Almost 80 participants of PAFF’s “Region in Transition” (RITA) and “Support for Ukraine” programs took part in the conference organized by the Education for Democracy Foundation in Młyny Rothera in Bydgoszcz on September 7-8, 2024.
The objective of the two-day meeting of Region in Transition Ambassadors was to share experiences and learn about international cooperation, but foremost to integrate the environment of Polish organizations active in the Eastern Europe, Central Asia and South Caucasus countries. Due to the pandemic and the outbreak of a full-scale war in Ukraine, it was the first on-site meeting since 2018.
The Polish-American Freedom Foundation Program Director Agnieszka Mazur, Martyna Bogaczyk and Agnieszka Świeczka of the Education for Democracy Foundation Management Board, and Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Bydgoszcz Krzysztof Sikora welcomed the guests on behalf of the organizers of the meeting.
“I am glad we can meet today to discuss challenges and opportunities faced by NGOs operating in very diverse countries in the region of Eastern Europe, Central Asia and South Caucasus. We think highly of your engagement, which is critical for effective solving social problems and building strong civil society in the Region,” Agnieszka Mazur said in her welcome address.
The meeting participants – representatives of NGOs that are implementing projects co-financed by Support for Ukraine and Region in Transition programs – had an opportunity to take part in a panel on current situation and challenges faced by the countries of the Region. Agata Wierzbowska-Miazga of the Leaders of Change Foundation, Martyna Bogaczyk of the Education for Democracy Foundation, Kamil Całus and Wojciech Górecki of the Center for Eastern Studies took part in the debate moderated by Agnieszka Lichnerowicz, a journalist of the TOK FM radio.
An important element of the conference agenda were thematic meetings on disinformation, standards, and development and humanitarian aid projects for children and young people held by experts, such as Michał Sęk (the Foundation of Bronisław Geremek Center) and Renata Szredzińska (Empowering Children Foundation). The participants had also an opportunity to share their experience during the discussions held at “the country tables” and related to Ukraine, as well as issues of development and employment in Central Asia and South Caucasus countries.
Region in Transition Ambassadors could also attend the competence workshops held by Karolina Walecka of the Information Society Development Foundation to improve their knowledge on Artificial Intelligence and digital tools, workshops on making podcasts held by blogger and podcaster Kamila Tokarska, and on the rules of good practices code for climate and environment in project activities and NGO operating presented by Katarzyna Krzemińska and Sylwia Gajownik of the Education for Democracy Foundation.
The meeting gave also an opportunity to share experiences on e.g. functioning of partnership organizations and refugee integration with local communities.
The crowning element of the event was screening of “Under the Kyrghyz Sky” film and conversation with Ewelina Grądzka, the President of Under the Common Sky Association that for the last ten years has been implementing projects applying astronomy to develop key educational competencies in Kyrgyzstan.
