News

Interview with Oleksii Khmara, President of Toro Creative Union, part of the Transparency International network

Toro Creative Union based out of Kirovograd, Ukraine, is a civil society organisation that strives to develop democratic procedures and citizen participation in the Ukraine. Since 2009 this human rights watch organisation has also been acting as Transparency International’s contact in the Ukraine.

Приехав в Украину, вы обязательно ощутите незабываемый вкус колоритной национальной традиции – взяточничества! Так приветствует всех желающих посетить Украину один из международных туристических порталов.

I have been living in Kirovograd, Ukraine for nine weeks, and it feels strange that I am about to leave. I feel that my time here has passed so quickly, but I have been able to accomplish and experience so much. I have made some great friends in Kirovograd and have met a lot of very interesting people.

Since the 1st of July 2010, the Ministry of Justice is aimed at looking for the factors fostering corruption in the projects of normative-legal acts, which are prepared by the officials of different levels. For conducting an expertise, the Ministry has developed a special document - the guidelines which define those factors and the methods of their detection. What are the opportunities to prevent corruption and what risks contain the document, explained the experts of the Creative Union "TORO", Transparency International - National Contact in Ukraine.

На сайте ТОРО доступна для скачивания книга Пола Раду "Следите за деньгами: Пособие для журналистов, разоблачающих коррупцию".

The overall effectiveness of the local administrations in the Kirovohrad region to implement the Concept of promoting the civil society development by the executive authorities does not exceed on the regional level 65% and on the district level 25%. At the same time, 3 of the 9 district state administrations which were submitted to the expertise, in actual fact did not even take part in the implementation of the Concept.

In the full of summer heat in Kiev was hot for another reason. In Ukraine, involving more than 70 representatives of ministries and departments, a special training on the implementation of the new legislation on conflict of interests has taken place. Within this framework, one of the leading international experts in the field of integrity, a Board member of Transparency International Belgium, Evert Jan Lammers visited Ukraine. Mr. Lammers found an opportunity to meet with the editorial staff of the newsletter “On the way to integrity” and to answer in the short interview some questions about similarities and differences in approaches to preventing corruption in Ukraine and Belgium.

Civil society activists of the Kirovohrad region will control the conduction of consultations with civil society during the decision-making by authorities; the experts of Transparency International Czech Republic will assist them and the local authorities will provide with information. Those results were achieved during the round table composing of civil society activists, authority’s representatives and experts from Transparency International Czech Republic, on the 15th of July 2010.

So far I have been in Ukraine for only a week, but it feels as though it has been much longer. In Kirovograd, I am living with a family, who from the moment I arrived has made me feel like part of their family.

In  Lviv, on the 8th of June, the representatives of the Consortium composed of non-governmental organizations of Ukraine, as well as the representatives of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and the members of the Office of Government Commissioner for anti-corruption policies discussed the Anti-corruption strategy. In particular, during the discussion the matters of an anti-corruption legislation and the role of civil society in this process were considered. The event was supported by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.

The Ukrainian President and government announce that they want to conduct anticorruption reforms. This became the stimulus for the new research with the assistance of the international organization, Transparency International.

ARTICLE 19 and International Media Support (IMS) are calling on President Viktor Yanukovych and his administration to ensure that Ukraine upholds its commitments to freedom of expression and in particular press freedom under the European Convention of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.  Since the end of February 2010, the press freedom situation in the country has deteriorated markedly. 

Despite the end of the academic year, activists of Kharkiv youth organizations decided to continue training. At a time when other students were listening to the last school bell and attending graduation parties, these young activists were organizing and conducting a training seminar called “How Public Youth Organizations Can Resist Corruption.”

This conclusion can be taken from the discussion “How the community can resist Corruption: Approaches of Transparency International,” which was held on May 20th in Kiev.

Ukrainian Vice-Prime Minister, Volodymyr Sivkovich and Andrey Bogdan, who is the Deputy Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers and the government representative concerning anticorruption politics, held a working discussion with Miklosh Marshal, the Regional Director in Europe and Central Asia Region of Transparency International (Berlin, Germany).

