1. No excuses

    What problem are you solving?:

    Awareness raising and advocacy platform for people to better understand the challenges of the policy development and its expected good outcomes in the field of pensions, employment, social security, social protection, health and security, social inclusion, family, migrants etc., using two approaches:
    -the good governance based approach, and
    -the Human Rights based approach, particularly the 3rd generation of Human Rights – group and solidarity rights
    “No excuses” is trying to increase the participation of citizens and Civil Society Organizations in monitoring policies and programs of “Ministerul Muncii, Familiei si Protectiei Sociale” (Ministry of Labor, Family and Social Protection) in Romania. There are ‘No excuses’ for:
    – having the law and not applying it,
    – not allocating the budget to develop the policy,
    – not assess the social program evaluability, and
    – mismanagement (misconduct and negligence) in implementing the policy

    Describe your idea:

    Our experience has taught us that making a difference requires time, unwavering commitment, collaboration, risk-taking and innovation.
    “No excuses”:
    -is going to promote the initiatives of NGOs and/or of informal groups of citizens in the policy development in the above mentioned fields, thus both motivating them to engagement in advocacy and lobbying campaigns and helping them to build and consolidate their base of constituency,
    -is getting people – both men and women – involved in the public debate on policy development & change in the above mentioned fields,
    -is inviting policy champions to promote the policy,
    -is creating of bridging mechanisms like “ad hoc task forces”, by example, and
    -is providing the users with necessary information on the performance of the Ministry of Labor, Family and Social Protection in policy development, knowledge and contacts

    What country will this operate in?: Romania

    Who are you?:

    FUNDAŢIA “ŞANSE EGALE PENTRU FEMEI”
    MISSION
    To promote equal opportunities and treatment for women and men.
    SCOPE
    To raise women’s standing and visibility in their professions and communities, so they may contribute to the greatest possible extent to the economic, social and political transformations in Romania and throughout the world.

    Main field of activity
    Civic and policy impact
    -Public policies and good governance
    Secondary field of activity:
    Education and research
    -VET
    Social
    -Access to employment for vulnerable people

    Main intervention areas / programmes:
    1. Watch Dog – Good governance (including anti corruption strategies)
    2. Resource Center for Gender Equality
    3. Vocational Education and Training (VET)
    4. Consultancy and technical assistance
    5. Design and evaluation of Social Programs
    6. Networking for Development (including advocacy and lobby)

  2. Slot machine of the day

    What problem are you solving?:

    The Czech Republic is slot machine’s paradise. It is a country with the most casinos and gambling houses in the world. Part of this is because of the deficient legislation, another reason is breaking the present laws.

    Describe your idea:

    We would like to create a pilot public website for city Brno with the possibility of inserting the photos of gambling houses with measuring the distance(max 100 m)or at least describing the gambling houses which are located in the neighbourhood.We will verify these information and ask the local authorities about this particular gambling house and we will call for correction.We will be demanding the correction(cancellation of the gambling house)also through representatives and courts.The aim of this project is to push back the gambling houses (slot machines) from the neighbourhood where they should not be according to a law.

    What country will this operate in?: Czech Republic

    Who are you?:

    I come from Brno, 25 years old, bachelor of Musicalogy (FF MU Brno), environmentalist, member of Veronica (http://www.veronica.cz), the Basic organization of Czech Union for Nature Conservation (ČSOP), activist in various local traffic cases, member of Green party. And lately I became actively engaged in a restriction of gambling, because of especially low governmental interest in this significant problem in the Czech Republic.

    hollan.matej@email.cz
    nadrazivcentru@gmail.com
    +420774956148

  3. Building Bridges with the East – Russian language website RUS.NGO.PL.

    What problem are you solving?:

    The development of international cooperation between Polish NGOs and social organisations from the countries of the former Soviet Union requires ever greater professionalism, and common knowledge of existing opportunities for undertaking such cooperation.

    The awareness of the conditions under which non-governmental organisations function in specific countries in this region is essential for a balanced partnership between NGOs.

    This collaboration could be much more effective if there will be a higher level of knowledge and better information exchange about social problems and social initiatives undertaken in each country.

    The transparency of social activity could also help in developing open civil societies in the countries of the region. That’s why we would like to propose to develop the Russian language web-site as an international platform for dialog about experience in undertaking social cooperation of NGOs from Poland and CIS countries.

