Success stories: volume 1

A Join t I n i tSociety i at i v e o f Development U N D P a n d t h e M i Programme n i s t r y o f F o r e i g n A f fa i r s o f D e n ma r k Civil

Civil Society Development Programme

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Success stor es a recipe for a thriving civil society in Ukraine

http://csdp.org.ua

This issue is prepared within the framework of the UNDP Civil Society Development Programme and funded by the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of Denmark.

Opinions, conclusions or recommendations are those of the authors and compilers of this issue and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations Development Programme or other UN agencies.

Success stories: A Recipe for a Thriving Civil Society in Ukraine. Kyiv. UNDP, 2010.

The stories compiled in this issue feature the results, achieved by the civil society organizations (CSOs), community activists, and mediocre citizens, members of target groups of projects, implemented in seven regions of Ukraine (Chernihiv, Donetsk, Kirovohrad, Kherson, Khmelnytskyi, Lviv, and Luhansk) between the period of January through September 2010. The selected success stories reflect only a part of implemented grant projects, describing the bright examples of positive changes, fascinating stories of human impact, personal and group transformations, directly or indirectly involved in the projects’ activities.

The photos, used in this issue, are the property of UNDP Civil Society Development Programme All materials of this brochure maybe reproduced in part or as a whole. Reproduction materials should contain a reference to the UNDP Office in Ukraine.

UNDP Office in Ukraine welcomes a broad usage of its information materials by media, national and local authorities, civic organizations, educational institutions, etc.

The Civil Society Development Programme (CSDP) aims at a strengthened civil society promoting democratic governance. The Programme promotes an open and democratic society founded on the rule of law and based on human rights and governance transparency and accountability both nationally and regionally. The CSDP will ensure that civil society organizations can become stronger, diminish their dependency on the donor community, and enhance citizen participation in policy processes by developing the capacity of CSOs at the regional and local level to effectively address citizens’ needs. CSDP is funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented by the UNDP Ukraine during 2009 – 2012. More information on Project’s activities may be viewed at http://csdp.org.ua.

UN Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.

Address: 20 Esplanadna St., Office 719, Kyiv 01023 Telephone: +38 (044) 584-34-71

CONTENT

Civil Society Development Programme

Foreword. Olivier Adam, UNDP Resident Representative

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Chapter I. Representing the interests and protecting the rights of vulnerable groups of people

“Nadiya” — Giving Hope, Aspiring Action

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A Window to the World for Visually Disabled People

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Chernihiv Mini Print Shop Gives a Chance to People with Mental Disabilities

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See Kherson with Eyes Wide Shut

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Now We Are Independent!

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Help yourself by helping others – youth initiatives

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Youth With Special Needs Protect their Right for Education

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Life Without Barriers, or Is There Light at the End of a Tunnel?

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Chapter II. Enhancing citizens’ involvement in the process of decision-making on the local level How to Improve an Effectiveness and Transparency of a Technical Inventory Bureau

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“Public Initiatives” Advocates for the Rights of Kirovohrad Citizens Challenging the Decision of the Local Authorities

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A Successful Public Review of the Communal Housing Economy in the Town of Pervomaisk

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Dear Reader, This publication contains some real and outspoken stories which feature the accomplishments of the first grant round implemented in Chernihiv, Donetsk, Luhansk, Lviv, Kirovohrad, Khmelnytskyi, and Kherson oblast during the period of February – September of 2010 within the framework of the UNDP Civil Society Development Programme (CSDP). The objective of the CSDP is to develop the managerial and policymaking capacities of the Ukrainian civil society organizations (CSOs) to protect the rights and represent the interests of the vulnerable groups of people as well as enhance citizens’ participation in the local decision-making process. The CSDP is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and implemented by the UNDP Ukraine during 2009 – 2012

As a result of CSDP work, 22 CSOs in 7 oblasts have assisted over 2500 representatives of various vulnerable groups in protecting their rights and representing their interests. Some stories portray fascinating examples of personal transformation of individuals, when over 20 young adults with handicap realized their right to pursue education, or a few dozens of individuals with physical and mental disabilities bettered their chances for community integration through a series of awareness raising and social inclusion activities.

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Empowering people to exercise better control over their lives is achieved through facilitating citizens’ participation and multiplied by the establishment of cooperation with local authorities. As a result of the project activities, the local authorities, passed over 50 policy decisions which favored projects’ target groups or local communities in general. Among the examples of the CSDP success stories in this area are changes in the local policies to expedite the communal housing reform as well as mobilized financial resources from local budget to fund social programmes run by CSOs.

It is our hope that this brochure will serve as a source of inspiration for the CSOs and encourage them to develop and excel. On behalf of the UNDP I would like to thank all grantee organizations for their dedicated work, enthusiasm and commitment to change life for better. A special thank you to the main characters of these stories for making this brochure vivid and exuberant.

Olivier Adam UNDP Resident Representative

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“Nadiya” — Giving Hope, Aspiring Action

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ur story is about those, who learned how to enjoy every single day of their lives despite their illnesses. About those, who turn every day of sufferings into a day of victory. About those who, once rejected for their disability, make titanic efforts to prove their equality with us, demonstrating their endeavors and a will well superior to ours. This story is about a few characters amongst the children and youth of Drohobych, aged between six and thirty, who have received better chances to socialize with their community. Supported by the UNDP Civil Society Development Programme, it was possible to create a youth Center consisting of an arts studio, handicraft workshop, and sports club and obtain all the necessary equipment and materials to work with children and youth with special needs.