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) -- Ukrainian prosecutors say they are reopening a bribery investigation involving former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko that was suspended in 2005.

Такие выводы содержатся в отчете о ходе выполнения в Украине Европейской политики соседства, который был обнародован Европейской комиссией.

Нам и раньше доводилось слышать о том, какой разительный контраст составляет жизнь Винницы и других городов сходного масштаба, об уникальном городском голове этого города и его достижениях. Поэтому «УЦ» сразу откликнулась на приглашение Виктора Андреева, начальника Главного управления ЖКХ облгосадминистрации, посетить соседний областной центр вместе с делегацией коммунальников Кировоградщины и увидеть все своими глазами. Результат превзошел все мыслимые и немыслимые ожидания!

About 60 representatives of the CSOs and departments of justice from seven regions of Ukraine took part in the seminar.  The main topics for discussion were: improving the practice of the CSO registration, legal assistance to the CSOs in reporting and compliance with their statutory requirement and acting legislation, as well as legal mechanisms of citizen participation in the government policy development and implementation. Civic leaders had an opportunity to hear first-hand from Olena Semyorkina, Director of the Department of CSO legalization and registration of printed media of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, as well as from the independent experts.

The first seating of the National Anticorruption Committee within the President of Ukraine set out the necessity of involving the community in corruption counteraction. Therefore, the President Viktor Yanukovich instructed the Executive Secretary of the Committee to work out the format of increasing the Committee by involving the community.

During the first seating of the National Anticorruption Committee Viktor Yanukovich offered the Prime-Minister of Ukraine to initiate the change of the Governmentally Authorized Person in Anticorruption Policy. The President sees Minister of Justice O.Lavrinovich as a coordinator of state anticorruption policy. The community supposes this step to be the beginning of the end of existence of the institution of the Governmentally Authorized Person.

President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych chaired a meeting of the National Anti-Corruption Committee.

In his speech the President stressed that fighting corruption in Ukraine remains the main nationwide problem. "This is the issue that directly affects the interests of every citizen and has been a "national headache"," he said.

В Кировограде пройдут общественные слушания по вопросу ликвидации районных советов

Anticorruption initiatives of the new authorities leave aside the sphere of punishment execution of Ukraine. During the year 2010, 1500 civil servants and officials who conduct work regarding corruption prevention, will undergo special professional development training. At the same time there is not a single employee of Criminal-executive system of Ukraine among them.

Взяточник как объект исследования нейронауки

Первый на этой планете официально зарегистрированный «указ о борьбе с коррупцией» был принят шумерским царем Урукагиной, который правил в Ла-гаше во второй половине ЮЛУ в. до н. э. То есть — более четырех тысяч лет назад. Согласно этому указу, взяточничество приравнивалось к государственной измене — со всеми вытекающими. 

Международная летняя антикоррупционная школа приглашает на обучение студентов, аспирантов и молодых специалистов из Украины, Эстонии, Латвии, Литвы, Молдовы, России и Беларуси. С 6-го по 9-е июля 2010 года они смогут пройти обучение у ведущих специалистов и ученных, которые объяснят причины коррупционного поведения и представят инструменты противодействия коррупции, актуальные для постсоветских государств. 

Шановні пані та панове!

Прийняття Парламентом  нового антикорупційного законодавства та, з іншого боку, відтермінування набуття ним чинності до 1 січня 2011 року, введення Урядом посади Уповноваженого з питань антикорупційної політики та створення Президентом Януковичем Національного антикорупційного комітету свідчать, що корупція залишається дуже значною проблемою для України. Держава ніби прагне продемонструвати серйозність намірів їй протидіяти.

To the President of Ukraine
Viktor Yanukovich
01220, Kyiv, Bankova Street 11

 

An open letter to the President of Ukraine
As for the principles of forming
National Anti-corruption Committee

 

Honorable Viktor Fedorovych!

 

Creative Union “TORO”, Transparency International National Contact in Ukraine, shares your concern as for the high level of corruption in Ukraine.

