V4 Project for the Recovery of Ukraine

When one chapter ends, another one begins. And so while we wholeheartedly thank you all for your support in this project, we say goodbye with the expectation that we will come back in the future. See you all then! 👋

🥳 The success of a project can be evaluated through various factors, such as the expertise of the speakers, the engagement of the participants, and the overall flow of the program. We're delighted to share that our project excelled in all three aspects. 🌟🎤🔄

The final day of our project seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. It was a mix of joy and a bit of sadness, signaling both our enjoyment and the realization that it concluded too swiftly. Reflecting on the day, it was just as special as the preceding ones. Mykola Siusko kicked off the day by discussing different EU grants available to our participants, adding the final layer to the knowledge 'building' we aimed to construct for them. Now equipped with goals, expertise, and avenues for funding, our participants are well-prepared. And to wrap up, Romain Le Quiniou provided a broader perspective, zooming out to discuss Ukrainian reconstruction in the geopolitical context. He highlighted the significant role our participants have played and will continue to play in this process. 🏗️💡💰

After the sessions, there was a bit of time to unwind, make some pictures, and create lasting memories. We carry these experiences with us into the future. 🌟📸🌈

🌱💡 Our weekend was filled with activity as we delved into one of our busiest days of this project. In the morning, Ing. Flóra Reiter led a session titled "How do You turn an idea into a project," covering the essentials, realities, and potential challenges of project development. She drew on her extensive experience, sharing examples of both successful outcomes and common pitfalls. Simultaneously, she encouraged participants to consider sustainable projects, drawing on her expertise in all things related to the environment. Later in the morning, municipal expert Oleksandr Solontay conducted an online session focused on the specifics of local projects in Ukrainian municipalities. Blending real-life stories with theoretical insights, Oleksandr shared his experiences in preparing projects and official documents in Ukraine. 🌍📚🇺🇦

💪🏽🇺🇦 The afternoon's highlight was the participants themselves and their personal projects inspired by earlier sessions. Diverse ideas emerged, all characterized by the quality of their plans, genuine intentions, and a commitment to improving Ukraine. Whether it involved aiding war veterans, establishing political literacy schools for young people, supporting local healthcare, or proposing efficient and green energy solutions for example, participants showcased unwavering motivation.

Facilitating this exchange was the ever energetic Jannes Herman Mostert, ensuring participants not only presented their projects but also provided positive feedback and generated additional ideas in a workshop-like setting. Last but not least, credit goes to Liliia Atnazheva, a municipal and scribing expert, who transformed our exceptional group dynamic into scribing art that our participants can bring home to their municipalities for good memories. Thank you Liliia! 🎨✨

Yesterday, our last training weekend of our V4 Countries for the Sustainable and Innovative Recovery of Ukraine started. Originally planned to be an online seminar with an evaluation nature, we had enough funds to instead once again organize an offline series of seminars on this weekend (Much to the joy of our Director and Olena Medvyedyeva from FutureLab Ukraine as you can see from the pictures:-) ). 🌐🌱😊

This time, we started with an online session before dinner. Mónika Harsányi from the Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry introduced many good examples of local business support through the Hungarian 'Bridge to Benefits mastercourse program'. The pros of these kinds of programs are that, while this specific one is Hungarian, it is easily scalable for different situations, and many good ideas can be borrowed for Ukrainian use. 🇭🇺 🇺🇦🔄🌍

Today, we are continuing with project application writing topics and the presentation of the personal projects of our participants. 📝🎓

👋 Tomorrow will sadly be the end of our project. Throughout multiple training weekends and seminars, we hope that we managed to transfer knowledge on policies or good V4 experiences that will help Ukraine when it comes to reconstruction on the local level. 🌐📚🇺🇦

🇫🇷 🇸🇰 But there are still more sessions, so let's end with an interesting topic in mind. As last but not least, Romain Le Quiniou will hold an online session on the (geo)political context of Ukrainian reconstruction.

On our last day together, we have organized a session focusing on a topic that has been as highly requested as project application writing – EU grants! 🇪🇺💸

Numerous grants are available for municipal workers in Ukraine. It's a matter of becoming familiar with the options to decide which ones to apply for. Mykola will provide guidance in this regard, offering valuable tips and best practices. He will highlight key aspects to pay attention to and explore additional ways these grants can be utilized. 📝💡

🥊 A real Ukrainian heavyweight of an expert on municipal project writing and managing is also coming to hold an online session on our closing module: Oleksandr Solontay!

In his session, he will explore the art of integrating both the "hard" and "soft" aspects of projects, delving into the intricacies of coalition formation by local self-government bodies. These collaborations span various sectors, emphasizing the importance of diverse partnerships. Additionally, he will address the practical tools essential for expanding opportunities within the territorial community and strategize on attracting resources effectively. 🌐🤝🔧💡🏡

👋 While the closing weekend of our project has been enriched, its core goal has always been to give it an evaluation nature. Not to critique, but to discuss, analyze, and help our participants in their municipalities, in their own rebuilding. 🤓😊💬🔄

🌅 Saturday afternoon will be just for this, with the facilitating help of Jannes Herman-Mostert, who always manages to create a friendly and active environment among our participants on our workshops. He has been active in countries like The Netherlands 🇳🇱, Czechia 🇨🇿, Hungary 🇭🇺 , and now even Georgia 🇬🇪. Check out his current work at The Tree Party and ECOrasmus! 🌳🎉🌍

👉 One of the topics that was heavily requested by our participants was 'project application writing'. And one of the reasons we decided to hold an offline training weekend instead of an online one for our last module was for us to be able to offer just that! 📝✨🔍

🥳 So I am happy to announce Senior Project Proposal Writer and Project Manager, Ing. Flóra Reiter will hold the first session on project application writing! Other than offering helpful tips and practical advices, she will guide you through the process of turning your ideas into a concrete project. 🌟🛠️📑

We will kick off our first session on 9 February with a focus on small and medium-sized businesses! 🛍️🔍🌐

In the 21st century, profitability for SMEs go hand in hand with innovation, sustainability, and social causes. Especially in the context of Ukrainian rebuilding. Hence, our expert Mónika Harsányi from the Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry will showcase the Hungarian "Bridge to Benefits Masterclass," which demonstrates tried and tested ways to achieve just this. 📈🌱🚀

📅 Save the Date!

Exciting news! 🎉 Our proposed last module will be held in Uzhhorod again, in person, instead of online! This means more lively sessions, workshops, and, of course, the opportunity to see each other again! 👥

Stay tuned as we showcase our program in the coming weeks. 📢