Some twenty five youngsters attend the arts studio. It is here where they get a new view of the world and harmonize the feel of it with their inner state, overcome their own fear and stereotypes, discover themselves, and improve. Every child is unique. It takes a special key to open their hearts. Sometimes it takes years to find the right key, sometime just a few months to do so.

For instance seventeen year old Maria Konovalova, discovered her own talent for singing while attending the arts studio. Her outstanding performance at the “We Can!” concert, organized by the “Nadia” association came as a complete, but welcomed surprise to her friends.

While performing a song, she impressed the audience with both her singing and choreography. Until just recently, she had difficulties in following basic dance moves and struggled with the musical rhythm needed to perform songs. Now, she is capable of some dancing while she sings. Two little starlets, Arsen and Alina Mikulski, were the youngest artists and shone brightly. It takes little effort now for Arsen to impersonalize characters from a sketch show. Just recently, in the company of his younger sister the two of them made their debut as singers. By performing a few children’s songs during a tour to the town of Sambir and at the “We Can!” concert, Arsen and Alina proved to the public that despite their medical conditions, the book of their life story will contain far more then a few pages and will be written in bright colours.

At handicraft workshops children and young people with special needs express their feelings through embroidery, beads-knitting, drawing, patchwork and other arts. Their level of satisfaction and happiness is immense when real masterpieces come out as a result of their meticulous handiwork. At first not even being able to hold a thread in her fingers, Tetiana Novak has mastered embroidery and decorative beading techniques. Tetiana has got so involved in this new hobby, that she now spends not only all her leisure time on this but also attends decoration classes. Embroidery has grown into a real hobby for Maria Protsidym as well. She has made a few dozen miniature embroideries and happily shows these to friends and family. Embroidery has traditionally been viewed as a women’s pastime, but here that

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is not so. It is a creative hobby that many boys as well as girls happily take part in. In particular, two youngsters, Maksym Boris and Denys Ivanochko got interested in bead-knitting. Key rings decorated with beads by the teenagers, were among the top selling items at the “We Can!” charity festival. Besides visitors from the “Nadia” Association, tourists to the town are now also rather familiar with our Christmas and Easter souvenirs and decorated Easter eggs.

The sports and rehabilitation club offers physical fitness exercises and trains champions. Sports exercises help keep the body and mind fit. The recent integration sports games called “Sport Will Make Us Equal” discovered a number of sporting talents. Both individually and as a team, the participants were able to show their aptitude in track and field, darts, arm wrestling, relay, games, and in a friendly football match.

In addition to some regular active participants, the games identified new sporting talents. For instance, Mykola Vatsutsiak, having won in the majority of exercises, has become a most active sportsman. He now trains daily in the gym, setting a good personal example for his peers to follow. All our sportsmen have acquired dozens of prizes and united into one sports family, which will continue its journey in life, overcoming difficulties and obstacles on the way.

Yet the biggest achievement of our Association is the fact that many of our children have not only used the services delivered by our Center, but also learned to become helpful in organizing and conducting various events or chaperoning younger members.

Particularly, the senior students have become real volunteers and helpers of our organization by taking responsibility over specific activities or their younger friends. It is now, that we can truly see that our work and patience invested in these children did not go wasted.

Natalia Kulyniak Arts Studio Coordinator Iryna Dziurakh Project Manager

http://csdp.org.ua Chapter I. Representing the interests and protecting the rights of vulnerable groups of people

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A Window to the World for Visually Disabled People

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t’s a common fact that people with visual disabilities live in their closed worlds, completely alien to individuals without disabilities.

But when someone endeavors to help a visually disabled person not to feel inferior, then the boundaries between these two worlds disappear giving way to such project as ours– Horlivka “Typhlocenter – a Window to the World”, offering computer classes for blind people and people with visual disabilities.

Yet another big issue for us, people with special needs, is the inability to study in a regular computer class for people without disabilities. It’s just not possible.

The beginning of the 21st century has witnessed the penetration of computers into our lives making us almost incapable to function without them. The Internet has established itself as a source for almost any type of information including electronic libraries, translators and multimedia, etc. It seems that the computer has the ability to solve any problem as well as answer any questions.

Not so long ago, the computer became a reliable helper for visually disabled people. However, in order to gain confidence in exploiting it on a regular basis, one needs to learn how to use it. Imagine how difficult it may be for an individual who can not see a monitor or a keyboard?

The management of the Horlivka Project “Typhlocenter – a Window to the World” accepted a huge responsibility in helping people with special needs to become part of a society which is not able to get around without technologies.

We, the members of the Horlivka Association of Visually Disabled Persons, have been awaiting such a project for a very long time.

Now, like diligent students, we eagerly attend computer classes. In addition to the computer classes, we also take English language classes.

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Thanks to the Project Coordinator Leonid Komarov, in a short period of time we have learned how to look up popular websites with useful information and use software to read textbooks with a computerized voice. We have even learnt how to find and listen to our favorite music!

As it turns out, its pretty simple to find new friends with the help of the Internet and we now all have e-mail. News sites also keep us informed on any recent developments in the world. The bottom line is that we have opened ourselves up to a whole new world of opportunities, with our computers voicing it all for us.

For many of us this Project is the sole opportunity to break the isolation of being closed off, alone with our disability. This project is our opportunity to live a full life. Much praise and thanks must be given to all the organizations that have supported us, including the UNDP and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.

Another remarkable result of the Project is that some of us had never met each other before despite the fact that we live in the same town and are united by the same problem. Now we have made friends with each other and spend more time together.