In order to be aware of all the corruption and anti-corruption events in Ukraine, you don’t need to study tens of web pages and read hundreds of news any more. Experts of Creative Union “TORO” will do it for you and will present the most interesting. Thanks to the new initiative of the organization, the most interesting anti-corruption events of the month will be put into one place. All the news, scandals, analytics and accidents related to corruption, will be installed in the information bulletin “On the way to morality”, which everyone can get.

Ukraine needs changes! Real changes. A new President means a chance for change. We, Ukrainians, cannot allow the next opportunity for change to be lost.

Today we call on the winner of the Presidential election to address the people in a Public Forum, initiated by the New Citizen Public Campaign, to tell Ukrainians how, when and what he will do to overcome the crisis and to develop Ukraine.

The approaches to funds search, developed by Creative Union “TORO”, have been recognized as one of the best in Ukraine. Such a decision was taken by the expert council of specialists in the sphere of information-communication technologies and civic sector in the framework of the competition, conducted among Non-governmental organizations of Ukraine.

Very soon, each person who wants to learn how to conduct civic expertise will get everything needed. With this aim, the specialized Internet-resource, which will give its users thorough assistance in conducting expertise, is being created now. In order to provide qualitative assistance, the search for specialists who will be able to provide the user with professional consultations has been started.

The Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers, which adopted the Order of collecting and publishing information about legal persons, sued for corruptive infringements, has come into force – as informed by zaxid.net. 

DEAR FRIENDS!

Accept our most sincere congratulations on the New Year and Christmas!

New Year is the bright, beautiful, important and funny holiday with...

Уходящий год Красного быка запомнился украинцам чередой громких коррупционных скандалов, и не менее громкими обещаниями властьимущих раз и навсегда разобраться с коррупционерами. Что же на самом деле сделали правоохранители и чиновники, общественность и международные организации, для того, чтобы нам жилось лучше и веселее, а страна была менее коррумпированной.

To the President of Ukraine

Viktor Yushenko

01220, Kyiv, Bankova Street 11

Open appeal to the President of Ukraine

on the necessity of putting a veto upon the decision of

Verhovna Rada as for postponing new anti corruption legislation

 

They call it true happiness. They consider it a great wonder. Despite their age, each of them is sure that it is the essence of his life. Since it awakens what is hidden deep in the soul. That’s what makes men really happy. 

In July-September 2009, project “Hidna Ukraine” together with “Creative center TSK” conducted financial check of the selected organizations – project granters. The aim of the audit was to conduct check up of the purpose-oriented fund usage, obtained from the company “Management Systems International”, by civic organizations of Ukraine

We are always ready to help you!

Lustration – a word, which again started to be used by political figures. It’s been probably the first time since Orange Revolution. It is promised by candidates for the position of the President for everybody: Tymoshenko, Yanukovich, to the orange ones, the young orange ones – to the old ones, and the latter – to everybody who is against everybody. 

Today, a round table meeting took place in Kirovohrad Institute of Human Development “Ukraina” with the assistance of the department of Inner Policy and Public Relations of Regional State Administration. The topic was “Legal provision of the activity of civic organizations of Ukraine: advantages and disadvantages of the current legislation”.

More than 10 state and non-governmental institutions headed by Government Authorized Person in anti corruption policy, having developed new national anti corruption strategy, were able to make the community concerned. 

By its last actions UEFA has confirmed the unconsoling conclusions of Transparency International anti corruption experts. The recent statement of international football organization opened global scale of corruption in big football. 

Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2009 shows that corruption remains a very serious problem for Ukraine. Annual global research of Transparency International indicates that Ukraine together with the countries of Eastern, South-Eastern Europe and Central Asia is perceived by its population as a highly corrupt state. All these countries have got the score of corruption spread beneath 5 points from the 10 possible (according to the scale, where 0 means total corruption of the state, 10 – practical absence of corruption). This year position of Ukraine in the so called rank of corrupted countries of the world with the score 2.2 points and general tempo of corruption spread in the state indicate the necessity of decisive steps in order to save the country and escape from the corruption abyss.

