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Youth Training Course on Organizational Management
and capacity building of Youth Non-Governmental Organizations
17-24 June 2004, Ohrid, Macedonia
Content
Introduction 
European House Skopje in the period from 17-24 June 2004 organized a Training course for representatives of youth non-governmental organizations coming from Albania, Macedonia, Slovenia, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Bulgaria and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This Training course represent the first phase of a long-term project idea: strengthening the youth non-governmental sector in the region and preparing it for local and regional Youth Policy Making.
The training dealt with organizational management and capacity building of the youth civil sector from the mentioned countries. Our aim was to strengthen the capacity of the involved organizations in the first place, and recognizing potential actors in the future Youth Policy Making in the region.
The next phase will include a Training course on Youth Policy Making Steps and Methods, getting to know the Youth Strategy, Youth policy and Youth Action Plans.
Further in this document you can find information on the project proposal in the preparation phase, the project implementation, the training summary containing report of the dealt issues, trainers, participants evaluation forms and the European House Skopje team that realized this training.
We sincerely hope that you will find these information useful.
Toni Masevski
Secretary General
European House Skopje
Problem description
Our organization was a part of the 3rd CEI Youth Forum in Warsaw. Following the conclusions and the Final declaration Quality and Security of jobs for young people , we organized the training course as a part of the implementation process. The main necessity was to strengthen the youth NGO's in order to offer more professional working experience for the people working there. The training offered them informal education that will also help them in approaching the labor market.
On the other hand, the 27 participating NGO's were introduced with the idea of the CEI Youth Forum and the role that it is playing on international level. They can become partners with the national youth institutions and participate in the youth policy making, according to the recommendation of CEI to involve youth NGO's into CEI activities.
Aims and goals of the training
- The reinforcement of the youth NGO's that offers more experience, knowledge and employment possibilities
- Providing a training that offers new experiences and skills with an international approach
- Strengthening the youth NGO's capacity
- Introduce the CEI Youth Forum idea and its possibilities
- Promote the possibility of involvement in CEI activities
Target group
The target groups for the training were advanced youth NGO representatives. We have chosen the advanced NGO representatives because we think that the beginners should be trained on a local level first, gain the basic sense of Civil Society and work according the needs and assessments on national level. After gaining that local experience, they should continue with their own NGO capacity building from international point of view, what our training is in this case.
The participants were from 8 countries from the CEI region: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro and Slovenia.
Activities
The announcement of the event was performed as follows:
- The call was sent to the national governmental youth agencies that participate in the work of the CEI Working Group on Youth Affairs, that forward it to their youth NGO partners, and also sent us some useful contacts of them;
- We used the mailing list of BCYF;
- The announcement was on our web site as well.
*It was also planed to send the call to the mailing list of European Youth Foundation, but because we received their answer, concerning the partnership, with delay (after the training), this point of the announcement procedure wasn't implemented. (Application Form for organizations sample)
In the process of pre-selection we asked the national governmental youth agencies or departments to recommend us the NGO's that have already be recognised as their partners in Youth Policy Making. From those NGOs and the other, that were invite to apply by different channels, we reached the number of about 60 NGOs applicants. But not any of them were applicable. We received many applications from the countries that are out of the selected target countries for this training, there were even applicants from other continents so it was good to know that the announcement of our training have reached so far.
Those applications and other coming from individuals as the ones from fictive NGOs were not taken in consideration at all.
From different countries we received a different number of applications because some were more interested than the others. The Hungarian NGOs indifference to the call was unexpected, so we made extra efforts to invite these NGOs to our training, by personal contacts, web research, the mailing lists of some other NGOs in the region, but without any success. The only answer that we got was from the Hungarian students organization HOOK that explained why (because of the examination session in June) no one will be available for the training.
From around 40 applicable NGOs we chose 27 that we invite to our training. The quotes of members per country wasn't as planned because of the previous mentioned factor - Hungary. To complete the number of 27 we invited one more NGO from Kosova - Serbia and Montenegro, one from Serbia and another NGO from Macedonia. We considered that the indifference of the Hungarian NGOs, contributed for enlargement of the number of participants from Southeast region where straighten of NGO sector is needed.
These 27 NGOs were selected using the following criteria:
- Be a youth NGO (at least 51% of the organizational management to be young people under the age of 32);
- Have previous experience in youth policy making;
- Intend to participate in youth policy making on national and international level;
- To be sustainable;
These NGOs were invited to select their representative that would fulfil the following criteria:
- To be aged 18-26;
- To be a present member of a decision making body of the NGO;
- To have previous experience in youth work;
- Have motivation to participate in national and international youth policy development.
These representatives fulfilled a personal application form that was sent to them, together with the announcement that their NGO was selected for the training and extra information on the given criteria.
