ISAR Ednannia

What makes a book so powerful that it can unite people, inspire resistance, and provide support during the darkest times? How does the role of books evolve in a society at war? What challenges does the publishing industry face today? The panel discussion on the Book as a Fortress: The Role of Culture in Defense and Resilience, organized by the International Renaissance Foundation during the XIII Civil Society Development Forum (with)STAND, became a key event for reflecting on the significance of books in wartime. Participants included Director of the Ukrainian Book Institute Oleksandra Koval, journalist and publicist Vitalii Portnikov, poet and translator Kateryna Kalytko, founder of the Sens bookstore network Oleksii Erinchak, and Program Director of the Lviv Book Forum Sofiya Cheliak. Social Capital Program Manager at the International Renaissance Foundation Radoslava Kabachiy (Chekmysheva) moderated the discussion. Video recording of the panel: https://ednn.link/evSiTO

📣 We are excited to share some great news – training at the ISAR Ednannia Mentorship School is now available on the platform https://lnkd.in/d8sQt7fZ.   📅 The training begins with two online modules designed for self-paced learning. To get started, register on the ISAR Ednannia e-learning platform to gain access to the materials. Once your registration is confirmed, you can proceed to the Mentorship School course via this link: https://lnkd.in/djXjqZ7z.   ‼️ Important: Active participants in the Mentorship School must be representatives of currently mentoring mentee organizations. After completing the two initial modules, you will be asked to fill out a short survey form, where you will need to provide information about your mentee organization.   👉 The survey form for continued training will be available until January 12, 2025. Do not delay – the sooner you complete it, the faster you will gain access to the next modules and the schedule of online and offline sessions.

May Ukraine succeed without unity between the government and civil society? May these two pillars understand each other and work hand in hand to build a better future for the country? What lies at the heart of successful cooperation between the public sector and civil society? These pressing questions were at the center of a dynamic discussion during the panel on the State and Civil Society: We Cannot (with)Stand Without Each Other at the XIII Civil Society Development Forum (with)STAND organized in partnership with the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, bringing together leading experts from both the public and civil society sectors.   The discussion featured a renowned panel of speakers, including State Secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Oleksandr Yarema, Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine Oksana Zholnovych, Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine Oleksandr Banchuk, Deputy Mayor of Zviahel Iryna Hudz, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Foundation for Public Health Halyna Skipalska, PhD, and Head of the Civil Society Development Program at the Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research Maksym Latsyba. Ukrainian writer, TV host, lawyer, and human rights advocate Larysa Denysenko expertly moderated the discussion. Video recording of the panel: https://ednn.link/cCqQTY

ISAR Ednannia Grantee Earns Effie: A Triumph of Innovation The prestigious Effie Award for a communications campaign has been awarded to Ukraine’s first online course, Movyty.Motyvy, was developed as part of the Ukraine Civil Society Sectoral Support Activity. This Activity is implemented by ISAR Ednannia in partnership with UCIPR and CEDEM, with the support of USAID Ukraine. Effie Awards is the world’s most prestigious accolade in marketing communications, with a 55-year legacy of celebrating effectiveness across more than 55 programs in 125 markets. In Ukraine, the Effie Awards have been recognizing outstanding campaigns for 18 years, with the 2024 ceremony marking another milestone. At Effie Awards Ukraine 2024, the Movyty.Motyvy project, created by ISAR Ednannia’s grantee, EdEra online education studio, won the bronze trophy in the Influencer Marketing category. The Ukraine Civil Society Sectoral Support Activity fully funded the course development.

How can we draw the best from the past and present for cultural diplomacy? What will amplify the Ukrainian voice on the global stage? How can book clubs become spaces of unity and support?   Renowned Ukrainian author Andriy Kurkov, the French Legion of Honor chevalier, has written over 40 books and screenplays. He shared his insights during an open conversation at the XIII Civil Society Development Forum (with)STAND. The discussion focused on the essence of Ukrainian national cultural space, the urgent need for its preservation and expansion, and the role of modern marketing tools in promoting Ukrainian achievements worldwide.   This conversation was about culture and all of us. It explored how, during challenging times, we can find inspiration and strength to move forward.   Deputy Executive Director of the International Renaissance Foundation Inna Pidluska conducted the interview.   Video recording of the panel at https://ednn.link/LGGaoH.

