April 2005 Newsletter

Foundations for Freedom Newsletter 24 Greencoat Place, London., SW1P 1RD, UK tel: 020-7798 6000, www.f-4-f.org, F4F@london.iofc.org Issue 39 April 2005 In this issue...

Regional Meeting 2005 Dreams come true A new initiative in Belgrade Invisible mark in me

1 2 3 4

...you would get overwhelmed too!

CPE: 5ive years Elections in Moldova Crimean Summer Camp

4 5 6 6

News in brief From treasurer Annual Review

7 7 8

F4F Regional Meeting 2005: Taking courageous steps, reflecting on active communit communityy and sharing our spirit with the world

This year was courageous in many aspects. We have developed several initiatives within F4F co-ordination and were working hard on introducing new approaches to work organisation and sustaining the fellowship. There were changes in teams, we have invited two new co-ordinators to the UK, new ideas arose in Eastern and Central Europe, the first Ethical Leadership Workshop Training for Trainers was launched in Serbia (you can read about it in this issue of Newsletter).

One of these courageous steps was to change the traditional geographical location of annual Regional M e e t i n g (somewhere in Eastern Europe) and move to middle of Siberia – Novosibirsk.

This year the meeting was neither big in numbers, nor geographical representation – we aimed at gathering people, who want to develop the vision for the next year and take on more personal responsibility.

It was an experiment for all of us, as this meeting had no pre-planned programme and was led using the Open Space method. We aimed to make each of us responsible for the issues raised and actions taken – no imposed plans – just what you have in your mind and your heart. The participants owned the process. (The full Report on F4F Regional Meeting is out very soon, however we wished to give you a small taster of what it will contain and what we experienced).

The main topic of the meeting was “F4F in the context of my life: Going Further, Growing Deeper”. There were 22 participants from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, United Kingdom, Serbia and Montenegro, and a guest from France, and the meeting took place on 8 – 12 April.

DAY 1: Arrival, settling in, warming up, introductions, speed-talk, expectations, hopes and fears collected on flipcharts, tea, games, etc.

DAY 2: Update on what the teams’ live with, their “hot issues” and what their hopes for the future are.

Then, prepared the place for our guests – “graduates” of Novosibirsk F4F courses and old friends from YHI ( Y o u t h Humanitarian Initiative, F4F team).

DAY 3: entered the Open S p a c e discussions and raised issues we had a passion to talk, decide on or find out more about, such as “NGOs in F4F network”, “IofC in the context of F4F: What Eastern Europe teams can bring to the rest of Europe and Asia?”, “F4F Carrying Group”, “National realities”, “Strategic planning – do we need one?”, “Changing Course consequences”, “Human resources”, “Leadership/Responsibility/Team building”, “‘Caux’ in Eastern Europe: Great F4F Re-union”, “Male and Female Factor in F4F”, “Supporting F4F full-time workers”, “F4F Communities”, etc. At the end of the day, we have experienced the “Listening Evening” organised by Novosibirsk team.

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DAY 4: Action Planning begins. Knowing that we are personally responsible for the initiatives we propose and their implementation, we raised three, which best reflect and/or integrate different questions we’ve discussed during the last day and a half. In the evening of this day, we came together for the “Market of Opportunities”, where each of us had a chance to invite people to join the existing or planned activity. The list we created is long and this year will be filled with opportunities to visit other countries (as well as outside Eastern and Central Europe), bring in ideas, use one’s creativity and skills.

DAY 5: Each Action Planning team presented their results and informed on the next steps to be taken in the process of making things real. We closed our meeting with passing to each other a symbolic ball of string, creating an invisible net holding us together and creating a link to each. And after collecting all flip charts, bringing order to the place and packing – we went to the city of Novosibirsk to see the place we spent five days in and met the friends we have made long ago and recently.

The three ideas participants decided to go further with are: F4F BIG ACTION. A group of people planned how to best share what we have with the rest of the world. Be ready for a new IofC musical and movies produced! Sharing our experience, F4F will visit Nagaland and help strengthening the community there. This group will help Network teams with fundraising and legal registration of Non-Governmental Organisations, if needed. (Read more in the Report); Network Co-ordination. Some looked at how we can best support people in the regions who want to work full-time or part-time with F4F. We developed a plan for raising responsibility of every team for people who wish to work to benefit the Network; Planning of Great F4F Re-Union. This group developed an idea and created a plan for organising an F4F Re-Union, hopefully Autumn 2007. We see this event as an amazing opportunity to invite all our friends and course graduates, team members and families to introduce and reinforce the spirit of fellowship we share, knowledge and skills we have.