Our Project is not only educational but community enhancing. It has brought us together.

Tetiana Yarydina Visually disabled participant of the Horlivka Project “Typhlocenter – a Window to the World”

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Chernihiv Mini Print Shop Gives a Chance TO People with Mental Disabilities

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ow persons with mental disabilities from Chernihiv can learn how to work in a mini-print shop and produce notepads.

This has been made possible due to a Chernihiv charitable organization called ‘Logos’ and its project ‘Creating the miniprint shop as a model for employment for people with disabilities’. This project is supported by the UNDP Civil Society Development Programme.

When embarking on their adult lives, young persons with mental disabilities seem to be completely unprepared. Their lack of life and work skills is the result of their social isolation from their childhood onwards.

Unfortunately, people with various types of mental limitations do not have an opportunity to realize their right to work, especially given their severe degree of disability. Hence, the implementation of the Project in our region has in general become a successful practice that may be replicated in other regions, to be used as a social model of labor or daycare activities for people with special needs.

For the Project ‘A Mini Print Shop as a Model of Labor Employment of Disabled People’ we have carefully selected easy-to-use and maintain equipment: cutter, laminator, and binder. Supervised by student volunteers, some thirty individuals with special needs underwent six-months of training to be able to work with the note pad-making equipment. Young people with disabilities now eagerly come to our workshop where they produce various hand-made greeting cards and note pads in a variety of designs.

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During the training period we produced some 500 note pads of different sizes, 100 greeting cards and 50 drawing pads.

During various exhibitions and fairs organized in town, we managed to sell 350 note pads, 50 greeting cards and collected nearly UAH 1000 in charitable donations. This was the start of our fundraising campaign aimed at raising funds to purchase a new binder, which uses metal spirals to bind note pads. This stitcher is needed to expand our activities in the print shop.

By exhibiting our products at various events, we have studied customer demand among various target groups and learnt of their preferences regarding sizes and design of note pads.

Our biggest achievement in this Project implementation has been the fact that we have managed to create a social model of labor employment for people with limited abilities – an effective mini print shop.

Nadia Lozben Head, Chernihiv City Charitable Organization of Parents and Disabled Children ‘Logos’

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See Kherson with Eyes Wide Shut

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ithin the framework of the project “The Dream is Close: from Youth Initiatives to Local Policy Involving the Vulnerable Groups of Youth” the Kherson City Center of Youth Initiatives “Totem” supported the initiative of the Kherson Office of the “Successful Action Generation”, a Ukrainian Organization of Visually Disabled People. This initiative involved people with visual disabilities, volunteers, and journalists in a city quest to assess the accessibility of the city infrastructure for the visually disabled people and offer recommendations for improvement. The project was made possible by funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and implemented by the UNDP Civil Society Development Programme.

On the 14th of May 2010 the city of Kherson saw an extraordinary event – a quest “Kherson through the Eyes of the Blind”. This event did not only have widespread publicity but personally involved the journalists. To expose the Kherson citizens to a positive experience, representatives of Kharkiv’s visually disabled community were invited to take part in the event. Kharkiv was in a similar situation with the needs of the blind ignored until it managed to establish an enterprise that now produces audio devices, twenty of which have been installed in the city’s streets and subway.

Three teams comprising of Kherson and Kharkiv citizens with visual disabilities, volunteers, and journalists were formed. Starting at the railway terminal the teams set out on a ten-stage trip. Each stage comprised of special tasks written in Braille. Volunteers helped find the answers for complex questions on-line and communicated these via cell phones. The volunteers were represented several organizations: the Volunteer Agency of the Social Partnership Center, the “Quest.ua” public organization, students of the Kherson Higher School of Service and Design, the Center for Readers with Special Needs of the Kherson Scientific Library.

The journalists turned out to be the real heroes. Apart from walking the streets they also went farther and used public transportation with headbands covering their eyes. It became apparent that the journalists joined the action not to take advantage of later producing catchy and attractive articles, but to personally and professionally support the initiative of the visually disabled people.

The quest ended with the winners being awarded prizes and a press conference. A speech by the Deputy Head of the Kherson Court of Appeal Mr. Lobodzinsky, described the installation of traffic lights with sound devices at the Court’s adjacent intersection.

Introduced at the Court’s own initiative, these devices have resulted in a decreased number of traffic accidents at the site.

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A presentation by Mr. Oleg Lopatiuk, a Kharkiv delegate of the National Assembly of People with Disabilities, spoke of the success story of the Kharkiv organization. Having waited for a long time for the Kharkiv town authorities to create an enabling environment, the Organization formed a firm that now produces street crossing sound devices and installs them in the town.

A separate issue deserving attention is that of finding sponsors. The quest initiators had the objective to involve sponsors who would eventually assist in purchasing a sound device and installing it on the intersection close to the sponsors’ trading malls. The sound device cost UAH 550 yet the most frequent response from the companies having multi-million UAH turnovers was “the company does not have such funds available”. Luckily a positive response came from one company ‘MKP Prozerpina’, who agreed to release the necessary funds after a telephone call. Unfortunately, by the time the sound device was delivered to Kherson a different owner took over the property and the device was installed at the intersection by the school attended by the visually disabled students.

Yet this is not the only positive result of this initiative. As a direct result of participation in the event, the ‘Successful Action Generation’ identified new partners who have already started to assist the Organization to make Kherson a friendlier environment for people with special needs.

