Study Visits to Slovakia

PDCS has a repeated experience in hosting groups of CSOs, community leaders, and public administration officials and offering them training and study visits, because of many possibilities of sharing the domestic good practices in civic society and community development and positive experience which may be transferred especially to transforming societies.

Our experience from comparable trainings and site visits in the past tells us, that participants learn the most when they are exposed to relatively known framework, in which difficulties have been, or still are, similar to those in their country. Approaches to overcome these challenges may serve as positive inspiration, which is easily applicable in their context. Participants prefer not to be only the “targets” - receivers of information but also to share their experience. In that context our approach stresses mutual learning between practitioners from different countries.

 

To achieve required objectives we work with the following methods:

Training part of the program

PDCS trainers provide the participants with an overview of essential concepts related to the training event objectives and create space for discussions. Training blocs build on experiences of participants. Common language is established within the group and with facilitator. Trainers’ presentations and following discussion create a context for best utilizing the lessons from site visits.

Study visits and discussions with representatives of different CSOs (the selection of the CSOs depends on the program title)

Participants meet with diverse leaders (from third as well as public sectors). We try to select most relevant organizations and initiatives in connection with the program objectives. Participants receive short presentation of activities of CSOs and afterwards they discuss their questions and exchange experiences with presenters. Time for reflection is reserved after each visit. A facilitator leads the discussion on lessons learned and their applicability in participants’ context. Participants receive contact information for each visited organization and presenter. All presenters are briefed about the group and objectives of the visit in advance by the program facilitator.

 Action planning

After one week of exposure to new knowledge and experiences from study visits participants spend half a day preparing action plans for their respective CSO. Project facilitator provides a structure for action planning and consults individual groups with their plans. At the end participants share their individual action plans.

PDCS provides the study visits in the following fields/ areas of expertise:

  • Advocacy,
  • Citizen Participation,
  • Conflict Resolution,
  • Minority Issues,
  • NGO Strengthening & Management,
  • Public Private Partnerships,
  • Civil Society,
  • Management,
  • Public Relations,
  • Community Development,
  • Training of Trainers (training methodologies),
  • Consultants Development, and
  • Evaluation.

The study visits training is provided by:

Dušan Ondrušek

Karolína Miková

Ján Mihálik

Peter Guštafík

Eduard Marček

PDCS provided study visits for following clients:

  • In 2008 we have provided study visit for 11 participants from Macedonia on the topic PR and communication, funded by World Learning Macedonia.
  • In 2006 we have conducted the training on organizational development support requested by IREX for representatives of organizations and companies from Uzbekistan, which implement USAID-funded projects. One-week long training course built up their skills in addressing systematically issues of their own sustainability and strategic development. Participants welcomed the combination of lectures, training sessions and site visits to Slovak nonprofit organizations and state institutions working on similar topics.
  • In 2006 we conducted shorter training courses for two groups of Afghans in Slovakia as part of Institute for Public Affairs implemented project. Similarly, Pontis Foundation contracted us to provide short training courses on communication and conflict transformation to two groups of leaders from Iraq taking a study trip to Slovakia.
  • In 2004 for 9 NGO Leaders from Macedonia on the topic TCT Transitioning of Organizations to Indigenous Entities, funded by World Learning Macedonia.
  • In 2004 for 15 NGO Leaders from Georgia on the topic NGO Lobbing and Coalition Building, funded by World Learning Georgia.
  • In 2003 for 30 participants from urban communities in Croatia (3 weeks per 10 participants) on the topic Citizens' Participation in Community Development, funded by World Learning/ PTP Europe.
  • In 2001 for 10 members of Council of Conciliations from Bulgaria on the topic Conciliation Commissions in CEE, funded by World Learning Bulgaria.
  • In 2000 for 10 participants from TIM TRI and Civic Initiatives from Serbia and Montenegro on the topic Training of Serbian NGO's representatives and providing them with the technical assistance for their respective third sector, funded by PAO – Public Office Affairs, US Embassy in Slovakia.
  • In 1999 for 15 NGO leaders from Macedonia on the topic ISO and CSO Coalitions, funded by World Learning Hungary.