One thing is for certain – F4F has “grown up” and its spirit is ready to be shared with others. We left with warm feeling inside – each of us has friends and this friendship is blessed with something special, something deep and something intimate.

Anna Pozhogina (Latvia)

Dreams come true If anyone asked me some time ago, where in the world I would like to go, my answer would be Africa. Now I have no answer and I need to set other priorities, because just recently my dream came true and I happened to be in Africa. The reason was quite unexpected – a meeting of 2

IofC ‘Under 40’s group’. I will not explain how I got there; it was quite a complicated process, which was a miracle full of guidance and blessings by itself. What I would like to tell is the inspiration I gained, people I met and thoughts I had…

There were 41 people from 26 countries, all individuals, bright personalities, all full of life, ideas and problems, which are yet to be discovered and answered. I came there expecting nothing more then a usual talk-show discussing problems and creating unrealistic ways to solve them. My expectations were met. But on the other hand, I forgot that I am going to a meeting of IofC youth and what I found was something else… - an astonishing community of people where I was challenged to be myself, to integrate and to find an answer of why I was meant to be at the meeting.

Now, speaking a bit about the agenda I must say I found it very useful and am going to apply it further. We had an Open Space exercise, which was about us raising all kinds of issues we were concerned about and which were on our hearts. The themes were discussed in groups, where everyone was free to join any of them or go from one to another contributing to each or not going to any. The law of two feet, though valid, was quite rarely used since all the discussions were interesting enough to lose the desire of leaving the room. By the end of two days 26 (!) topics were talked over and prioritized by participants. As a result main three topics were picked for the action points and recommendations to be worked out for them. It was quite a fruitful and creative approach, which made us think and care,

Sasha in Kenya

which produced lots of ideas and actions, as well as commitments and decisions.

While being in Kenya we also had a chance to do some sightseeing. We took a day out to go to the Rift Valley (huge valley with no animals, which looks a bit like Crimea) and to a farm on the lake Naivasha. The morning before last was spent at the souvenirs market in Nairobi.

That was quite an exhausting experience for me since I have never seen anything like that.

The Kenyan IofC team took much care of us. Some of them were organizing the whole event, some taking part in the meeting and the whole team came for a meal and a talk. We had an opportunity to learn about their achieve-

ments, main projects, spirit and history. That was rather important since some of the participants were staying on for the outreach in Kenya and neighboring states.

For me personally the meeting was much more (as I said above), then a usual gathering. I would say if you combine Caux experience and ‘Foundations for Freedom’ Changing Courses you would get a slight idea of what I faced in Kenya. The revelation I had which changed my perception on what’s going on was rather a selfish one, but true. For the most of the meeting I was struggling to understand the point of my being there… Why, on earth, I was the one to come and spend time with those people…all sorts of such questions were disturbing me. By the end of the Open Space, during the silence day, when I was writing down the commitments I made it suddenly came to me…the understanding that the purpose is not outside but inside! The only person who really needs me to be at the meeting was myself. For some time I was giving so much that I hardly had any time to refill myself with something in return. That meeting was aimed to do that. One cannot imagine what a relief it was to realize a purpose and to gain a vision! The puzzle of many separate pieces suddenly became one whole picture and gave much of inspiration. But the most of amazement was not the thought itself, but the fact that I had it. It may sound unclear, but I felt a miracle happening, a blessing coming down on me, because I had an answer to the question!

So now being at home and recalling those days I realise what a mighty thing a community is and since then all my concerns are about F4F network and F4F team I am a part of to become a real community - to search not for the outreach and action in the first place, but to seek for the unity and inspiration inside us, in our teammates and friends.

Inside - first and then - outside. The trust and spirit of community lead to the fruitful action…

Sasha Shymina (Ukraine)

A new initiative in Belgrade Foundations for Freedom in coordination with the local-community based non-political, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization from Belgrade – Centre for Youth Integration (CIM) – has developed a one year programme that has started couple of weeks ago, on 20th of March.

