Woman’s colored rural landscape – a country woman on to go
Duration of the case: 1 year (October 2005 – October 2006)
Prepared by: Krzysztof Leończuk
NGO’s Support Center, Poland
April 2006
Abstract
This case describes activities which was undertaken in Podlaskie voivodship in Poland and
co-financed from European Social Found.
Background
Podlaskie voivodship is situated in the north-east of Poland. It’s one of sixteen of Polish
regions. Mostly it’s a rural region with a low income for one person and very high degree of
unemployment.
Over 40% of all inhabitants of Podlaskie voivodship live in villages and most of them have a
many problems in their local communities.
The project anticipates the participation of a group of women – village administrators and
leaders of village communities, 2 women from each area of a number of villages. There are 28
persons participating in the project directly. Indirect beneficiaries of the project are
inhabitants of fourteen villages from the district of Bialystok which makes several thousands
of people.
About the organization
Non – Governmental Organizations Support Center (NGO’s Support Center) is an
association, registered on 8th September 1999. We provide information and organize trainings
for representatives of non-governmental organizations and local governments. We are
perceived as reliable information point for non-governmental organizations in the region.
Since 1999 we were implemented projects in pre accession founds, and now from European
Social Found.
For more information visit our website: www.podlaskie.ngo.pl
Objectives and activities
The main objective of the project is both, the professional and social activation. The actions
undertaken to achieve this objective: forming of interest groups, promoting organizational
unity and the actions, which may help build up social capital of particular local community. In
the future, local communities with high social capital will find easier to solve problems of
various kinds. The innovative elements of the project are the methodical integrated approach
to the problem, which is the complexity of functions and activities that are performed by
female village administrators. Additionally, the idea of voluntary work – as a supportive
action, a way to take care of dependant persons, will be popularized.
Another innovate element of this project is an individual approach to each beneficiary - the
Individual Action Plans will be created; support for their realization will be delivered.
Within the frame of the project we intend to work on the participants’ motivation, activism
and change of mentality (in case of both men and women). The motivation will increase,
provided every woman receives psychological and substantial support. The project will accept
two women from each village (neighbor tandem). The justification for such pair system is
mutual motivation for action and support in case of obstacles and limitations. Creation of such
teams is another innovative element of the project.
Implementation
The project has five elements:
1. Opening conference
2. Four four-day long training sessions
3. A study visit
4. Publications about a model village
5. Summing up conference
Conferences are anticipated for promotion idea of our activities in the project and our center.
The most important part of the project is training sessions where local female leaders were
increased their knowledge and skills.
 All of the trainings are provided in interactive training methods are used at all
trainings (teaching through experience)
 After the courses participants stay in the same place – and as a result make new
friendships
 Individual approach to each of the participants during the training (enlargement of
engagement)
Study visit, where representatives of local community will see a places in Poland where are
realized interesting projects and initiatives will be summary of all project. During this visit
participants will see model projects of implementation European founds and including local
communities for developing local environment.
Results
The project anticipates the following results of the actions:
 Women acting as a village administrators will be prepared to better perform their
duties, will learn skills necessary for effective execution of tasks
 Village environment will be better prepared to solve local problems individually
 The co-operation with social organizations which exist within limits of our province
will be established
 Local “resources maps” will be created with the aim to work out the communal and
district development strategies more effectively
 The full training cycle will be carried out
 26 participants of the project will complete the training, and their qualifications will
be confirmed by the certificate
 One small rural non-governmental organization will be established
 The participants will gain higher sense of responsibility and faith in their abilities,
their motivation for action will grow
The added value of the project is the change in the image of female village administrators.
They will no longer be perceived as not sufficiently prepared to perform the village
administrator duties, their authority will increase in the eyes of environment.
… and what will surprise everybody:
The most important effect of the project is the fact that the women participating in it will start
to believe in themselves. They will develop their abilities and skills. They will realize how
important their dreams and needs are and increase their self-esteem. They will realize all the
things that they have not had time to even think about because of their every day life in Polish
countryside.
Contacts information
Krzysztof Leończuk
NGO’s Support Center
Dojlidy Fabryczne 26
15-555 Białystok
POLAND
tel. +48 85 732 28 46
www.podlaskie.ngo.pl
owop@pro.onet.pl, krzysztof.leonczuk@splot.ngo.pl