    Describe your idea:

    Russian language portal to aid the development of international cooperation for organisations from Poland, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia
    It will provide a tool for exchanging information and promoting cooperation through which the transparency of international activity is increased
    It will offer
    • INTERACTIVE MESSAGE SERVICE about the latest events, upcoming deadlines for program applications and a weekly newsletter. A form on the website enables users to submit messages by themselves
    • PARTNERS SOUGHT SECTION to assist organisations in finding partners and thus develop a network of international cooperation using an interactive form
    • INTERACTIVE KNOWLEDGE BASE of the NGO sector in the countries of the regions, increasing in the professionalism of NGO cooperation. It will be developed based on user participation through submitting proposals for analysis and research
    • DATABASE of NGOs and informal groups prepared to develop international cooperation

    What country will this operate in?: Poland

    Who are you?:

    We are a small group of the young enthusiastic editors, who are deeply interested in social and cultural development of East European, Caucasus and Central Asia countries. Until December 2009 our web-site Rus.ngo.pl , worked as an independent project operating under the Klon/Jawor Association (editors of Poland’s most popular web portal focussing on the activity of the Polish non-governmental sector. Currently the project’s institutional framework is undergoing changes. We are in the process of building a new organizational structure.

  4. Local authorities work together with communities

    What problem are you solving?:

    In districts Căuşeni and Ştefan Vodă (South-East part of Moldova) are 76 localities (50 mayoralties) of which no locality haven’t a personal website or a blog. In this region turns 223 NGOs of which only 2 NGOs have a personal beginner site. In this region hasn’t a resource center such as in other region of country. Thus was created the lack of transparency in activity of NGOs and LPA in Southeastern part of Republic Moldova that leads to stagnation of activity with all its consequences. This initiative will encourage transparency and citizen participation will be strengthened.
    One of the most important impacts of the project will be the growing trust of population in the NGOs and LPAs. Project’s beneficiaries will study to work for democratic values promotion and effective community development.
    The project will be an example, at regional and national level, of profound collaboration between community and public sector from region.

    Describe your idea:

    The project is based on information, training, consultancy and exchange of experience for associative and public sectors. Will be developed database of 50 LPAs and 30 active NGOs from region. The necessity of project is because of chaotic and individual activity of NGOs and LPAs in the region, lack of a mechanism of information, collaboration and knowledge transfer, which contributes to the stagnation of society. By implementing the project will be provided transparency of public authorities and civil society, information flow and transfer of knowledge, freedom of communication and access to information, effective cooperation between all social actors.
    The project methods and mechanisms used is completely innovative, because will be created an informational portal for communication and transfer of knowledge, accessible to users locally, nationally and internationally. This will increase communication and cooperation between all social actors.

    What country will this operate in?: Moldova

    Who are you?:

    Tighina Informational Center, TIC, has registered as nongovernmental organization in 2000 year. The goal of TIC is support of informational development in Causeni and Stefan Voda rayons (South-East part of Moldova) in all spheres of activity, transparency and access to local, national and international information. Target group of TIC are all social categories of population, the public and associative sectors from the region. The population of rayons is 176000 habitants. Always the activity has unfolded in partnership with all local structures and communities.
    TIC has a qualified staff. The local and national experts are involved part/time in project and activities of organization. Since 2000 year to present Tighina Informational Center (TIC) has implemented 27 projects in many domains and is one of the best organization from region.
    TIC is member of National Youth Council of Moldova and respective of European Youth Forum.

  5. Combating hate speech and fostering reconciliation in the countries of Former Yugoslavia

    What problem are you solving?:

    Hate speech in the countries of former Yugoslavia is very strong since this region emerged from the civil war with embedded misunderstanding towards the needs of others. New countries have the minorities whose mother state is neighboring state which was engaged in the past war. Therefore, some still perceive their fellow citizens as intruders. Politicians are not addressing this problem since they rely on the right wing electorate. Without overcoming the past and achieving reconciliation it is impossible to achieve respect for human rights of minorities living scattered in the region. This project addresses the problem of still present intolerance and misunderstanding among the Balkan nations. The circle of bigotry and chauvinism must be broken in order to bring about positive changes and better future to the region as a whole. This problem is best dealt with on the regional level. That is why this project proposes a regional approach involving several states.

    Describe your idea:

    The idea is to empower Balkan states citizens to hold their officials’ accountable for pejorative statements towards other nations by collecting signatures condemning the respective statement and generating emails asking for apology. Web site could follow the statements of politicians and initiate a debate on specific questions. A list of politicians in the region could be created disclosing their stance towards the reconciliation process, attitude towards other nations and initiatives addressing the issues related to recent conflict. It would cover Serbia, Kosovo, BIH and Croatia

    What country will this operate in?: Serbia

    Who are you?:

    The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights (Beogradski centar za ljudska prava) was established by a group of human rights experts and activists in February 1995 as a non-profit, non-governmental organisation. The main purpose of the Centre is to study human rights and humanitarian law, to disseminate knowledge about them and to educate individuals engaged in this area. It hopes, thereby, to promote the development of democracy and rule of law in Serbia and other successor states of the former Yugoslavia and societies in transition from authoritarian to democratic rule. The recipients of the services of the Centre and its target groups are members of legislative bodies, law enforcement officers, civil servants, NGO activists, military officers, teaching staff at universities and other educational institutions and their students, journalists, etc.