The intention of CIM is to play a part towards the social integration of young people, by developing their awareness of the importance of their active and constructive participation within the community. The Centre for Youth Integration is fulfilling this aim through work on involving young people in a process of informal education, with the purpose of giving them the necessary support for personal development, and the establishment of a system of values based upon spiritual, social and personal beliefs; and work on raising their level of motivation for assuming a creative

and responsible role in society.

With the one year programme, that has been developed with F4F we aim to: - Develop a skilled team that will share a clear vision of what and how positive change can be achieved within the social sector of the community, and of the values that are needed to affect those changes; - Form a network of active young people, who will be trained and supported to be part of the processes of change within their communities; - Create partnerships with existing F4F groups in Europe, and involve this region in their work, and the wider work of Initiatives of Change; - Begin to create bridges that will connect communities and individuals from different socio-economic backgrounds.

First phase of the programme includes 4-day activities that will support the organizational development of the local organization, Centre for Youth Integration.

Therefore, Michael Prior from IofC Canada came to Serbia to assist us in that process. A week after consultations, we will have Training of Trainers on ‘Ethical Leadership’ for young professionals from Serbia. On that occasion David Curtis from Sheffield (UK) will join us, and lead training together with Mr. Prior in Belgrade.

Sadly, but, as we havent suceeded to raise enough money to support travel expences for people from Croatia, most probably, training will be only for people from Serbia.

However, as the follow up of TOT is implementation of workshops on ‘Ethical Leadership’ we plan to involve the rest of the region in that issue, and on that way to make a network of young people over Balkan.

The entire process has been developed and considered to be the starting point in the more concrete and specific work of the Foundation for Freedom in the region of Balkans and aims to gather young professionals from Serbia and Croatia, whose mission by attending the training of trainers programme would be to start developing concrete projects in the communities across Serbia and Croatia, and furthermore to integrate Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as Macedonia.

Furtheremore, we wish to grab the attention of the internationals who would be interested to support this project with and by any means that could enable easier realization and future work of the F4F project across the region of Balkans.

Our primary aim, however, is to ensure active participation of young leaders and professionals in the implementaition of local initiatives and initiatives of young people throughout various projects by working along side with local youth and community leaders and supporting them by conducting trainings according to the needs they have recognized as important.

Vedran Zadanj (Croatia) and Milica Djordjevic (Serbia & Montenegro) 3

Invisible mark in me (Reflections on the f4f course in Ukraine, March 2005) When I was on my way to the place, where the course “The Leadership in Responsibility” would be taking place, I had no idea what type of responsibility that was and what we would be taking about. I only knew that it would be a course for young political leaders from all over Ukraine, who belonged to the “National Democratic Youth League”.

So, there was the first day and first impressions.

When we all set down in a circle and started introducing each other, one could feel the tension. We were curiously looking at each other, asking ourselves a question “Who are those people and what can we expect from them?” Then David Curtis started speaking about organisation “Initiatives of Change”, what we would be doing and why we came. I am pretty sure that in the first day none of the participants could understand that. Not yet, anyway.

Day after day we were exploring moral values, good and bad. From the early morning we were searching for answers on questions that were put forward to us. The most interesting thing is those questions that I (probably others as well) was asking myself quite often, but never had time to think about them properly. Then I had that opportunity.

Unnoticeably, all participants of the course became closer to each other and were discovering new things about themselves and others. We were learning to trust, to work in a team, to accept the idea that everyone thinks differently.

It would be a lie, if I make a statement that the sessions during the course alone led to such a result. One should not forget about the evenings, when a lot of most interesting things were happening, like the “Mafia” game, “the club of anonymous midnight walkers”, 13th vampire…

Believe it or not, all of that was gradually connecting us with invisible threads. We were becoming a team.

In the beginning of the course I did not notice any particular changes within myself, did not notice them in the middle as well. And only by the end of the course I understood that my inner world had changed forever and for good. Every day spent there left an invisible mark in me.

We all started to understand much more during those seven days. I think the main values that we were talking about, would become the main principles in our lives. We should not forget about love, honesty, unselfishness and purity.

I am pretty sure that those connecting threads would never be erased by time and will not be taken apart by anyone. We became closer to each other spiritually.