The selection criteria for the participants as well as the on for the NGOs was created in cooperation with BCYF, as more experienced partner. Application Form for participants sample
During our contacts with the authorized persons in the selected NGOs we agreed on making some exceptions concerning the age factor giving priority to the experience of the participants.
From this stage every selected participant was personally contacted in order to give them additional technical and essential information for the training and other useful information. Technical info
Still we couldn't predict that on the very beginning of the training some of the expected participants will cancel their participation (one participant from Bulgaria, another from Bosnia and Herzegovina and from Slovenia) without any possibility for replacement.
We cover one of the places by inviting a NGO from Ohrid, Media Arts.
Organizational and logistical matters
Needed arrangements before the seminar
Content of the training
The training was focused on the following issues:
- Organizations in theory - dealt with the foundation of the organizations. The basic, theoretical, approach about the organizations tackled the role of the NGO's in society, understanding organizations, organizational structures organizational processes etc. the participants also gave an overview of their organizations;
- Organizational management - the program continued with a theoretical approach of the organizational management of the organizations, explaining the theory of management, different models/types of management, elements of management, management functions etc. The participants discussed the management in their own organizations.
- Developing organizations - after defining the basis of the organizations and the organizational management, from a theoretical point of view, the training continued with developing the organizations, by dividing the participants into 3 groups that worked in separate workshops. They had to develop the issues of financial management, human resources and organizational sustainability. The results was presented by reporting on a plenary session.
- Fundraising - this issue was addressed from the following points: fundraising theory and practices, concept of FUNDS, identification of donors, fundraising methods and strategies, choosing the right methods, fundraising cycle, setting fundraising goals and targets, developing fundraising plan. This part included an addressing from the quest speakers coming from a donor institution (the CEI representative, the national CEI coordinator and the Balkan Children and Youth Foundation representative ). The quests gave an input of the fundraising from their point of view that leaded to the an active discussion amongst the participants.
- Strategic Planning - after giving an input of the theory of strategic planning, the training was held about: planning tools, strategic plan, SWOT analysis, how to match the needs and assets and how to create an action planning.
- Cooperation - This part offered the participants a useful training how to develop a cooperation with the national and international authorities and institutions, like the governments, the competent governmental bodies that treats the youth issues, other NGOs; national, regional and international networks; The CEI initiative, The Stability Pact, etc. On this session there was a detailed presentation of CEI, The CEI Youth Forum and the possibilities for NGO involvement in CEI activities, presented by the National CEI coordinator and the CEI representative.
- Youth Involvement in Political Life -
The importance of the people activity for the civil society was emphasized, especially the activity in the political scene. It was discussed about what is democracy as a meaning, pointing out the right (obligation) to vote. The questions on this matter were not just what the residents are doing for their country but what the country is doing for its residents as well. It was concluded that in each of the countries that participants were coming from, the NGO's have to organize meetings with political parties for solving Youth problems, so, that is why the process of involving in politics is inevitable.
- On the end of the meeting, one session was used for evaluation of the training by the participants, trainers, the CEI representative and the CEI national coordinator. The feedback would be used for the further development of this kind of activities.
- The early evenings were used for informal discussions, talks and exchange of ideas. Two of the evenings' discussions were dedicated to the participants to present and promote their NGO's and the other three of them were dedicated to discuss the CEI opportunities with the National CEI coordinator and the CEI representative.
Trainers
- Danilo Danailov, Organizations in theory, Organizational Management, Management
- Thomas Schneider (KAS), Youth Involvement in Political Life
- Mario Vejlkovik, Human Recourses Management, Fundraising, Cooperation
- Dragana Mitrovik, Volunteers
- Liljana Alceva (MCIS), Strategic Planning
Guest speakers
- Agon Demjaha (BCYF)
- Tanja Tomic (CEI Working Group on Youth Affairs)
Evaluation
At the end of the training, the trainer Mario Veljkovic asked the participants to pass through the complete training. The issues were tackled by the already given order and the participants gave the following comments:
- Cosmin: - It was great training thanks to the organizer, participants and trainers. It was a great experience.
- Liviu: - In the last few days I have learn a lot of new things ;
- Tsvetelina: It was good meeting new people, learning new things for fundraising. Hope to keep in touch and maybe we can form a yahoo group.
- Daniela- I've learned more about the NGOs, shared experience with the other countries, and especially last three days were very beautiful.
- Brunketa: - I had a very nice time ;
- Goran: - I've learned many new practical and theoretical things, but I also have been remind of the one I already now.
- Sanja: - I've learn something new, I've met a really great and kind people, thanks to the organizer and trainers;
- Zoran: - The workshops were great. Thanks to the organizers and the donors a had a really great time;
- Anisa: - Happy that I am here. I did like everything except my headache ;
- Jure: - This was a great opportunity to keep a good work in his NGO ;
- Milka: - New things and new people! Thank you for that ;
- Fitim: - I've learn methods, gain so much experience, met new nations ;
- Sase: - A new areas , new thing but he believes that it will take him a while till he will be capable to use this knowledge in practice;
- Eniko: - I enjoyed the workshops and get so much info, thank you that I am here!