On the 3rd of November Creative Union “TORO”, Contact group of Transparency International in Ukraine, sent an open letter to the Prime-Minister of Ukraine Yuliya Timoshenko, which related to the non-transparency of using by the government of Ukraine of 50 million hryvnas allocated in summer of the current year for preventing epidemic of Californian flue in the state. On the 5th of November, Ministry of Health of Ukraine created a commission, which will follow the procedure of distribution of money for overcoming flue epidemic.

Honorable Yuliye Volodymyrivno!

We demand from you, the head of the central organ of executive authority in Ukraine, in the shortest terms to inform the community of Ukraine about the use of 50 million hryvnas, which were allocated in summer of 2009, with the purpose of preventing epidemic of Californian flue. We remind you, Mrs. Timoshenko, that according to the law of Ukraine “About Cabinet of Ministers” the government, which you are the head of, is supposed to perform functions of providing state policy in health care sphere; it allocated state funds in the amount of 50 million hryvnas in order to prevent spreading in Ukraine of Californian flue A/H1N1, which is as well known as the swine flue. From the interview of   Mr. Vasyl Knyazevych, Minister of Health of Ukraine, given by him on the 1st of November, 2009 in the live broadcast of TV channel “1+1” it came to light that tender procedures on disbursement of the assigned funds were conducted with the break of the current legislation of Ukraine and with the clear features of corruptive actions; as a result Ukraine remained actually unready to fight flue epidemic...

With around 300 representatives from Transparency International (TI) chapters from some 100 countries and territories, the organisation’s 2009 annual membership meeting held in Berlin from 17-18 October was the largest to date.

At this meeting, Ukraine was represented by Creative Union "TORO" as TI's contact group in Ukraine...

In search of new effective technologies of informing the community Creative Union “TORO” visited Poland. During 6 days representatives of Polish authorities, mass media and civic organizations shared their experience of interaction and best practices of spreading information.

12 жовтня 2009 року на засіданні урядового Комітету з питань гуманітарної та соціальної політики, очолюваного Іваном Васюником, було ініційовано скасування державного електронного реєстру громадських експертиз.

On the 23rd of September, 2009 world-wide movement on corruption counteraction Transparency International presented the Report on corruption in the world in 2009: “Corruption and business”.

Speaking during the event, Larysa Kobelyanska, Project Coordinator, said in our society responsible parenthood has been almost always connected to motherhood and child care. Moreover, even if it is a commonly admitted fact that fathers have an important role to play, their practical responsibility in raising a child is almost inexistent.

The participants of the working meeting of the experts, which took place on Friday, the 27th of August in the building of the department of inner policy and public relations of Kirovohrad regional state administration, know the answer to this question. The participants of the discussion about the format of Professional training program for activists of civic councils were prominent officials (Serhiy Karakulin) and civic figures (Lev Abramov, Alla Voloshyna, Inha Dudnik, Serhiy Podorozhniy, Viktoriya Talashkevych, Oleksiy Khmara and Alina Yaroslavska). The meeting was initiated by the Creative Union TORO (www.toro.org.ua) with the aim of developing general strategy of Program realization, which is aimed at increasing efficiency of Civic councils’ activity in 10 districts of Kirovohrad region.

10 years – is it a lot or not? For the history of the state – this is little, for the life of an insect – it’s very much! 10 steps – is it a lot or not? For a baby – it’s a lot, for a sportsman – it’s nothing!

In 2009 the Creative Union TOPD is going to be 10 years old. For a civic organization in Ukraine it’s a big term! This is the measure of high quality of work, unity and motivation of the team, trust from the community and partners. This year for TOPD is decisive. This is the beginning of implementing new ideas, mastering new areas of work, transfer to a very different level of work organization.

What can average Ukrainian students do during their summer holidays? Have a rest after the difficult examination period; work in vegetable gardens or dig potatoes; get tanned in the streets of the big cities or somewhere at the seaside – spend their time in an interesting way. It is unknown if the German students can do the same, but it’s an undisputable fact that they are very open to everything new and have extremely inquiring minds.  Activists of Creative Union “TORO” (Contact Group of Transparency International in Ukraine) were able to see it with their own eyes, having organized a study visit to Ukraine for a group of young researchers from Potsdam University, situated 30 km from Berlin, in the beginning of August.