Quite possible, that was one of the aims of the course.

Thank you very much for those who were leading the course, who has organised it and participated in it. The lessons taught will not be forgotten.

Marina Govoryhina (Ukraine) 4

...You

would get overwhelmed too!

March and April were indeed a tall order for Novosibirsk team - we had a Changing Course and Visiting Course Stage 2 (VC2) simultaneously, and then hosted Regional Meeting straight away - no intros, no time to sit in quiet and reflect. For those who participated in both events, it all blended in a sort of a continuous flow of revelations and challenges, struggles and pleasant surprises, generously spiced by sleepless nights spent in conversations; and volumes and volumes of music compiled by Bhavesh Patel.

The whole thing was to a great extent experimental.

Weather – a tricky Siberian spring with bright sun and melting snow and then sudden frosts capturing roads in solid - and very slippery indeed - ice. Place - a small (we were afraid of it being slightly claustrophobic, but seems to have turned out to be ok) venue with two (!) showers for nearly thirty people, kitchen to cook part of the meals ourselves and no sports facilities available. Group - unusually small, ten people in CC and nine in VC2 (a readily built-up group with close friendly relations) - all girls (!), emotionally and intellectually smart, revealing whimsical group dynamics.

Faculty - age 21-34 (is it unusually young, too? well, at least for Novosibirsk it is), quite international, various and vivid characters, with diverse levels and kinds of experience.

CC - the group grasping ideas extraordinarily quickly and demanding more and more depth and quality. VC2 - the first experience of an almost self-organising group, which was a daunting task for facilitators (lots of improvising and highly challenging flexibility demanded) and the schedule emerging in the process, instead of the faculty implementing the initially prepared one.

Regional Meeting - for the first time in Siberia (history! history!), and above all in the form of an Open Space (nearly mind blowing!). That’s basically it; and the rest will be some scattered thoughts from those who eye-witnessed and took part in this stream of thought, feeling and change.

I have never had such a deep sense of community cooking together led by hunger, inspiration and Bhav was amazing! People say that a guaranteed way to spoil your relationships with people is to live together, but I would argue - I think I could live numerous weeks like this, with these people, on and on!

As a part of the faculty team, I have experienced a totally new level of responsibility for the process and the dynamics, and also the growth of others and myself. It stretched me immensely, because demanded both humbleness and ambition, holding the grip and letting go of control, all simultaneously. The learning and enriching process I went through would not be possible, however, without an incredible level of my trust in our group that I suddenly discovered in myself, and their fabulous trust in me. The

most inspiring experience was when people suffered and grew next to me; when I felt the pain of a man caused by my pain of growing, I had this rush of understanding that this pain of mine is legitimate, acceptable, that I, myself, am acceptable and worthy of understanding and love.

The faculty - at first, you feel some barrier and awkwardness, when you want to come up and ask for advice, or just share, but you cannot. It is when you have an illusion that he/she is older, wiser, and think as if everything you say will be total rubbish. And then all of a sudden - a flash, all of a sudden, there is trust, and honesty, and sharing.

And you get overwhelmed. And it is just a second when a person becomes so close, when you have effected such a change by means of your honesty and openness! And even when you are not talking to this person, but are just passing by or looking at him/her, you get such support. No words needed.

VC2 - what is it? how is it? why is it? “If I feel that I am sad - I will sing. If bitterness grasps my heart - I will laugh. If I feel unwell - I will start working with doubled effort. If I feel fear - I’ll make a leap forward. If I feel uncertain - I’ll raise up my voice. If I feel poor - I’ll remember the wealth expecting me. If I feel that I lack knowledge - I’ll call my successes to mind. If I feel worthless - I’ll remember my goals” Changing Course was a next step for me. I have become calmer, more balanced, in a way, more adequate.

I have learned how to value time. At the moment I am trying to listen and to be more open to communication. I already feel that I have all opportunities to reach the goal, which I’m moving to every day.