For instance, the Volunteer Agency of the Social Partnership Center, wrote a letter to a Dutch charity foundation asking them to ship to Kherson a significant number of sound devices which the ‘Successful Action Generation’ would then install in the city. In the meantime, the Center for Readers with Special Needs helped organize hiking trips in September 2010 for visually disabled persons and a photo exhibition of works by visually impaired photographers.

It is this multiplying effect, a collective effort by various groups and organizations aimed at making an improvement, that the “Totem” Organization was aiming at. The Project’s governing principle became the creation of discussion groups that identify which initiatives deserve support and what resources could be pulled together by the local community for its implementation.

Olena Afanasieva Project Coordinator http://csdp.org.ua Chapter I. Representing the interests and protecting the rights of vulnerable groups of people

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Now We Are Independent!

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he UNDP Civil Society Development Programme increases the chances of people with special needs to access quality education.

“This Project opens new horizons for our organization’s capacity development. It creates an enabling environment for the introduction of changes to affect not only the target audience – people with disabilities – but the key persons who formulate policy and make decisions”, says Tatiana Barantsova, Head of the Luhansk Association of Young Disabled People of Eastern Donbass – Skhid. This organization became one of the winners in a grant competition and started a project entitled ‘The Creation of a Social Partnership Model to Enable People with Disabilities the Right to Access Education’. The first results did not take long to show up.

A Legal and Social Consulting Service, started along the lines of Project activities, has given assistance to over thirty individuals with special needs. These results are hard to overestimate. Its scope of operation is not limited to the boundaries of the Luhansk oblast only, let alone the town. A vivid example is a 31-year old disabled Lviv native, Svitlana Shpakovska, who was dismissed from her University after she became handicapped. After a much legal consultation and psychological counseling by the Luhansk organization she managed to get readmitted to the University.

Another story speaks of a University student-to-be from Alchevsk, Luhansk oblast, 17-year-old Valentyna Khoruzha. Valentyna has been wheelchair-bound since her childhood, but strives to get a University education. After consultation from the Luhansk Association on the possibilities of getting education, selecting her major, and prospective employment, Valentyna and her mother had an appointment with the Vice-Rector of the Luhansk State University of Culture and Arts. After the meeting Valentyna was invited to enter one of the faculties of her preference in lieu of the faculty of her primary choice which was to become a stage director. Valentyna has now taken some time to make up her mind.

The Project results can be explained by the integrated approach taken by the Association in dealing with the issues of accessing education for people with special needs. For example, the Association takes concrete actions to overcome architectural and social barriers to education for people with disabilities. An example of this is electric lifting equipment purchased with a grant and installed

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on a van that makes on-boarding /off-boarding of handicapped passengers easy. In fact, the lack of such a basic ability to the normal functioning of groups with limited mobility curtails their chances of community socialization, where the role of education is of an utmost importance.

In addition, the Organization conducts public audits of the architectural accessibility of educational facilities in town and the oblast and advocates for the creation of a barrier-free and accessfriendly environment in educational institutions. The Organization collaborates with local authorities to influence policy development and decision-making in this regard. It intends to continue pursuing this endeavor in the future as well.

Vasyl Romanyuk Public Information Specialist UNDP Civil Society Development Programme»

«My name is Valentyna Khoruzha. This year I am applying to the Luhansk National Taras Shevchenko University, Faculty of Psychology. To be able to get a decent education I need support from civil society organizations. Yet the major problem is the issue with transportation. If you only knew how much I am excited to know our van is now equipped with an electric lift to ease boarding and getting around town. And I’m not the only one who’s excited! A big thank you to everyone who takes care of us! » Valentyna Khoruzha, 17, Alchevsk» (a thank you note from Association’s client)

«Dear Friends!

My name is Kostia Kriukov. After I sustained a trauma I move around in a wheelchair. I like working with a computer, socializing with friends, and attending interesting events. The biggest challenge is long distances that are hard to cover in a wheelchair. I’m not saying I’m afraid to use some elbow-grease, but it gets difficult at times. Now we have a cool lift that makes my car boarding a fun. BINGO! This is it! Thank you so much to those who purchased it!»

Kostia Kriukov, 14, Luhansk» (a thank you note from Association’s client)

http://csdp.org.ua Chapter I. Representing the interests and protecting the rights of vulnerable groups of people

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Help Yourself by Helping Others — youth initiatives

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ithin the framework of the project ‘The Dream is Close: from Youth Initiatives to Local Policy Involving the Vulnerable Groups of Youth’ the Kherson City Center of Youth Initiatives ‘Totem’ supported the joint initiative of students of the Kherson School of Service and Design and Tsiurupynsk boarding school for disabled children. The project aimed to develop volunteer skills among the student of the Kherson School of Service and Design whilst at the same time enhance communication skills among disabled children and their peers from the ‘outside world’, as a step to community socialization and adaptation. The project was made possible by funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and implemented by the UNDP Civil Society Development Programme.

A significant part of the Kherson School’s student body is made up of those classified as ‘vulnerable youth’ such as orphans, children with single parents, persons with alcohol abuse problems, etc. Witnessing the social inequality of the disabled children at the boarding school, the students eagerly volunteered to help. This triggered a feeling of being useful, needed, and gave the students a purpose. The disabled students of the Tsiurupynsk barding school experience a severe lack of communication with the ‘outside world’ as their visitors are mainly older persons representing sponsors and the charity community. This leaves them with very few chances to communicate with their able-bodied peers. During the first visit to the boarding school a plan for the next event was made.

