Territory of Development: Community Mobilization in Ukraine

About this grant

The project goals are to strengthen community-based citizen self-organization and to build social capital and cohesion in Ukraine. To these ends, the Municipal Center for Humanistic Technologies "AHALAR" will build the capacity of community leaders to be agents of participatory local development. Through its training workshops, technical assistance, and study tours, the grantee will facilitate more widespread civic engagement within participants’ respective communities. The grantee’s online platform will be expanded to include crowdfunding capability for community projects. A systematic communications campaign will link online and offline activities to build public awareness of citizen self-organization. During 2012-2014, over 100 community activists participated directly in the grantee’s cycle of training workshops and study tours and helped implement over 45 community-based projects. These included a local battery recycling program and an online resource of local social, cultural and economic resources. Established in 1994, the grantee is based in Chernihiv, Ukraine, and works with community leaders and activists throughout Ukraine.