It happened so that two years ago in Caux I met the guys coming to the Regional Meeting this time, and since then I had not seen them. So meeting them again in Novosibirsk raised up emotions and experiences of that summer. It is amazing how vividly I remember meeting each of them. I remembered everything - expressions of their faces, words, weather, sounds, fragrances. And looking back at it two years later from Novosibirsk, I realise how much has changed since then, but also how much remained Open Space group discussion

unchanged - mutual understanding, support, the atmosphere of trust, friendship. It must be the most important things that these courses gave me this time. I want to thank each of you who made this possible, and I hope to meet all of you again.

The Open Space was absolutely gorgeous. I have never felt such freedom in a meeting, such a real responsibility for using my time and head in the most productive way - it was so individual, yet so making up for a better fellowship, where each has understood to the very core his/her real role and contribution to growing deeper and going further of the whole network. Incredible.

Tatyana (aka LoLa) Sokolova (Russia)

Centre for Political Education: 5ive Years Center for Political Education is one of F4F partners in Kiev, Ukraine. It has been playing an active part in political development of the country. In April they celebrated its 5th anniversary.

The Center’s mission is to support the development of Ukrainian politics and civic society based on democratic values that can be achieved by providing education, supporting public dialogue, and research work.

Their last big compaign was: PROVIDING HONEST AND TRANSPARENT Presidential ELECTIONS in UKRAINE. In a framework of that campaign the following projects were run.

Training of official election observers in Ukrainian Presidential Elections-2004: during September-October 2004 the seminars for 4,000 official election observers, who represented all candidates into the charge of the President of Ukraine were taken in 66 local election districts. The project was supported by the International Republican Institute and the US Agency for International Development.

Initiative “Youth in Elections!”: the Initiative activity was directed at young voters, particularly, students and youngsters who are voting for the first time. During JulyOctober 2004, 43 local youth organizations conducted different educational activities in 15 regions of Ukraine. Those activities involved more than 20,000 young voters. More than 150,000 young voters received educational materials, a lot of people watched video and heard radio 5

spots encouraging young people to vote in Ukrainian Presidential Elections. The Project was supported by the European Union.

Producing video and radio spots: as part of the project „Support of the Election Process in Ukraine”, performed under the support of the European Union, The Center, produced video and radio spots aimed to explain citizens the need to check themselves in the lists of voters, the responsibility of poll-stations members for the violation of election legislation, the secrecy of voting. The spots were widely broadcasted by national and local TV and Radio in Ukraine during the elections.

Dialogue „Youth as an integrating factor of Ukrainian Choice”: in December 2004 the Center together with the Youth Public Committee under the Head of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine conducted a number of round tables in different regions of Ukraine, discussing burning issues.

Training of journalists on the methods of observing the election process: in 5 regions of Ukraine the Center conducted the training for mass-media representatives in the field of election legislation, observing procedures, election rights of journalists.

Young Politicians Forum: for the third time the Center conducted a Young Politicians Forum in Caux, Switzerland. It gathered 25 young leaders from 12 countries, who believe that the political leadership should be based upon the principles of trust, responsibility and partnership.

The Forum participants discussed the issues of ethics in election technologies, partnership opportunities during election campaigns. It was held in the framework of the Conference “Partnership in Service, Responsibility and Leadership” provided by the “Initiatives of Change”.

Elections in Moldova The parliamentary elections in Moldova (6 March 2005) were mentioned as meeting the international election standards by OSCE and Council of Europe. Out of the 23 contestants, 3 main parties passed the electoral threshold of 6%: Communist Party (45.98% votes with 56 mandates), Moldovan Democratic Block (MDB) (28.53% votes with 34 mandates), Christian-Democratic Peoples’ Party (9.07% votes with 11 mandates).

How “democratic” the elections were is questionable, though! During the pre-election campaigns, there were several complaints to the Central Electoral Commission regarding the transparency of the process. Few voting polls have been opened abroad and much of the voting education failed to properly reach the citizens.

At the moment, the Parliament is facing the tough process of electing the next President and appointing the Government. The communists lack 5 mandates to govern the country by themselves, as it was for previous 4 years, 6

but there is a chance for communists to find support from some representatives of Moldovan Democratic Block, especially the Democrat Party who is planning to form a separate political faction. The latter created a disappointment within the electorate, who voted in favor of the so-called “united democratic opposition - MDB”. As a coalition, all parties have signed a common letter assuming the moral obligations not to elect a communist candidate.