  6. Eco access path

    What problem are you solving?:

    Environmental protection in Poland is very difficult. There are many public institutions and regulations but people have no practical knowledge how to implement existing rules. So it is very difficult to protect trees from cutting down for example. It is still a profitable business for those who do that.
    Usual citizen is not familiar with so many regulations – he or she does not know how to participate in decision making process.

    Describe your idea:

    Idea is to prepare a set of convenient instructions to cope with problems concerning environmental issues.
    Guidelines will be combined with samples to help uderstand how to fill in various inquiries.

    What country will this operate in?: Poland

    Who are you?:

    Fundacja Piaskowy Smok/Piaskowy Smok Foundation.
    Cerated in 2009. It is focused on public issues, ecology and culture.

  7. Internet Democracy

    What problem are you solving?:

    In spite of democracy was introduced in Poland 20 years ago, there is lack of civil society that could testify quality of this democracy.
    There are rules of a democratic country but very weak connection between effects of decisions and responsibility for these decisions made by officials can be observed.
    Neither media, nor elections are sufficient to secure from irresponsible decisions.
    It happened many times that only the EU law limited lawlessness of public institutions when socially harmful decisions were made. However, EU mechanisms often are not applied locally.

    Describe your idea:

    Create portal using wiki engine with forms to enable sending opinions by local inhabitants to their regional authorites.
    In local law of Poland it is possible to comment on what officials do. The mechanism is rarely used because these opinions do not help to create personal consequences.
    Thanks to [built -in] option of history editing and save documents it is possible – to speed up decision making process and to enable finding officials in charge.
    By using wikipedia mechanism one can easily edit issues important for individuals. Moreover, when the first issue is introduced, next person interested finds it easily, having a form ready to send to an office, newspaper or friends.

    Objectives:
    – Support civil society development and improve transparency of decision-making process.
    – Development of office responsibility for decisions that it makes.
    – Increase of civil consciousness.

    What country will this operate in?: Poland

    Who are you?:

    Fundacja Piaskowy Smok/Piaskowy Smok Foundation.
    Cerated in 2009. It is focused on public issues, ecology and culture.

  8. “www.mainformez.md” – HOW TO SOLVE THE COMMUNITY PROBLEMS? WHO TO ADDRESS WHEN HAVING DIFFICULTIES OF ANY KIND? HOW TO FIND ANSWERS TO VARIOUS TASKS CONCERNING MOLDOVA’S STATE INSTITUTIONS AND OFFICIALS? – A WEBSITE WHERE EVERYONE CAN ADDRESS QUESTIONS AND RECEIVE ANSWERS

    What problem are you solving?:

    Moldova is going through a long period of transition from the communist system towards the capitalist one. The major politicians in Moldova, especially those who were elected and those appointed by the Parliament, Government, President etc. are really hard to reach when trying to solve a problem. As well if some person wants to find out any information about something, he, the simple citizen, doesn’t know where to go and whom to address the question.
    Corruption and bureaucracy are big problems in Moldova. When trying to go, even to the doctor’s, to any state department, you get the impression that in Moldova a person can live only having the necessary relations and connections. Practically everywhere in this country you require someone to lobby for you. People that suffer the most from this are those from rural areas where there is no cable television, no proper access to the internet, no acceptable infrastructure. There is no normal feedback from the authorities.

    Describe your idea:

    We consider that the development of a new website in order to generate meaningful transparency, accountability and democratic empowerment in Moldova is absolutely necessary. We plan to create an online directory containing all state institutions, with links to their websites. Our final goal is the creation of a national database with contacts and feedback from the authorities. We will act under the high patronage of the Prime Minister of the country and we will ask for his support.
    Stage I: Every Mayor, Local Council Board, state authority will have their page and a “Contact Me” form for questions. Our main role will be to build up a correlation between the civil society and state institutions and create accountability for their actions.
    Stage II: Publish promises that each official made when beginning to work or when campaigning. We want to become a watchdog in the matter of transparency and accountability.
    Stage III: Forum page where everyone could express their opinion.