The war continues, and the challenges facing the volunteer community are becoming increasingly complex. Have the issues that emerged in 2014 been resolved by 2024, and which ones require immediate attention? To discuss the critical role of volunteers in supporting Ukraine's fight, the XIII Civil Society Development Forum (with)STAND hosted the expert discussion on the Volunteer Movement as a Component of Ukraine's Defense Capability in partnership with the Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM). The speakers included: Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine for Digital Transformations, Digital Development and Digitalization Kateryna Chernohorenko, co-founder of Dignitas Fund Lyubov Shipovych, volunteer and tactical medicine instructor Kira Rodkina, Head of the WINGS OF HOPE CHARITABLE FUND Foundation Natalia Lipska, polish volunteer Mateusz Wodzinski, advisor to Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine Yuriy Uzych and CEDEM Director Olesia Kholopik. TV host and activist Oleksandr Pedan moderated the discussion. This panel became a platform for candid dialogue and the exchange of ideas on the development of the volunteer movement during the ongoing war. Video recording of the panel: https://ednn.link/dpqnFt

Guidelines for Ethical Communication with Defenders and Veterans   As more veterans reintegrate into civilian life, civil society organizations prioritize support for the veteran community. To do so effectively, it is crucial to uphold ethical standards in professional activities and personal interactions.   To promote a culture of ethical engagement, ISAR Ednannia and the VESTA FUND organized an online lecture on the Guidelines for Ethical Communication with Defenders and Veterans in the framework of the Ukraine Civil Society Sectoral Support Activity.   The infographics present the key takeaways from the lecture and outline essential considerations for communicating with defenders and veterans.   For additional tips and valuable insights, watch the lecture recording at https://ednn.link/R1z5Mk   This event was made possible in cooperation with the Vesta Fund and by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) within the Ukraine Civil Society Sectoral Support Activity implemented by ISAR Ednannia in partnership with the Ukrainian Center of Independent Political Research (UCIPR) and Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM).

The fight against injustice has united Ukrainians. However, everyone envisions justice in their way. These different perceptions divide people and can lead to destructive actions against others. How can we find a balance and avoid a destructive understanding of justice? Participants of the panel discussion on the Path to Justice, held in partnership with the International Renaissance Foundation at the XIII Civil Society Development Forum (with)STAND, explored answers to this critical question. During the discussion, the following speakers shared their thoughts on justice: co-founder of the Laboratory of Public Interest Journalism Angelina Kariakina, Ukraine 5 AM Coalition expert Maksym Ieligulashvili, human rights defender and serviceman Maxim Butkevych, Director of Mystetskyi Arsenal Olesia Ostrovska-Liuta, Curator of the Memory Culture Platform Past/Future/Art and Professor at Kyiv School of Economics Oksana Dovhopolova. The Ukrainian writer, lawyer, human rights activist, and TV host Larysa Denysenko. Video recording of the panel: https://ednn.link/72gdcL

The panel discussion on Paths to Unity: How War Challenges Social Cohesion, held in partnership with the UNDP, at the XIII Civil Society Development Forum (with)STAND, served as a platform to explore the challenges facing Ukrainian society in the context of war. Speakers reflected on how to preserve unity without shutting down difficult topics, the impact of polarization and destructive information narratives on social cohesion, and how rethinking the informational and cultural landscapes can be a tool for strengthening resilience and countering external threats. The discussion featured the Head of Area-Based Recovery, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine Ana Lukatela, the Head of the Board at the Civil Network OPORA Olha Aivazovska, journalist Tetiana Troshchynska, Head of the Information Support Department at the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic Yevhen Bondarenko, Senior Specialist of the USAID/ENGAGE Lina Romanukha, Executive Director of the Institute of Post-Information Society Dmytro Zolotukhin. Philosopher and writer Taras Liutyi moderated the discussion. Video recording of the panel: https://ednn.link/jEQ7gC

The central theme of the panel discussion on the Future of Veteran Policy: Nothing for Veterans Without Veterans during the XIII Civil Society Development Forum (with) STAND was the need to rethink veteran policy in Ukraine and transition from a patronizing approach to a partnership-based model between veterans, society, and the state. The principle of ‘nothing for veterans without veterans’ means creating a new governance culture in which veterans' voices are heard and essential to policymaking. The discussion became a vital platform for dialogue among the government, veterans, and international partners. The speakers included: Political Section Advisor at the U.S. Embassy Matthew Johnson, veteran Yuriy Hudymenko, partner of fallen combat medic Valentyn Dobryi of the 77th Mechanized Brigade Leda Kosmachevska, representative of GSC Game World (developer of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2) Daria Tsepkova, veteran Nadiia Haran, service member of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade Kholodnyi Yar Oleksandr Dzhusupov, and Advisor to the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights on Veteran Policy Olha Danilova. Communication expert at the Vesta Fund Kateryna Eykhmann moderated the discussion. Video recording of the panel: https://ednn.link/r3sHuI