The second practical training within the project titled „Regional cooperation in V4EaP countries: experience exchange and best practices” supported by the International Visegrad Fund took place in the picturesque Prague. At the invitation of the Czech Fundraising Centre 20 newly qualified project writers and the members of the local project management took off on 14th November 2013 by bus.

After a tiring travelling day a rich and meaningful program was waiting for the Ukrainian group, thanks to the partner organization’s cooperation. The first organization to be visited was the Via Foundation; first Marketa Kunesova project manager spoke about its establishment and operation. The goal of the Via Foundation is to help those people, who have taken the initiative to create positive change in their communities. The state power policy of the Communist decades did not allow people to use individual initiatives. Instead, they endeavoured to annihilate the thoughts in people’s mind, that a person can have positive effect on the community in which he/she lives.

The main aim of the organization is to give people courage and chance to achieve individual success through the development of the community. As stated in their watchword: the organization does not only help to rebuild the community, but it assists in community building. Though the organization is located far from Transcarpathia, but it has activities relating to it. The Mr. and Mrs. Hora Fund to Aid Children in Transcarpathia works within the Via Foundation. The head of the organization delivered a lecture on the initial difficulties and the achieved successes.

The lunch was in the Mlsná Kavka (Picky Jackdaw) non-smoking vegetarian restaurant located in the town centre, which is employing people with mental illness. It was established with the aim that people with mental illness can regain self-confidence important to return to the open labor market. The owner, Filip kavka personally welcomed the guests from Ukraine and presented the everyday life of the restaurant.

The last program of the day was to visit the Centre for Integration of Foreigners. The head of the organization, Vladislav Günter presented the centre’s operation. The organization’s motto: We help immigrants to become our fellow citizens. The participants got acquainted with the organization’s educational and social programs, as well the operation of NGOs in the Czech republic in general.

The paricipants gained a number of experiences, and they are ready for the following professional training, which takes place in January 2014 in Miskolc, Hungary.