Democracy network program : Czech Republic -- final program report

The Czech program focused on building PVO sustainability in the areas of democracy-building, social safety nets, community revitalization/economic development, and environment through a Small Grants Program, a Training and Assistance Program, and a campaign to improve the image of the PVO sector. The Small Grants Program resulted in the launching of many new and regional public policy and advocacy projects and the support of existing ones. Approximately 50% of the 152 grants extended were made to PVOs outside of Prague, and 61% of those made to Prague-based PVOs had a significant impact on communities outside the city. The Training Program provided support to 413 indigenous PVOs at varying stages of development. An additional 400 PVO representatives benefited from basic skills workshops. The Capacity-building Workshop Series benefited 9 advanced groups, whose needs have not been met by existing programs in the Czech Republic. Working with a smaller subset of grantees enabled DemNet to assist them more effectively and increase their potential for long-term sustainability. To improve the image of PVOs in the Czech Republic, FCS placed journalism student interns in host PVOs, thereby engaging a very uninterested press in the PVO sector while building current and future coverage of the PVO community. The program was highly valued by PVO leaders and students alike. The Journalism Program is now being funded by the Swiss Embassy in Prague. Other image-building efforts included coordination of civil society lectures at two universities and the management of a student competition for best-written article about a specific PVO or the sector; and a public relations campaign promoting the work of the grantees and the sector as a whole. Finally, Advocacy Meetings allowed PVO leaders to learn more about advocacy efforts in the United States and consider ways to adapt strategies for use in the Czech Republic, and share their experiences and to discuss ways to cooperate in the future. Among the project"s more notable accomplishments are the following. (1) Engagement of a broad range of Czech leaders from throughout the country in the Small Grants and Training and Assistance selection processes ensured an open and transparent process. These processes are now models of professionalism and have set standards for other in-country organizations. (2) FCS encouraged corporate philanthropy by working with the Donor"s Forum, securing ongoing funding from the Coticorp Foundation for a pilot Corporate Citizenship award in the Czech Republic and in the region, and developing a United States Information Service (USIS)-funded NGO database as tool for corporate philanthropy. (3) One of the long-lasting benefits of the program was the training and experience gained by a mostly Czech staff and the subsequent development of a Czech organization, Nadace VIA, to continue the work of serving the country"s PVO sector. This development is certainly is one of the greatest legacies of the DemNet Program in the Czech Republic.