On the 30^th of July, 2009 representatives of Management Systems International (anti-corruption project ‘Hidna Ukraine’) and Creative Center “TSK” came to Creative Union “TORO” with the planned audit.  Kiev guests were interested in TORO’s approach to realization of a number of initiatives...

In the end of May, 2009 Kirovohrad regional council adopted a decision on introducing changes to the Regional program of recreation of children, youth and families with children of Kirovohrad region for 2007-2013. This event, which seems common from the first sight, has a great significance for the community and monitoring environment of Ukraine, whereas with this decision the regional council for the first time admitted, that civic organizations of Kirovohrad region besides criticizing the authorities can also offer effective steps towards improving its work.

During two July weeks the School of Civic Control over the activity of local authorities was conducted in Lviv. 25 representatives of civic organizations, and initiative groups from all over Ukraine, which were selected based on the competition, took part in it. Among others, Natalia Krauze, head of Kirovohrad unit “Association of assistance in population self-organization” took part in the School.

While starting to realize civic monitoring of entrance campaign 2009 to higher educational establishments, for some reason agricultural educational institutions were categorically against conducting civic observation on the territory of ‘their’ higher educational establishments. These institutions have dual subordinance – to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and Ministry of agrarian policy. Despite a whole number of legal documents (among them orders of the Ministry of education and science), which state: “Civic observation during entrance campaign should take place!”, the first Pro-rector of Bilotserkivskiy national agrarian university made a categorical statement, “We don’t need any observers. They impede our work. Everything is ok with us!”...

Журнал «Профиль» (Украина) начал серию материалов «Герой нашего времени» о победителях Национальной  программы «Пространство перемен». Спецпроект описывает инициативы активных молодых людей, которые стремятся внести изменения в свою жизнь и жизнь людей, которые их окружают. Журналисты провели интервью и фотосессии с семи победителями программы «Пространство перемен». Материалы выходят в каждом номере журнала до 10 июля 2009 года.

Report of the Group of European Council States against Corruption as for Ukraine fulfilling anticorruption recommendations was published at the web page of the Ministry of Justice.

According to Minister of Justice, the aim of the Report is to evaluate measures, taken by the authorities of Ukraine in order to execute anticorruption recommendations, given by GRECO on the result of 2 rounds of evaluating Ukraine. Evaluation covered the period until 2006 and contained 25 recommendations and one notification, compulsory for Ukraine as a GRECO member.

Verhovna Rada adopted the law "On responsibility of legal persons for committing corruption delinquencies". The law was adopted in conformance with the UN Convention against corruption and Criminal Convention on corruption fight.

Statement by J. Grossmann, MSI Chief of Party and Dr. L. Palyvoda, Deputy Chief of Party

June 3, 2009. Kyiv, Ukraine

Cabinet of Ministers hasn’t yet given its permit for publishing second report of GRECO regarding Ukraine approved in May, 2009. The President of this organization Drago Kos in his interview to “Dzerkalo tyzhnya” informed about this.

International civil rights organization Transparency International has launched a new Global Barometer, where Ukraine placed the last among the New Independent States with an index of 4.3 index.

It is evident from the letter, which TORO received in the beginning of June from the Criminality and Corruption fight Committee of the Verhovna Rada.

Mr. Oleksandr Ryabeka, head of the human rights observance, interaction with public and other organizations subcommittee stated in his letter that the Criminality and Corruption fight Committee of the Verhovna Rada supports TORO’s anticorruption initiatives and invites the organization to cooperation. At present TORO decides on the best format of cooperation with the special Committee of the Verhovna Rada.

During 2 months there was correspondence between Kirov district council and TORO concerning cooperation of the latter with the representatives of block committees of Kirov district. As a result TORO got the opportunity to take part on 27 May, 2009 in the monthly meeting of the heads of block committees.

On April 1 TORO team organized a meeting with the representatives of block committees for conducting another seminar. Though in some countries people celebrate day of humor on this day by making jokes on their close people and relatives, the topic of the seminar “Building effective cooperation of self-organization organs with the authorities” was not for fun. The topic of cooperation is very urgent for the representatives of the “people’s powers”. Probably each of us during solving issues in governmental structures faced bureaucracy of this system. But the representatives of block committees have to solve issues and protect rights of those who live in their territory much more often.