    What country will this operate in?: Moldova

    Who are you?:

    We are a group of people from various areas of interest and with different formations. Bellow you can find the names of the most important members of our group of initiative. Each of us has experience in one or more fields.
    Ion Borodac – consultant, expert in philology, journalism, project management and public elections.
    Adrian Ciubotaru – Assistant Director at “Arc Publishing House”, expert in philology, journalism, editing, websites (semn.md).
    Marin Boboc – consultant, expert in politics and psychology.
    Vlad Cojocaru – student, University of Medicine and Pharmacy from Chisinau.
    Cristina Hanganu – student, University of Medicine and Pharmacy from Chisinau.
    Simion Panteleiciuc – student, College of Transport from Moldova.
    Ion Bejenari – businessman, expert in business relations and marketing.
    Cristian Popa – Master’s degree student at State University “A. Russo” from Balti.

  9. Slot machine of the day

    What problem are you solving?:

    The Czech Republic is slot machine’s paradise. It is a country with the most casinos and gambling houses in the world. Part of this is because of the deficient legislation, another reason is breaking the present laws. According to the lottery law: „Keeping a gambling house shall not be allowed in schools, school facilities, social and health care facilities, buildings of state authorities, churches and also in their neighbourhood“. The neighbourhood is defined as a circle around these buildings with 100 metres radius and the municipality can reduce this radius using the local ordinance. Towns and cities without this kind of local ordinance are breaking the law by allowing gambling houses everywhere. In the towns and cities with this local ordinance the authorities do not check the actual distance from schools, school facilities, social and health care facilities, buildings of state authorities and churches when allowing a new slot machine.

    Describe your idea:

    The city of Brno in its new local ordinance defines the neigbourhood exactly as a 100 metres radius. According to our own investigation we judge that in the city of Brno there is at least 100 slot machines allowed contrary to law. We would like to create a pilot public website for city of Brno with the possibility of inserting the photos of gambling houses with measuring the distance or at least describing the gambling houses which are located in the neighbourhood. We will verify these information and ask the local authorities about this particular gambling house and we will call for correction. We will be demanding the correction (cancellation of the gambling house) also through representatives and courts. This website should later expand to the whole country. The aim of this project is to push back the gambling houses (slot machines) from the neighbourhood where they should not be according to a law.

    What country will this operate in?: Czech Republic

    Who are you?:

    I come from Brno, 25 years old, bachelor of Musicalogy (FF MU Brno), environmentalist, member of Veronica (http://www.veronica.cz), the Basic organization of Czech Union for Nature Conservation (ČSOP), activist in various local traffic cases, member of Green party. And lately I became actively engaged in a restriction of gambling, because of especially low governmental interest in this significant problem in the Czech Republic.

    hollan.matej@email.cz
    nadrazivcentru@gmail.com
    +420774956148

  10. qeverisimbashke.com

    What problem are you solving?:

    trasparency in local government. involvement of the citizens in local government issues.
    citizen-governors better intercourse etc.

    Describe your idea:

    a website, maybe latter accompanied by a monthly paper, however firstly electronic, who would deal with the local government issues for the district of lezha. I see it like this, a common page for all the ten local entities of the Lezha district, a window for each. Like the Municipality of Lezha, communes of Shengjin, Shenkolle, Balldre, Ungrej, Kallmet, Kolsh, Dajç, Blinisht and Zejmen and one window for the district governors.
    Each window would contain the main icons
    ELECTORAL PROMISES, PAPER PROJECTS and IMPLEMENTED PROJECTS, WHERE TO GO, REQUESTS-COMPLAINTS, SAY YOUR THOUGHT, ORGANIZATIONS
    And of course there would be a main page where the most successful projects, the most interesting idea and the other side most problematic issue and worse governing matters would be present.
    And all issues must have the possibility for the citizens to comment. The staff would make sure that the comments, requests, and all the issues reaches the right ear.

    What country will this operate in?: Albania

    Who are you?:

    I work as the specialist for the foreign affairs at the municipality of lezha. often I see that there is little collaboration between governors and citizens. I think this is a national problem, maybe emerging from the division government-people in the history of my nation. however I believe that whatever governor wants to govern best must hear the people and not pretend that he knows all the matters.
    i am graduated as a teacher of English at the university of Tirana, worked as an emigrant in Italy for 7 years, collaborated with different international, Italian and Albanian organizations, worked as a journalist in Albania and Italy and translated.
    actually I started a project called www.oraret.com, and when I saw your call I think this is what I wanted even from oraret.com because having a voice that is what people need. it would help making things systematic and more efficient.
    i hope we can work together.