Its objective was to have five students from the School of Service and Design – future hairdressers and stylists and their supervisor, style the hair of five disabled students for their school’s graduation prom. This school prom is one of the most important events in the life of a teenager, especially for the girls who want to look beautiful. These students with special needs can dance in their wheelchairs, but to have their hair done professionally, let alone visit a beauty salon, was an unreachable dream. For them their professional hair styles were the best experiences in their lives. Other boarding school students, witnessing these amazing transformations, have now ‘besieged’ the volunteers. As a result, the hairdressers-to-be have created some five to seven hairdos

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each! While taking care of those, they were approached by the Deputy Principal of the other Tsiurupynsk specialized school #2, asking them to visit other graduates from her school. The girls immediately accepted the invitation despite being extremely tired.

The following day saw many more students with new and fancy hairstyles.

This initiative turned out to be both valuable and needed. It included volunteerism, communication and the ability to use one’s existing skills to help those in need, who valued it immensely.

While at the same time, for the vulnerable youth volunteers, their involvement in these social activities gave them a purpose and sense of achievement which may in the future help prevent them from continuing with their bad habits and risky behavior. By helping others they have helped themselves.

Now more activities are underway, which have turned to be useful both for students from the School of Service and Design and disabled students from the boarding school. During their last planned event, the students who participated in the project received a certificate of appreciation from the Kherson City Mayor. This was their first experience of dealing with municipal authorities. To some, this may seem insignificant but a mere acknowledgement of one’s efforts by the Mayor significantly raised self-esteem amongst volunteers. They now know that their good deeds do not go unnoticed.

Olena Afanasieva Project Coordinator

http://csdp.org.ua Chapter I. Representing the interests and protecting the rights of vulnerable groups of people

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Youth With Special Needs ProTect their Right for Education “Singing has been my dream since I was a child”, says Svitlana sharing her life story. “When I was at school I would always take part in singing contests and talent shows. Usually I would win a prize. So when it was time to choose my career, I never had a second thought. I chose one of the country’s leading vocal training Universities”.

Starting her degree, Svitlana dived deep into student life and dreamt of a happy and promising future. Then her life was turned upside down. “The world around me just froze”, grieves Svitlana. “All of a sudden the colors turned to shades of black. Life lost any meaning. The more I thought about my situation, the more my hopes and dreams disappeared. They just evaporated, leaving me with nothing but a hideous wheelchair.”

Then suddenly when Svitlana’s need to keep hold of the slightest piece of hope, was more important than ever, she received another blow. Her University had decided to expel her because of her disabled status. The bridge, that until recently joined her to her cherished future, had been destroyed.

But Svitlana wouldn’t let go. By accident she came across information about the ‘Association of Young Disabled People of Eastern Donbass’ – SKHID, a Luhansk youth CSO that had started to implement a project called ‘The Creation of a Social Partnership Model to Enable People with Disabilities the Right to Access Education’. Shortly after she wrote a letter to SKHID, Svitlana received a call from Tetiana Barantsova, the Director of the Association of Young Disabled People.

After numerous meetings and a supporting letter from the SKHID, Svitlana left for the capital in her pursuit of a lost life and the right to education. Unfortunately, her first encounter with the University staff did not leave much to hope, especially at a time when her self-esteem was very low after months of physical and mental isolation. They told her that a singer’s career and a wheelchair did not mix! Svitlana again turned to SKHID for advice. The girl was granted an appointment with the University’s Chancellor and

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after an agonizing, day-long wait the supporting letter from SKHID and Svitlana’s charisma gave the Chancellor no choice but to reverse the University’s decision and re-enroll her. Currently Svitlana is a third-year student and is passing her exams. She has also gained much more confidence because for the first time since becoming disabled, Svitlana has crossed the huge distance from one end of the country to the other. She spent thirty hours on a train to make it to the SKHID seminar ‘Creation of a Social Partnership Model to Enable People with Disabilities the Right to Access Education’ in Luhansk. Now with thanks to SKHID, Svitlana is singing again.

Following her first success, Svitlana has received advice on transport provision in the capital, individual mentor opportunities and student dormitory accommodation, as guaranteed by the Law of Ukraine on Social Security of Disabled Persons in Ukraine. In addition to Svitlana, 120 other people with special needs have received counseling services to help ensure the right for education. This has been delivered by the friendly open social and legal consultancy of the Luhansk Association of Young Disabled Persons, made possible by the UNDP’s Civil Society Development Programme.

Tatiana Barantsova Director, Luhansk Association of Young Disabled People of Eastern Donbass – «Skhid» Vasyl Romanyuk Public Information Specialist UNDP Civil Society Development Programme

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Life Without Barriers, or Is There Light at the End of the Tunnel?

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he life of Oleksandr was similar to hundreds of his peers. Full of dreams, expectations and the anticipation of something better to come. Work at the coal mine offered a stable, albeit modest living. His feeling of security and stability was constantly undermined by the safety threats that existed everywhere a mile down. Yet trouble found him where he least expected it, at home. Whilst doing the household chores he sustained an injury that changed his whole life.

Then there was a hospital visit and a diagnosis, which confirmed his handicapped status. Oleksandr had had the ground kicked out from under his feet. Long, dark, days followed one another deepening his feeling that the end was nigh.

“We heard about Oleksandr from an acquaintances of his that visited our center”, recalls Grygoriy Kalashnikov, the “Life Without Barriers” Project Manager in Sverdlovsk, Luhansk oblast. “Being completely lost and disillusioned was endangering his life”, maintains Mr. Kalashnikov. As a result of complete social and physical isolation his condition deteriorated, while lack of mobility and movement led to the loss of a kidney.

