Civic Expeditions

About this grant

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the number of active non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Russia has greatly increased and more citizens are willing to participate in public life, especially at the local level. For the most part, this increased activity is concentrated in larger cities with higher population. This grant will support efforts to develop civil society in Russia’s smaller urban centers.Multiyear funding will enable the Perm Civic Chamber to conduct two- to five-day "civic expeditions" to seven small cities and towns in three regions of Russia. Five of these towns are located in the Perm region. Although each expedition will be unique to its location, a typical expedition will include seminars on topics concerning the creation and efficient functioning of NGOs; consultations with legal experts; talk shows and discussions with high school and university students on issues such as xenophobia, interethnic tolerance and human rights; and meetings with local authorities on effective interaction between government and NGOs. A final conference, including representatives of all the visited towns and participating NGOs, will conclude the project, with results disseminated as widely as possible.Perm Civic Chamber, established in 1996, provides legal, organizational and technical support for civil initiatives in the Perm region.