Such a conclusion can be made from the reply letter, which TORO got from Kirovohrad regional state administration. In the letter signed by the head of the apparatus of regional state administration Tetyana Dmytrenko the following was written: “…proposals (prepared by TORO in the matter of enforcing corruption counteraction in Kirovohrad region), are of urgent character, namely as for conducting seminars, open-door days, placing anti corruption placards in the buildings of local executive authorities, will be fulfilled by the apparatus of regional state administration while conducting complex checking of the work of structure departments of regional state administration, district administrations in the matter of prevention corruption, providing practical recommendations as for its improvement”.

Around 40 public activists decided to put an end to the negative influence of financial crisis. On February 27 they left their offices and working places in order to unite together with media, trade union and authority representatives for the protection of Kirovohrad community interests. As a result, normal schedule of the art museum was disturbed, as it was the spot where the conference "Consolidation of actions of CSOs of Kirovohrad region: recipes from the crisis" took place. Community activists of the region made a first joint step towards overcoming crisis at this conference.

Deputy Head of Kirovohrad regional state administration Tetyana Dmytrenko and representatives of TORO Oleksiy Khmara and Alla Voloshyna agreed upon this during the meeting on the 19^th of February.  

More than 80 halls of residence exist in Kirovohrad at present. 25 of them belong to the territorial community of the city. This allows the dwellers of these halls of residence to privatize their rooms based on the provisions of the Law of Ukraine "On providing realization of living rights of the dwellers of halls of residence", which came into action since January of this year. But it's not as easy as it seems to be...

Останнім часом через ЗМІ доволі часто поширюється інформація щодо чисельних порушень прав засуджених. Більшість подібних інформаційних повідомлень розповсюджують правозахисні неурядові організації, які в силу свого статусу гостро реагують на недосконалість законодавчої та нормативної бази у сфері виконання кримінальних покарань, недоліки в діяльності органів і установ виконання покарань.

Having celebrated holidays, TORO members got together in order to undergo a careful research, but not a medical one, but a strategic, during which the organizational and financial activities of the organization in 2008 were analyzed and the level of organization viability was determined. The analysis was an important part of corporate training in fund raising.

It's hard to find a person nowadays who hasn't felt the results of the financial economic crisis. The crisis is being spoken about not only in public transport or at the market, but also in the city council. That's the place, where on the New Year's Eve, on the 24^th of December the representatives of the authorities, business and non-governmental organizations gathered together in order to find real ways of counter action to the ruining processes carried by the crisis. TORO presented its own ‘vaccine' at this event, which is able to provide anti crisis immunity to the local community. Its name is civilized charity.

Arseniy Yatsenuk, the founder of "Open Ukraine" Fund, well-known politician and public activist, congratulated TORO President, Oleksiy Khmara, with his victory in the program "Space of changes", initiated by Mr. Yatsenuk.

The program "Space of changes" is an attempt to find young people who are changing the country already today. These are the people who independently come up and realize the projects, which help the community.

The text of the congratulate letter can be found here. You can learn more about the program "Space of changes" at the web page of the program.

Про те, як боротися з фінансово-економічною кризою «саме тут і тепер», використовувати випробувані та ефективні способи залучення ресурсів як на місцевому, так і на міжнародному рівнях, зможе дізнатися кожен, хто завітає в Кіровограді 24 грудня  на майстер-клас «Розвиток цивілізованої благодійності - наша відповідь економічній кризі».

Dear Sirs!
Creative Union "Technologies of Optimum Personal Development", relying on the principles of openness and availability, is happy to announce new opportunity for you. We invite you to make use of the library of the organization, which already numbers around 500 of published issues containing uptodate questions.

During 2 hours public observers stayed on the territory of Buchanska correctional institution №85 studying the work of the establishment from inside, the criteria of evaluation was maintenance of rights, liberties and legal interests of the convicted persons and the employees. The activists of NGOs of Ukraine got such an opportunity due to the participation in the international program "Development of the System of Public Control in Ukraine".

