- Program Civil Society
- Program Area Special Initiatives
- Grant Amount $130,000
- Grant Period July 1, 2008–June 30, 2010
- Location Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
- Geographic Focus Russia
About this grant
The program goal is to introduce new methods of activating communities, increasing local resource mobilization, and promoting social investment in Russia. Building on its two-year partnership project with the BORIS Association – Support Office for the Movement of Social Initiatives (of Poland), the Sluzhenye Association will introduce "social animators" as an innovative approach to engaging with active citizens at the community level in Nizhny Novgorod and three neighboring regions. Activities will include training workshops equipping participants to harness local citizen initiatives. Local activity centers will provide a focal point for citizens to develop plans for community action and improvement. Social animators will additionally be trained in local resource mobilization techniques to help finance community projects. A final workshop will be held to compare and learn from different experiences and methodologies in advancing citizen engagement in Russia. Established in 1994, the Sluzhenye Association is a leading provider of support and services for nongovernmental organizations and community leaders in the Nizhny Novgorod region.