The “orange revolution” launched by Christian Democratic People’s Party to eliminate the communist influence was not as inspirational as in countries like Ukraine, Georgia and Kirgyzstan. But there is a hope in many citizens that the present Communist Party will change its platform and national strategy towards more democratic government and integration into the EU, as stated in the pre-electoral campaign. The three ruling parties now face new challenges and goals: reintegration of the separatist Transnistrian region, implementing Action Plan for European Union integration process, improving social care system, combating unemployment, promoting economic development, reestablishing GUUAM - Black Sea region Council for a joint settlement of economic and political problems.

Assuming that the Moldovan Government works on the common grounds and uses the strengths of all present political parties, Moldova will experience the most rapid transformation in political, social and economic arenas so far!

Natalia Ghilascu (Moldova)

Crimean Summer Camp is BACK!!!

Greetings to all, who have managed to turn over the page and who is still interested! A huge request – could you, please, read the name of the author… Have you read it? … YES, I am that young person with no particular age and a ponytail, who always forgets to learn some English and, in Mountain House, takes two steaks while Frida is not looking. Anyway… This has nothing to do with my story, but it’s always nice when people remember who you are! … I am one of Crimean F4F team members.

For those who cut their geography lessons in school and don’t know what and where Crimea is, please visit this link (http://www.other.org.ua/crimea). I won’t spend long time talking about my small Motherland. Well… it’s worth mentioning that, maybe, Australian aboriginal people and Eskimos from far North have not left their prints here. We have seen everyone: the Scythians, the Sarmatians, Great Roman Empire, Greeks and the Golden Horde…I shall probably stop counting nations and countries now. To be short – Crimea has a very rich history!

For the last couple of years, at the end of August, we invite all our friends and organise so-called “Summer Camp”. It welcomes everybody. If you have not been invited before – we kept you for pudding! … If you

feel like its time for pudding – welcome to Crimea!

Most probably, these lines are addressed to younger generation, simply because we will live in the tents, on the Black Sea coast. No comfort promised, but we promise fun time together! Most precisely, we call it “extreme experience”… For those, who have not got afraid – my offer is still available! Moreover, if some of older generation would like to recall their “scout childhood” and “Strawberry fields forever”- we will be happy to see you all!

Requirements are minimal: one tent, one sleeping bag and some amount of money. The living costs for 2003 were – 1,8 $ per person per day. Last year we have not paid anything. Your money will be needed to cover the food, water and local travel costs. If you are interested to find out more about financial participation and other aspects – my e-mail is at the end of this article. By the way, I have heard about the intentions of new Ukrainian government to introduce visa-free entrance for EU citizens…

Last year we have chosen Quiet Bay, a place near dead volcano Kara-Dag (Black Mountain). The streams of lava created astonishing landscapes. An International Delta Plane centre has chosen this place for its activity thanks to unusual relief, you can spend hours in the air. If you are not experienced and/or afraid, you can ask for the instructor and do it in a “Batman style”. The centre is next to the beach and many of those who come – use the chance...

Besides, you can explore amazing sand beaches and… let this be secret for those who are willing to come. See some more of it here: http://www.other.org.ua/buhta1.phtml I think this is it... Where will camp be this year?

We may find even more beautiful places – Crimea has much more to offer. I encourage you to read this article as an INVITATION! We love our land and are ready to share it with our friends. So, come… walk… fly… to us!!!

Igor Popov (...a mad tea-party!?) and Crimean F4F Team ulitka@other.org.ua

F4F news in brief European Saeima preparation meeting took place in Paris on 15-17, April. Kostya Ploskyy, Ildze Slanke, AA team and some other representatives from different IofC European teams got together to plan the strategy of a gathering for IofC European teams that would take place in Autumn 2006.

F4F Mentor programme in Caux is being developed for a few young people to work alongside with Caux Interns this summer. Mentor’s objectives are to provide support and to assist interns with the personal and skills development; lead workshops; to be a liaison with conference organisers and departments in Caux for a period of 4 weeks. One-week mentoring training would be conducted for those Mentors.

First UK F4F Course’ taster aimed at bridgebuilding took place in London on 15-17, April for young

people from Nottingham representing different communities and religious group. Bhavesh Patel, Nick and Cathie-Jean Foster conducted the course.