Представники ТО «ТОРО» взяли участь у міжнародній конференції „Європейський вимір української благодійності". Організатор заходу - Український форум благодійників.

Участь у Конференції взяли понад сто керівників благодійних фондів; бізнес-компаній, які займаються благодійністю; парламентаріїв та урядовців; міжнародних дипломатів. Зокрема, БФ «Розвиток України» Рината Ахметова, «Open Ukraine» Арсенія Яценюка, «Обдаровані діти - майбутнє країни» Влади Литовченко, «Крона» корпорації НІКО, фондів Віктора Пінчука та Олександра Фельдмана.

During the whole year, public monitoring of summer recreation is conducted in Kirovohrad. Kirovohrad and its 17 districts got under the scrutiny of public observers. Public monitoring of the activity of The Department of Family, Youth and Sports of Kirovohrad State Administration presupposes conducting independent observation of the whole recreation process - starting with purchase of the recreation services and finishing with evaluating the results of the recreation campaign.

TORO specialists know the answer to this question. This Kirovohrad organization is engaged into protection and promoting community interests, constantly putting its own resources into advanced training of the organization employees. This time 2 TORO specialists had a special training at national level for obtaining effective negotiation skills. Experienced coaches from Kiev and Lviv organized and conducted the trainings.

The World Bank in Ukraine and Promoting Active Citizen Engagement (ACTION) in Combating Corruption in Ukraine invite young people 15 to 25 years old to participate in the National Essay Competition 2008. 

Creative Union "Technologies of Optimum Personal Development" invites interested citizens, initiative groups and NGOs who want to conduct public monitoring to participate in the training "Planning of the campaign of public monitoring". Participation is free of charge. The participants are provided with hand-outs and food.

The uniqueness of the Ukrainian conference "Local Philanthropy in Ukraine: effective mechanisms and development instruments" is in the fact that during 2 days (25-26 of September, 2008), the representatives of big, middle and small business, and charity organizations of different regions of Ukraine assembled at one place. They shared their opinions on the development of local charity and other ways of improving level of life of communities. Representatives of TORO were also present at the event.

The meeting of regional partners of National project "Public control over entrance campaign 2008" took place in Kirovohrad during the last 2 days.

The ministry of Justice of Ukraine opened for public the discussion of the project of the Law of Ukraine "On introducing changes to some laws of Ukraine relating to the participation of public in creating and realizing governmental policy, solving issues of local importance".

Employees of the Department of Punishment Execution in Kirovohrad region and the employees of the establishments of punishment execution together with the representatives of NGOs will take part in the workshop, which will take place on the 10^th of September and will be dedicated to defining and solving existing problems of the region as for fighting AIDS epidemic.

During the whole year, public monitoring of summer recreation is conducted in Kirovohrad. Kirovohrad and its 17 districts got under the scrutiny of public observers. Public monitoring of the activity of The Department of Family, Youth and Sports of Kirovohrad State Administration presupposes conducting independent observation of the whole recreation process - starting with purchase of the recreation services and finishing with evaluating the results of the recreation campaign.

2 representatives of Creative Union "Technologeis of Optimum Personality Development" Oleksiy Hmara and Anatoliy Stoyan on the decision of expert group of Pylyp Orlyk Institute for Democracy and Fundation of Local Democracy Development joined the team of experts of Ukrainian-polish project ‘Transparent Ukraine. Building of ethical and effective self-government'.

Are the Kirovohrad authorities ready to support the development of city NGOs?

Experts of Ukrainian public organization "Association of assistance of population self-organization" in partnership with Creative Union "Technologeis of Optimum Personality Development"  were looking for the answer to this question during 10 months. The outcome of their search was the preparation of the proposals, which would essentially improve conditions for NGOs activity and increase their role in decision making, whereas accounted by the authorities of the town.

Little town Voznesenk in Mykolayiv region hosted the participants of the interregional round table in experience exchange on corruption fight on the 21^st of July, 2008. Representatives of public organizations, authorities and mass media from Kirovohrad, Mykolayiv and Odessa regions were guests of the event.

