Successful civil practices of 2014 were discussed in Minsk

On 14th November, a round table “Successful Civil Practices of 2014: “Exchange of Experience and Ways of Implementation” took place in Minsk.

The event was organized by the Assembly of NGOs to enhance the exchange of experience among regional civil activists.

15 NGO activists from Vorsha, Mahilieu, Homel, Lepel, Baranovichi, Brest, Vialejka, Slutsk and Minsk participated in the event.

Several participants made presentations about the campaigns they had implemented in 2014.Alaksiej Luzynski from Vialejka focused on the ways of engaging youth into civil projects, having told about local history project “Vialejka’s Heritage” that was held by his civil initiative last summer.

Alesia Jaroscyk, activist of the “For Cycling Brest” initiative told about cyclists’ campaign on facilitation of crossing Belarusan-Polish border on a bike. Thanks to the campaign, a new group, bike riders, became involved in the initiative’s activities and connections with Polish cyclists were launched.

Piotr Kuzniatsou from the Homel Regional Development Centre shared his experience gained within the “New Bielica” campaign, having stressed that non-governmental organizations, if managed correctly, often can be an alternative to existing governmental bodies and solve burning civil issues.

Zinaida Cimosak from Slutsk talked about her successful campaign, which she held together with activists from Kapyl and Slutsk. As a result of their activities and seven collective petitions, an extra bus route to Slutsk was opened, neglected territories in the local villages were cleaned and laying on water pipe in one of the village is under consideration.

In the end, the participants worked out recommendations for regional civil activists on cooperation with each other, NGO focus groups, authorities and the media. The round table participants exchanged contacts, some of them had ideas of common projects. Sharing their impressions on the round table, its participants thanked the Assembly for the inspiring opportunity to meet real people who have managed to gain success with their civil campaigns in Belarusan realities.