Anna Pozhogina is visiting Latvia in the beginning of May. Bhavesh Patel, Janet and Miles Paine are going for a visit to Moldova in May. Angela Starovoitova is visiting Ukraine at the end of May. Notes

and

thanks

from

the

treasurers

Time moves on and since the last issue of the newsletter we have received two generous personal donations as well as a grants from the Karl Popper Foundation for Caux and the Irene Prestwich Trust for the Regional Meeting. Our thanks go to all our donors, large, small, regular or occasional, your support is invaluable.

The committee had hoped to get a similar number of people to Caux as last year, but the Karl Popper grant has been much smaller (CHF15,000 compared to CHF58,000 last year). Therefore, despite the personal donations, we are faced with either scaling down our plans or using our reserve funds. Perhaps it is time for a big step in faith and even more prayer.

The good news is that the Oxford Group will match fund money that we raise, up to a limit. Therefore, the committee have requested match funding for the Karl Popper money in order to get more people to Caux than would have been possible without their continuing support.

However we should not rely on always getting funds from the same sources for Caux. Next year we may have to be self-financing.

Despite the health of our current financial position we still face financial challenges if we are to complete our intended programme this year. You will see below that Costs: Caux visits £20,000 F4F Mentors £8,790 Courses, follow up visits, Training Trainers, administration £34,090 Total funds needed £62,880 Current funds (£37,450) Need to raise by Nov £25,430 (US $48,300 approx) If we wish to have a similarly ambitious programme of activity next year (2006), we need to be thinking of projects and writing funding applications NOW since it often takes six months, or more, for funding bodies to make their decisions. Various projects were discussed and planned at the Regional Meeting. Bhav and I are very willing to help with putting together costs and budgets.

If you have any questions about F4F’s finances, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Gordon Fuller and Bhavesh Patel, joint Treasurers.

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Annual Review 2004 F4F mission statement F4F aims to inspire purpose and vision in individuals and teams grounded in the values that underlie a truly free and just society and to nurture and support them in the process of transforming their lives and societies.

2004 programme As in previous years, in 2004 F4F supported teams and individuals in their efforts to build a better society in their countries.

Many of these teams and activities exist as a direct result of the F4F courses and initiatives.

There has been discussion throughout the year on training the trainers for the courses run by F4F, and as a result four people have received additional training provided by Erik and Sheila Andren.

The outstanding events of the year were as follows: January - Veaceslav Balan and Andrei Tarasenco (Moldova) visited the UK for a consultation meeting with the aim of establishing a Moldovan-UK partnership to elaborate further the IIBPP (Inspiring Initiatives, Building Partnerships Project).

Though the funding proposal was not successful, it was agreed to proceed with work at whatever speed possible.

February - A follow-up visit to Latvia was made by Nick Foster and Oleg Ermurati to meet with the participants from the previous F4F courses, to discuss and encourage a further involvement of the Latvian team in the F4F network activities in Eastern and Central Europe.

1-4 April - The Junior Round Table conference entitled ‘Tourism as a vital factor of region’s economic development’ was hosted and organised by the Lviv Regional Group of Initiatives of Change and Foundations for Freedom. About 30 young professionals of various occupations and backgrounds from Ukraine, Holland, USA and Egypt gathered together to discuss the subject and to share their ideas and experiences. The sessions moved successfully from the development of tourism in the region to ethical aspects, which people usually confront when being involved in this domain.

10-18 April – The annual F4F Regional Meeting took place in Chisinau (Moldova). This was the 8th Regional Meeting and there were 32 participants from Moldova, Ukraine, Latvia, Poland, Estonia, Russia, Romania, Canada, UK, and Serbia. The first part of the Regional Meeting was dedicated to a demonstration and evaluation of the new Ethical Leadership Workshop. The second - was used for the discussions and planning on the inter-team co-operation and the future of F4F. 25 April - 4 May - A faculty led by Kees and Marina Scheijgrond delivered a ‘Changing Course’ in Bixad (Romania).

This was the second time when a ‘Changing Course’ was delivered in Romania, and this time it was the beginning of the three consecutive F4F events - a 7-day Changing Course, a 3-day Anti-Corruption Seminar and a concluding general meeting / reunion for those connected with Initiatives of Change/F4F. ‘After a week in a very special atmosphere I found out what I could and what I should change. I understood that there is always place for better, that in our lives there is a place for more morality, for more spirituality, for more understanding for the others. A major change in one week may not be possible, but is … enough to take the decision to make changes for a different life’ - from a report by one of the Romanian participants.

