Annual Report 1998 INTRODUCTION Growing of the resource centers for public organizations (or NGOs) in different regions of Ukraine demonstrates essential growing of the third sector’s activity, that is the guarantee of the inevitable democratic changes in this country. To my mind, existence of the resource centers is caused not by the unwilling of the potential donors to maintain numerous and small NGOs, but vice verse - by the wishing to help them in the best way, having created the effective infrastructure of the third sector. Who but the public organizations themselves, which resource centers are, knows the needs of the sector? It is also very essential, that regional resource centers have young, but experienced stuff, that is not afraid of difficulties of chosen way and that is directed to achieving the goal - open civil society in Ukraine. HISTORY OF SETTING UP AND DEVELOPMENT GURT Resource Center for NGO Development was established by initiative of several famous youth organizations of Ukraine in October, 1995 in order to provide technical support for their development. Soon GURT’s activities became cover all spectrum of NGOs. The list of services was extremely increased. The most crusual is the development of intellectual services for NGOs – consultations, information processing and distributing, training. Since August, 1996 GURT is a part of AllUkrainian League of Resource Centers. And since March, 1997 GURT is a part of the Orpheus Network that consists of resource and information centers of Central and Eastern Europe and administrated by the European Foundation Center. GURT works for Kyiv city, and 4 Ukrainian regions: Cherkaska, Kirovohradska, Kyivska, Zhytomyrska oblasts. Where we conduct training seminars, consultations for NGOs, and also promoting the development of local centers for NGO support. Since June, 1998 GURT started program of volunteerism development in Ukraine. Volunteer Center “Dobra Volya” was set up. Its mission is mobilizing of human resources of community to support activities of NGOs. In September, 1998 we published first issue of bulletin for NGOs “Dobra Volya”.
MISSION GURT Resource Center for NGO Development – is non-profit public organization, whose mission is to promote the development of democratic society in Ukraine by strengthening the sector of public organizations. GURT performances – include providing technical, informational, consulting, methodological support for public organizations and initiative groups, developing social partnership, informing wide ranges of society and involving them in work of public organizations. Main tasks: Promote NGO development in Ukraine Informational support of NGOs Provide competent help for public organizations in their development and growth Increase the professional level of NGO’s personnel