“When we first met, Oleksandr appeared very reserved and reluctant to what we were suggesting to him”, Mr. Kalashnikov, who is wheelchair bound himself, continues. After a series of consultations with a trained psychologist, followed by the membership of the sports and rehabilitation center, the life of Oleksandr began to improve. “It’s hard to overestimate the impact the Project has had in this situation and many other instances as well”, says Mr. Kalashnikov. The Project Mr. Kalashnikov refers to is supported by the Civil Society Development Programme, falling within the framework of “Improving the Rights and Situation of Vulnerable Groups”. Now Oleksandr regularly attends table tennis session and gets a lot out of them.

As far as the impact and achievements of the Project are concerned, the Project Manager and his team have a lot to share. Since the start of the Project a ‘social taxi service’ has been renewed and co-financed providing for the transportation of over forty handicapped passengers. Notably, the Organization enables better transparency and accountability of local authorities. For instance, the Project staff conducted an audit of the existing social taxi service. It revealed a number of shortcomings in the previously established rules and regulations regarding the identification and transportation of end users, the eligible groups of people who are the Project’s focus. The audit results and recommendations were presented to the local authorities who co-finance this initiative. With regards to this the local authorities have taken steps to ensure better transparency and increase the efficiency of the taxi service.

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The Project staff comprises completely of people with disabilities. This recruitment policy enabled about seventy people with special needs in Sverdlovsk, realize their right to work. The Project also started an Information and Consultancy Center which offers legal, psychological, and rehabilitation services for disabled persons free of charge. In the course of the first two months some forty people with special needs were provided with legal and psychological assistance.

In addition to this, the Project conducted a public audit of the existing social infrastructure facilities to assess their disabled accessibility and then gave recommendations to be included into a reconstruction project documentation. The recommendations were delivered to the local Department of Architecture supervising the reconstruction of four of the town’s hospital buildings. Such positive influence was made possible due to the inclusion of Project representatives into the local Accessibility Committee, a public advisory board to the local authorities. Thanks to membership of this Committee, the Project representatives managed to solicit local authorities’ approval to introduce a ‘request stop mode’ for public transportation. This alone is a significant development in ensuring the creation of a barrier-free and access-friendly environment for people with special needs.

Vasyl Romanyuk Public Information Specialist UNDP Civil Society Development Programme

http://csdp.org.ua Chapter I. Representing the interests and protecting the rights of vulnerable groups of people

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How to Improve an Effectiveness and Transparency of a Technical Inventory Bureau

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ven if you have never visited a Technical Inventory Bureau (TIB) in your city, you must have heard from your friends or colleagues that TIBs are not about transparency and simplicity. It appears, these institutions were formed according to one all embracing and ambiguous principle and are, identical in their complexity and intricacy. Yet, there are exceptions that need to be noted.

HOW IT ALL HAPPENED The idea to improve the administrative services in Sverdlovsk came about in 2009. It was supported both by the local authorities and the town community. It would have remained just an idea if not for the support of the UNDP Civil Society Development Programme. The idea was to assist the local authorities in Sverdlovsk in developing the standards of administrative services. The Luhansk Agency for Sustainable Development partnered with the Sverdlovsk Agency for Regional Development to implement the project in Sverdlovsk. The Sverdlovsk Agency was established and managed by Vadym Epstein, a local lawyer and Town Council member.

Shortly after the project started, targeting the improvement of administrative services including those provided by the TIB, Vadym Epstein was given the opportunity by the local authorities to take over the Sverdlovsk TIB. This introduced a certain degree of uncertainty with regards to the future of the project. For example who would continue the activities of the NGO? How could the Project’s initiatives be completed? The answers to these questions were quick to emerge. By joining the efforts of the Luhansk Agency with Mr. Epstein’s NGO background, it became possible to introduce significant improvements to the work of the Sverdlovsk TIB in a shorter period of time than had been originally envisaged.

PLEASE MEET THE NEW TIB The first issue to attract the attention of the new director was its business hours, which included only two visitor days per week. Mr.

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«In fact, it doesn’t take much to improve the work of any institution.

One needs to instill a management system that has a staff member follow a procedural routine rather then be creative in finding solutions...»

Vadym Epstein Director Sverdlovsk Technical Inventory Bureau Epstein found this unacceptable and immediately took action. A former civil society organization leader and now the TIB director, Mr. Epstein increased the number of working days from four to five. He also issued a regulation that made every working day a visitor day. This meant that the residents of Sverdlovsk now got five visitor days instead of the original two to take care of their business.

The second regulation Mr. Epstein passed issued specific procedures for every staff member. Such innovations initially caused dissatisfaction among some employees. Eventually TIB staff realized that the new operating schedule, policies and procedures to work with visitors, turned out to be convenient not only for their clients but also for them. The business process was optimized, making the TIB’s work more efficient. The number of clients waiting to be seen lessened as both waiting time and queues were cut. This resulted in an improved working environment and improved staff morale. The citizens of Sverdlovsk also noted the improvements. This was reflected in a sociological poll conducted in May 2010. The study showed that customer satisfaction had increased to some 80%.

THE BEST IS YET TO COME The lack of any guards adds to customer satisfaction among the TIB visitors.

Thirteen guards were replaced by a network of CCTV cameras which record surveillance footage on a hard drive. This has made the services delivered by the TIB more transparent and the work of the TIB staff more accountable, alleviating worries of potential visitors. As TIB director, Vadym Epstein also plans to introduce a web-camera in the visitor reception hall enabling any Internet user to observe the service provided to visitors.

