UKRAINE

For generations Ukrainians lived in closed societies with the belief that their lives were controlled by the government and that citizens had little role interacting with and influencing that body. The momentous events of the 2004 presidential election, culminating in the Orange Revolution, demonstrated to Ukrainian citizens that they can have a role in the democratic processes of their country. To ensure further democratization in Ukrainian society, there needs to be an emphasis on building and engaging communities at the grassroots level and instilling the values of participative democracy across the country.

Developing Collaborative Leadership Skills and Methods to Work Creatively with Conflict with Civil Society Actors in Kharkiv.

In partnership with ASSA (Actions for Sustainable Society Advancement), a Kharkiv NGO, Karuna Center led two workshops for mid-level civil servants working in the city government and youth centers, and representatives of youth NGOs in conflict analysis, open listening and questioning, and conflict resolution in November 2004.  Our participants were dealing with a frayed social safety net as well as the tremendous uncertainty leading up and following Ukraine’s Orange Revolution.  These stresses show in their work environment, with colleagues and clients, and they asked for this training to help them work more skillfully with these conflicts.  Karuna Center conducted a follow-up training on leadership and problem solving in Spring 2005. 

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MEDIA

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