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1-9 May - A faculty led by David and Judith Curtis delivered a ‘Changing Course’ in Crimea (Ukraine). The idea of this course came to a few people almost at the same time, and that made this course even more significant. It was a different course to those that happened in Crimea before. First, it was conducted in Russian (for the first time in F4F‘s history) and, second, because there were a few Crimean Tatars among the participants, the course had a task of getting to know a different culture and overcoming the existing prejudices in Crimean society. ’My attitude towards the Crimean Tatars was changed completely. We should not be disappointed in a nation after meeting one bad representative’ - from a report by one of the participants.

July-August - With the help from the Karl Popper Foundation, the Oxford Group and some individual donations it was possible for about 50 people from F4F teams in Eastern and Central Europe to take part in the summer conferences at the Initiatives of Change International Center in Caux (Switzerland). Many took part in organizing different aspects of the conferences, especially during the Service, Responsibility and Leadership conference, which traditionally has a significant Eastern European presence.

30 October - 4 November- The Initiatives of Change International Council held its first meeting in Eastern and Central Europe in Riga (Latvia). Prior to the meeting Council members visited teams and individuals in Ukraine (L‘viv, Kiev, Crimea), Russia (Novosibirsk), Moldova (Chisinau), Romania (Baia Mare) and the Czech Republic (Prague). (A special report is available upon request).

December - A follow-up visit to Novosibirsk (Russia) by Anna Pozhogina (Latvia/UK) and Anna Bondarenko (Ukraine).

‘This visit was so necessary, so natural; it gave me strength and confidence inside, a direction in our teamwork and reaching the goals, which seemed to be impossible’ - a report from one the hosts.

December-January - As part of the continuous development of the inter-team relationships and activities Anna Pozhogina and Angela Starovoytova had a series of follow-up meetings and conversations with different teams and individuals in three parts of Ukraine (Kiev, Lviv, Crimea) and Moldova.

Personnel/Office 2004 brought changes to the F4F’s personnel as well as the move of the office from London to Sheffield in October. After two-year’s work with Foundations for Freedom Gabrijela Leovic (from Germany) and Oleg Ermurati (from Moldova) have been succeeded by Anna Pozhogina (from Latvia) and Angela Starovoytova (from Ukraine). Both of them are part of the new Management Group (alongside Dr Nick Foster and Gordon Fuller), which meets on a regular basis, and is answerable to the Committee, which has a meeting every month. There has been a change of treasurer as well, with the role now shared between Gordon Fuller and Bhavesh Patel.

Finance Income Gifts from individuals – UK Gifts from individuals – Netherlands Euro850 ‘General collection’ – Netherlands Euro 1,700 Legacies Interest Grants: Tirley Garth Trust UK DFID IofC NL Euro2,500 in 2004 Bakker Arts Foundation NL Euro10,000 A Church Foundation – NL Karl Popper Foundation Oxford Group general fund Tax refund Total income

2003 6237

4250 23 4000 500 1724 6517 11460 17856 52,567

2004 6581 607 1214 0 63

1786 7143 15130 5000 327 37,851 9

Expenditure

2003

2004

Course delivery Support to teams in E Europe Regional meeting Caux conference Fees and overheads Total expenditure

12049 3668 1640 19206 5465 42,028

7997 3084 3307 20057 6717 41,162

The F4F Committee would like to express its thanks to all those who supported and were partners in this programme, financially and in other ways.

Plans In 2005 F4F UK will continue supporting the regional teams in Eastern and Central Europe. The 9th F4F Regional Meeting will take place in Novosibirsk (Russia). Different courses are currently being planned in Russia, Moldova, Serbia, Ukraine, Romania and the Baltic countries. The Ethical Leadership Workshop will see a further development with training happening in Serbia and Moldova in March-April. The training of more leaders for the Changing Course will continue in 2005 and 2006.

In 2005 F4F will play a new role in the Caux summer conferences with the introduction of the F4F Mentors. About 30 Eastern & Central Europeans are expected to be funded to participate in the conference.

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