Leadership Workshops are an innovative programme designed to strengthen civil society in Central and Eastern Europe by providing management training for non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The workshops are funded by the Weiser Center for Europe & Eurasia (WCEE) at the University of Michigan (U-M) and conducted in cooperation with William Davidson Institute (WDI) at U-M and the Education for Democracy (FED) Foundation based in Warsaw.
WCEE and WDI have offered 10 workshops for over 200 participants from all over Central and Eastern Europe since 2015 as a result of the support of Ambassador Ronald N. Weiser (US Ambassador to Slovakia in 2001-2004). After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, WCEE and WDI adjusted their focus and offered workshops in Warsaw in October 2022 for regional NGO leaders assisting Ukrainian refugees. Another similar workshop is planned for September 2023 in Lublin. This time they will assist Ukrainian civil society leaders operating in the conflict zones, relocated people and people supporting internally Displaced People (IDPs).
Participants represent a wide range of non-governmental organisations from Ukraine, including those providing humanitarian aid, legal advice and education, as well as leading projects on parliamentary reform and democratisation. They will learn key management principles, such as preventing burnout and emotional exhaustion, strategic planning in crisis, negotiations and conflict resolution from skilled American, Polish and Ukrainian trainers.
Workshops were held on September 17-21 in Lublin due to the support of City of Lublin. Grand Opening took place on Sunday, September 17 in iconic Crown Tribunal in Lublin.
The participants were given a warm reception by Roman Jaborkhel, Deputy Director of International Cooperation Centre of Lublin City Hall on behalf of Krzysztof Żuk, Mayor of Lublin. And on behalf of the Organiseres the NGOs were welcomed by Professor Geneviève Zubrzycki, Head of the Weiser Center at the University of Michigan. Finally yet importantly, Mr. Mark Brzezinski, the United States Ambassador to Poland, addressed the participants and organisers through a specially prepared video recording.