- Filduza: I get new knowledge but as Sase I will need some time before I will use it. The parties were great as well.
- Rrahmon: - The decision I have made to come here is probably the best decision I have ever made in my life!
- Matic: - Thank you for the mushrooms! I've learned new things and i have accomplished something useful.
- Renebella: - I have learned so many useful things and I have made so many friends ;
- Jovan: - Many useful things that I will take advantage during the work in my NGO. It was really easy to come in Ohrid but it will be very difficult to leave .
- Yuliy: - I believe that what i have learned will be useful for my NGO and me. I will miss the Ohrid Lake.
- Jelena: - I've especially learned much about Strategy planning and fundraising and I've become aware of the mistakes that I had made during the work in my NGO. All the people that I've met here were so special.
- Maya: - I am grateful for the opportunity I had to learn more.
- Snezana: - I'm definitely not going to forget Mr. Thomas Schneider!
- Zarko - It was a very, very, very active training. I learned a lot of thing and found out that I have to learn some more. I'm sorry for the outcome of the football:)
- Amir - I met a lot of new people. I learned about the aspects of the job that I'm doing in my organization. I hope that this won't stop here. Thank you European House Skopje. You were great.
Mario also said something about his experience during the training: - During the training I could see why I like my job so much. In this occasion I didn't just trained the others but I've also gained a new knowledge as well. I didn't expect that one group could be so advanced, active and intelligent.
The participants' expectations were more than satisfied.
The training ended by doing the last tasks-evaluation on personal level that was consisted from envelopes, as many as people involved in the training, and with the same number of blank sheets in them. On every envelope the name of each participant, trainer was written down and every participant on the one of the sheets wrote his opinion about the person which name was on the envelope. It was very quick and funny exercise.
During the last dinner together every participant read the comments about him. That way we had a on-line evaluation and active feed-back and it was definitely a good fun:)
Social events
During the training the social events were inevitable part of our program. Maybe because of the participants' personality, or because of the beautiful surrounding, or just the way things are going when ones are young. The social part of this training was on very satisfying level (at least the participants sad so). The organized social events were:
- Welcoming party, - this party took place in the beautiful summer house in the Hotel back yard, on Thursday evening, 17 th of July, when the organizers welcomed the participants. The participants, even though tired from the journey, were happy to introduce themselves in relaxed, informal atmosphere, and were rather impatient to see how the training will follow. The chat was going one fine, but the dancing was put off for some better evening.
- A trip around Ohrid Lake -The Sunday afternoon was reserved for a round trip around Ohrid Like. First we visited the St. Naum monastery and the BEAUTIFUL sources of the river Crni Drim, well, some might say that they are the sources of Ohrid Lake but he/she will be wrong J. Then we went to the Old Town of Ohrid visiting all the remarkable architectures and monuments, since there are plenty of them, we won't mentioned them, but about the filling of being there and seeing all these things the participants couldn't stop talking the days after. As in any other groups, this one was having some rebels as well, so while the others were sightseeing these ones were enjoying the lake:)
Instead of having a dinner in the hotel a lunch packet was served as a picnic on Plaoshnik, no dinner for the upper mentioned disobedient ones:)
After 19.00 o'clock everyone was free to visit places and do things by their own wish. Somehow it turned up that most of the participants have the same wish and by coincidence we all met in a same pub, doing same thing, dancing. This was a Cinderella kind of party because on midnight, promptly, the bus was waiting for us, and ones that would miss the transport would have missed the magic of the Monday morning session. Not any of us caught the bus (extra taxi expenses J , but we were all there for the morning session.
- Farewell party - attending the training made us a bit more sophisticated so we did deserve a sophisticated type of dinner, as well. On the balcony, with flowers and candles, smooth music, clever conversations, good manners, till the point when Tina came with her birthday cake ordering us not to use any forks and knife if we want to taste the cake. So, some didn't.
Out of these organized events, there was a great deal of socializing as well. For four days, another seminar was coinciding with ours so the capacity for making friends was quite high. It was interesting that our participants were very keen on singing. They sang in the hotel lobby while Mario was playing the guitar, in the bus, at the pub and they even sang on the bus station.
During the seminar we had two birthday girls, which was a great occasion to have a good dessert, oops sorry, a good party.
As most of our male participants were one of a kind, except been active on the sessions and working groups, there were hyperactive on the football playground too. Three football matches were organized, after dinner time, and the results of these games were around 10 scores for the first team, 5 for the second, 2 broken arms, 3 wounded legs, 20 bare and tired feet, several dozen of bruises and many worried ladies:). The cheerleader teams were very active during each of the matches. In a whole, that was a week of our life!!!
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