ecocentre, The Hobbit House and the Natural Garden are used for programs focused mainly on enviro education, courses and festivals. However, the biggest problem at present is the insufficient capacity of the organization. The current programs ensure the payment of all operating costs of the ecocentre and thus ensure partial financial self-sufficiency. Despite the skills of the employees and the quality of their services, the organization needs to gain inspiration in the field of enviro education and it also needs new people to revive and improve the offer of the programs so that they respond to domestic and global problems and needs in a sufficiently attractive way. At the same time, it is necessary to improve the competencies, acquire new skills and implement strategic changes in the organization. Another area that the organization needs to strengthen is cooperation with universities and informal clusters.
The aim of the project is to strengthen the human and program capacity of the SOSNA and to ensure long-term financial and personnel sustainability of the organization. The new strategy, based on expanding the range of services and involving external trainers, will make it possible to build partnerships with key sectors aimed at implementing joint environmental programs, projects and initiatives.
The role of the Icelandic project partner is to shift its know-how in environmental and social activities in rural areas. communities, in the field of volunteer development, garden therapy work, as well as the financial sustainability of the organization. The partner will prepare a study tour program for SOSNY representatives, focused on the presentation of best practices in Iceland and will ensure the organization of this event.
The project will be beneficial for the organization itself, for friendly universities, municipalities, students, teachers.
Summary of project results
The aim of the project was to strengthen the human and program capacity of the o.z. SOSNA for the development of work with target groups (education, municipalities, civic associations, volunteers, business sector) in order to ensure the long-term financial and personnel sustainability of the organization. The biggest challenge was the insufficient capacity of the organization. The existing programs ensured the payment of a part of all operating costs of the Ecocenter and thereby ensured only partial financial self-sufficiency. These revenues made up 16% of the budget on average, which was not enough to financially secure the necessary number of workers. At the same time, it was necessary to improve competences and acquire new skills, to make management more efficient and to introduce strategic changes in the organization so that the functioning and financial status of the organization were sustainable.
The most important activity of the project was the very successful cooperation with primary and secondary schools in the area of planning and creating the so-called climatic school gardens. The activity significantly contributed to the new offer of services and to cooperation with the public sector (schools and municipalities) and thereby fulfilled the set goals. Another important activity was cooperation with the city of Košice in incorporating changes into the city''s strategic documents in the area of school garden development and climate protection. An equally significant activity was the cooperation with a more experienced partner from Iceland, as well as local partners, which contributed to increasing the capacity of SOSNA. The third activity was updated and expanded SOSNY events. The success and impact of the activities confirmed the sustainable direction of SOSNA.
For a long time, SOSNA was mainly focused on target groups: pupils and teachers of kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools. In order to start the change in the organization, we extended the scope to other groups: employees of corporations, employees and students of universities and local government. Results: Updated strategy for the development and direction of SOSNY. Created new partnerships with foreign and domestic entities and better cooperation with them. Increased capacity of the SOSNA Ecocenter for starting new sustainable initiatives.
The project was of great importance for ensuring the financial, personnel and programmatic sustainability of SOSNA.
Summary of bilateral results
The cooperation after the change of partner proved to be mutually very useful and beneficial. The new partner "Adventure for students - Iceland" effectively communicated, planned and implemented the agreed activities with SOSNA. Bilateral cooperation was focused on the exchange of good practices, joint activities in the field of environmental education and the transfer of know-how from several areas of common interest: school gardens, educational ecocenters, artistic activities and work with youth and communities. The Icelandic partner actively participated in the "Súladenie" festival and presented the concept of eco-villages and social-environmental communities in Iceland. The subsequent study trip of SOSNA representatives was packed with activities and locations with inspiring and beneficial examples of local programs and initiatives. The benefit of the cooperation was the increased capacity and knowledge base of SOSNA representatives as well as the strengthening of cross-border cooperation. The main result of the bilateral cooperation was a strengthened knowledge base of SOSNA members, increased awareness and ability to act in the field of community activities and cooperation with the public and non-governmental sectors. The result for the partner was improved cooperation with organizations from Central Europe, which resulted in the preparation and submission of two joint projects within the Erasmus+ program.