 

On the 11^th of July 2008 the announcing of the winners of the Contest of small projects took place in the office of Creative Union "Technologeis of Optimum Personality Development". The contest was announced in the framework of the Grant program "Small projects on support of big initiatives". Experts of the Independent grant commission and participants of the contest took part in the event.

On the 10-11^th of July in Kiev the international conference "European Commission and civil society: acquired experience and new opportunities for Ukraine" took place. The conference was organized by the European Commission's Delegation to Ukraine with the aim of strengthening the role of civil society in general context of Ukraine-EU relations and in the framework of introducing European Commission Assistance Programs. TORO President Oleksiy Khmara represented Kirovohrad region at the event.

Active community from 10 regions of Ukraine decided to study the work of entrance commissions of state educational establishments during the entrance campaign. With this aim the national campaign of public control over the work of entrance commissions was initiated by the coalition of public organizations. The public organization from Kirovohrad - TORO was given a task to administer such a big project.

Creative Union "Technologeis of Optimum Personality Development" developed specialized brochure on the technologies of conducting public monitoring of summer recreation of children, which got the name "Public monitoring of summer recreation of children: advisor for all who care".

On the 15^th of May, 2008 one of the first public hearings, initiated by the city community, took place in the city. The hearings were dedicated to discussing the project of the local legal act, developed by the city community, aimed at regulating the issue of obtaining objective information to the community on vaccination.

The 22^nd of April 2008 became the final point in the anticorruption campaign, which lasted for several months and was conducted by Creative Union "Technologeis of Optimum Personality Development" in the 5 higher educational establishments of Kirovohrad. Based on its results it was defined, which of the parnter-universities (State Flight Academy of Ukraine, Kirovohrad Vynnychenko State Pedagogical University, Kirovohrad Commerce Institute, Kirovohrad Regional Management and Economics Institute, Kirovohrad National Technical University) earns the status "The university of public trust", as the least corrupted university of the city.

On the 1^st-2^nd of April, 2008 the embassy of Sweden in Ukraine, the UN Program of Equal Opportunities, department of Sociology of National university "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy", Department of International Cooperation of Scientific Organization and Swedish Institute organized Swedish-Ukrainian international seminar "Conscientious parenthood: new challenges and solutions".

During the meeting of the representatives of regional public organizations with the workers of the international fund "Vidrodzhennya" the latter announced the new contests and priorities of the "Vidrodzhennya" fund in 2008. The meeting was organized by Creative Union "Technologeis of Optimum Personality Development".

In the framework of one of its monitoring projects Creative Union "Technologeis of Optimum Personality Development" several times addresed Kirovohrad mayor and secretary of Kirovohrad City Council during February 2008 with the request to provide information as for activity of city council and its executive organs. The authorities reacted on the TORO addresses, but the response for one of the information queries of the organization can become the beginning of the new legend about interaction of the authorities and community of Kirovohrad.

TORO representatives Oleksiy Khmara and Mykhaylo Karpluk took part in the national consultancy of the highest level ‘Processes of national development and effective aid - ways of strengthening obligations on gender equality Hana, 2008'. The event was aimed at started the dialogue between the government of Ukraine, donors and organizations of civil society in the matter of promoting gender equality in the processes on national development and effective assistance.

Stephan Batoriya Fund (Republik of Poland) made an excellent New Year present for its ukrainian partners and organized special training for them. Training "Successful representation of public interests" is related to the principles of conducting by NGOs campaigns of civil advocacy. It was conducted by the experts of ukranian NGO "For professional assistance", and the participants of the training were the representatives of the partner organizations of Batoriya Fund from all over Ukraine.

The objective is to activate 8000 electorate of Kirovohrad aged 25-35 and form positive attitude to Meir elections on 11 February by distributing puzzle kits among their children-pupils of 1-3 grades of 35 schools of the town.

The objective of the project: to guarantee the knowledge of the rights of low income families of the town by the means of informining them about  the local government programs and projects and the actual  involvement of local community in decision making process.

The school aimes at motivation young men for active part in upbringing their children, it gives the opportunity to find answers to a number of questions a young father can have and facilitates harmonious relationships in their families.