Oleksiy Kubar Head, Luhansk Region Sustainable Development Agency http://csdp.org.ua Chapter II. Enhancing citizens’ involvement in the process of decision-making on the local level

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‘Public Initiatives’ Advocates for the Rights of Kirovohrad Citizens Challenging the Decision of the Local Authorities

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imed at the improvement of the public’s ability to check the activities of local authorities, the Kirovohrad Association ‘Public Initiatives’ has made significant progress in instilling public influence over decisions adopted by the local authorities. These results have been made possible by holding public council meetings, conducting legal consultations and the involvement of community leaders and members of parliament. A vivid example of the project’s influence is the positive experience in protecting the rights of the local communities in Kirovohrad, the wellbeing of its citizens, the adoption of transparent and fare decisions by the authorities and the enhancement of democratic governance principles.

Groundless Tariffs Will not Do In July of 2010 the Kirovohrad Association ‘Public Initiatives’ was approached by local residents whose buildings were maintained by the communal servicing company “KREP”. The residents sought assistance in preparing a public appeal to the Prosecutor’s Office. They wished to launch an investigation against senior staff of “KREP”, who ignored the statutory procedure to hold public hearings before implementing any tariff increase. Based on “KREP’s” fraudulent process, the City Council adopted a decision on the housing tariffs increase.

The ‘Public Initiatives’ Association’s lawyers prepared their case and submitted it in order for the Prosecutor’s Office to launch an investigation. Based on the investigation results, the Kirovohrad Prosecutor’s Office commenced legal action and lodged an objection to the City Council’s decision. Unfortunately, the City Council ignored this objection. Following this, the residents of the apartment buildings, serviced by “KREP”, filed a lawsuit and won. Based on the court’s decision, the housing tariffs were revised in the interests of the residents.

A Stadium Is Saved!

On the 16thof February 2010, a 9992 м2 plot of land used since 2004 by the Kirovohrad Olympic Sports School as a back-up baseball stadium, was rezoned and ‘appropriated’ by a group of ten individuals (including city council members and their relatives) for private housing construction under Kirovohrad City Council Resolution #3167.

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Based on the Articles 50, 51, and 80 of the Land Code of Ukraine that such land plots are treated as recreational facilities and may not be appropriated, the Public Prosecutor lodged a protest against the resolution. This objection was rejected by the City Council Members.

Initiated by the Kirovohrad Association ‘Public Initiatives’, a Public Council meeting was held to discuss the situation whilst an information enquiry was forwarded to the Mayor of the city.

To generate public awareness the Association involved a wide range of community leaders including: the Kirovohrad Regional Club ‘For the Lawful State’, the Kirovohrad Olympic Sports School, the Kirovohrad Department of the National Olympics Committee, the Kirovohrad Department of the National Human Rights Protection Committee, the Association of Entrepreneurs, the public organization ‘Self-Reliance’, the Kirovohrad Regional Organization of People with Disabilities, local Media, and others.

On the 20th of September 2010 the Kirovohrad Association ‘Public Initiatives’ also raised this issue during a public hearing. In turn, the City Prosecutor’s Office commenced legal action against the City Council regarding the resolution which resulted in its eventual cancellation.

Following this chain of events, aimed at raising public awareness regarding the activities of the local authorities, the City Council’s resolution was widely publicized amongst the local community, state authorities, sports and public organizations and the Media. This generated public outcry against the resolution. Under increasing pressure from the public and the Regional State Administration, the individuals who were illegally granted rights of ownership of the allotted land plots, eventually gave up these rights.

Valeriy Zborovskyi Project Coordinator http://csdp.org.ua Chapter II. Enhancing citizens’ involvement in the process of decision-making on the local level

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A Successful Public Review of the Communal Housing Economy in the Town of Pervomaisk

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he practice of successful public review to enjoy the support of local authorities and to expedite the communal housing reform through forming of associations of condominium co-owners in town.

Is it possible to conduct a public review of the activity of a local governmental body? Well, yes, if the given parties to the process, the public and the local authorities, favor positive changes and as a joint effort try to accommodate the issues of the community. The proof for this assertion can be found in the activity of an NGO called the Luhansk Center for Political and Social Research “Politsocium”. As a direct result of collaboration with Politsocium, Pervomaisk Town Council of the Luhansk oblast, passed a resolution that warrants the public review of the activities of the Pervomaisk Town Council and its subsidiaries. This is, perhaps, the first instance in the country, when a resolution about public review has been adopted by a local self-government body.

It is a common fact that every Ukrainian town encounters severe problems in the ‘economy’ of communal housing. These include but are not limited to the influence of the current economic and financial crisis, scarce funding, and unsatisfactory quality of services provided. A way to address these issues is to start reforming the economics of communal housing. Something the head of the Politsocium, CSO Mr. Volodymyr Ivanov, suggested to the town mayor. The first step was the passing of a resolution by the town mayor that warranted public review of the implementation of the municipal programme for reforming communal housing.

The methodology for the review served the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine as of 05.11.2008 # 976 “On Approving the Public Review of the Activities of the Executive Bodies”.

In the course of the review, the study was aimed at: forming a market of the communal housing services, the activity of already functioning associations of condominium co-owners (ACC), fixing and reconstructing the apartment buildings, waste disposal, heating and hot water supply, drinking water supply, and the involvement of the citizens by the town’s Executive Committee in solving the issues, including the approval of the tariffs for the communal housing services. For instance, a public review study shows that communal housing tariffs are designed in such a manner that 43% of all funds generated is allocated to staff salaries and 39% on taxes and mandatory payments. Only 8% is spent on building materials, 7% on energy supply and 3% on miscellaneous payments.

The loss-making of the communal housing economy is aggravated by the fact that wear and tear of the municipal water pipelines is 80% that leads to some 40% loss of water supplied to the town. The wear and tear ratio of the central heating equipment varies between 60%-80% with efficiency of around 70%. Forming the associations of the condominium co-owners can save good costs: the monies spent on the salaries of expanded staff, abundant tax payments and charges may be re-allocated to the fixing and replacing of worn out and outdated communal equipment.

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Based on the public review by “Politsocium”, an expert opinion was prepared, which included recommendations for the Pervomaisk Town Council and its Executive Committee, favoring the creation of the associations of condominium co-owners. The Pervomaisk mayor willingly acceptance the public review, as a tool to enhance the implementation of the local municipal programmes by the local authorities.

As a result of this on 25 May 2010, the Pervomaisk Town Council passed a resolution that warranted ‘Public review of the Activities of the Town Council and its Executive Bodies’. Following this the recommendations of the public review were included in the Resolution by the town’s Executive Committee on 12 July 2010.

In particular, a list of activities to enhance the creation of ACCs included:

1. Employ the most effective and efficient forms of ACC management, through a number of cost-effective mechanisms.

Including the most optimal taxation system, management system that alleviate ACC operation costs.

2. Exploit the current legal framework to facilitate the forming of ACCs of condos with fewer apartments to favor such formations, especially where the costs collection is scarce.

3. The communal housing service department was tasked to provide all necessary and mandatory most current documentation to the newly established ACCs that would eliminate extra cost for producing those in the future.

4. The communal housing service department was tasked to open separate accounts per every condominium and to approve a schedule of reconstruction with their housing committees to ensure transparency in cost spending and encourage the formation of the new ACCs.

This Resolution facilitates the reforming of the communal housing economy in town through the development of existing and the creation of the new associations in the town of Pervomaisk.

Volodymyr Ivanov Head, "Politsotcium" Regional Center for Political and Sociological Research

http://csdp.org.ua Chapter II. Enhancing citizens’ involvement in the process of decision-making on the local level

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Organization

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Project title

Implementation period

Contact information

"Nadiya" Society for the Protection of Disabled Children

"Serving the needs and representing the interests of children and youth with special needs in the city of Drohobych"

20.12.2009 – 20.09.2010

4 Chornovola St., Drohobych; Lvivska oblast 82100 (03244) 3-59-45; (067) 456-11-47 nadiya_ua@ukr.net

"Nadiya" Charitable Foundtion

Horlivka typhlo-center - "Window to the world". "Creating computer learning typhlo-center and media library for visually disabled people

20.12.2009 – 20.06.2010

34 Komsomolska St., Horlivka Donetsk oblast 84626 (06242) 55-79-98; (050) 904-8505 80509048505; alladud@gmail.com; http://deti.dn.ua

"Logos" Charitable Organization for Disabled Children

Mini-print shop as an employment model for people with disabilities

20.12.2009 – 20.07.2010

40 Myru prospect, Chernihiv 14000 (067) 439-71-65, (050) 313-32-42 nad-lozben@yandex.ru; nnlozben@gmail.com

"Totem" Center for Youth Initiatives

The Dream is Close: from vulnerable youth initiatives to youth policy"

20.12.2009 – 20.09.2010

2-a Molodizhna St., Kherson 73000 (0552)26-6-072 , (066) 700-60-04 totem@public.kherson.ua http://totem.kherson.ua

"SKHID" Association of Young People with Disabilities of the Eastern Donbas Region

Creation of a social partnership model to ensure access to education for disabled people"

20.12.2009 – 20.09.2010

59 Volodarskoho St., Off. 105; Luhansk 91005 (0642) 71-99-69 ; (095) 808-44-04 ami-cxid@ukr.net; http://ami-cxid.org.ua/

"Life Without Barriers" Union of People with Disabilities

Creating an accessible environment for persons with disabilities in the city and disctrict of Sverdlovsk of Luhansk region

20.12.2009 – 20.07.2010

2 Kosiora St., Sverdlovsk Luhansk oblast 94800 (050) 976-21-87 ; (097) 326-64-64 schwarzgold@rambler.ru; http://behinderte.ucoz.ru

Luhansk Region Sustainable Development Agency

Creation of information centers for administrative services in the cities of Sverdlovsk and Severodonetsk"

20.12.2009 31.07.2010

45-a Brativ Palkinykh St., Off. 24 Luhansk 91016 (0642) 58-19-98, (0642) 58-50-06 LRASD@ua.fm; kubar@ua.fm http://www.open.lg.ua

"Politsotsium" Regional Center for Political and Sociological Research

"Public review of the program of reforming the housing and communal services management in Pervomaysk"

20.12.2009 30.06.2010

46 Oktiabrska St., Luhansk 91055 (0642) 52-81-31, (097) 94-84-085 politsocium@ukr.net

"Civic Initiatives" Association

"Public initiatives in decision making"

20.12.2009 20.09.2010

8/22 Dekabrystiv St., Kirovohrad 25006 (0522) 24-35-29, (066) 49-86-34 association@monitoring.kr.ua; vozbor@ukr.net http://www.monitoring.kr.ua