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Annual Report

Civil College Foundation


2004

The Civil College is an accredited adult training organization


Registration No.: 01-0812-04.
Accreditation Record No.: 0317

31 May 2005, Budapest

The most important achievement in 2004 was the development of the organization’s
operations. Our main task was to remove the organization from the stagnation resulted by the
lack of funding during the last two years. In 2004 we managed to rationalize the operation of
the organization, strengthen the management and gradually shift the emphasis from
subsistence to concentrating on our activities. In this way, from the second part of 2004 the
Civil College Foundation has perceptibly started to move towards an equilibrium: instead of
having to pursue funding opportunities, new innovative efforts appeared that help us on our
way towards finding new directions. The key concepts of the new strategy are: team building,
institutional development, curriculum development, and developing networking. It is rather
promising that we have managed to make significant progress regarding all of these issues,
thus laying the foundations of the organization’s long-term sustainability.

Most important achievements in 2004:


Interdisciplinary work: by this we primarily mean the implementation of the 1st
Interdisciplinary Summer Camp and the following thematic seminars. The Summer Camp has
outlined important professional directions for the organization, but organizing the event was a
great achievement for the Civil College Foundation also spiritually (uniqueness, innovation
and visuality) and in terms of technical implementation (organization, infrastructure and the
circumstances of being together). (see Achievements for details)
Networking & Building Contacts: with funding from the Ministry of Youth, Families,
Social Affairs and Equal Chances, the Civil College Foundation was given the opportunity to
get involved in the organization of a programme that strengthens and reinterprets the role of
the Hungarian adult training/community development network.

International projects: the Civil College Foundation clearly expects to implement the
renewal of its organization (training the trainers, developing methods and curricula) through
assuming a more significant role in international work. It seems that just now the situation has
ripen for starting projects of this type (demand from foreign organizations, funding
opportunities, internal capacity).
Organizational management: through filling up the ranks of the management, the quality of
the division of labour has been improved, and we have more time to think over our activities.

Failures in 2004:
Strengthening our functioning as a ’virtual practical university department” assisting
the training of community work
In the second part of 2004 the Civil College Foundation started negotiations with higher-
educational institutions, and it became obvious that universities/colleges lack opportunities to
secure funding for the programme. In most cases the institutions struggle with financial
problems themselves, and they could only take charge of this initiative if external funding was
available. We have not found any suitable opportunities so far, but we keep on looking for
ways of fundraising. Furthermore, the international projects of the Civil College Foundation
(student exchanges, summer camps) and other projects implemented in partnership with other
NGOs offer further opportunities to implement the project in part.

Programme accreditation
In 2004 we prepared for having our adult training programmes accredited. Nevertheless, when
having weighed the advantages and disadvantages of accreditation, we revalued our intention.
The accreditation of general purpose courses would benefit neither Civil College nor the
participants of training courses. For those attending the courses of Civil College an accredited
adult training programme does not mean any tax allowances either, and they would not be
able to get on better with their certificate in the adult training system either. In cases when the
training course is financed by the Civil College Foundation or some other organization,
training fees would remain the same, but the costs of administration would be multiplied, let
alone the costs of the accreditation process.

Those completing our vocational training programme are given a certificate by the Regional
Labour Development and Training Centre of Kecskemét (this is a so-called „job-internal
qualification” which is equal to the certificate given by the accredited programme).
Unfortunately, programme accreditation does not offer any fundraising opportunities either,
which would make the launching of the process worthwhile. In this way, accreditation would
only serve PR objectives.

Further difficulties:
Using up reserves due to late payments, thus difficulties with settling accounts; delayed
launching of some rather important projects (e.g. Phare ACCESS Macro Programme)

Achievements in 2004

Developing Co-operation in Training

a. 1st Interdisciplinary Summer Camp

The Civil College Foundation, the Hungarian Association for Community Development and
the Hungarian Institute for Culture organized their first interdisciplinary summer camp in
Kunbábony between 11-15 August.

The objective of the Summer Camp was to start dialogue on the opportunities for
interdisciplinary co-operation implemented in local communities. The meeting was attended
by nearly 100 participants from different parts of the country and Székelyland, Romania.
Those working in community culture, community development and the social sector were
represented as well as environmental and other non-governmental organizations. The most
important proceeds of the summer camp included the drafting the opportunities for co-
operation within adult training. This issue was considered of vital importance unanimously
by the participants, and by now we can perceive several linking points where policies can be
synchronized (the role of community culture and community centres in adult training; the
interrelations of social work, community work and community development; the appearance
of environmental work and other opportunities for citizen action in frames of the adult
training activities of these professional fields). The meeting of professionals at the camp and
the following 3 interdisciplinary seminars have given evidence of several opportunities
regarding adult training, such as the collective development of curricula, getting involved in
each other’s training activities, and joint national and international adult training projects.

b. Non-profit training workshop

A group of higher-educational institutions have organized more or less regular professional


consultations since 2001, reviewing the experiences and development needs of higher-
educational training programmes related to civil society and the non-profit sphere. With
support from the Government Bureau for Equal Chances, from 2003 onwards the Hungarian
Association for Community Development has undertaken the task of coordinating the
contents of the work done by the Non-profit Training Workshop, and that of planning and
constructing a contact, information and communication system that serves as a basis for
further developments. As a member to the Non-profit Training Workshop, the Civil College
Foundation has also taken part in different workshops, the evaluation of practical experiences,
the development of non-profit courses, and the construction of vocational databases.

c. National Development Workshop

With funding from the Ministry of Youth, Families, Social Affairs and Equal Chances, and
under the supervision of the Hungarian Association for Community Development, the
‘Interdisciplinary Network for the Promotion of Community Initiatives’ (August 2004) and
the National Development Workshop have been launched. The Civil College Foundation
takes part in the project as one of the organizers who support the contact building efforts of
county network nodes and the local action support initiatives of the established county
development workshops through organizing training courses and meetings.

e. Improving the conditions of adult training in the Upper-Kiskunság area

The Civil College Foundation has got involved in a project organized by the Association of
Community Workers in the Upper-Kiskunság, and funded by HEFOP/2004/3.5.4. The
objective of the project is to improve the conditions of adult training in the Upper-Kiskunság
through systematically involving cultural institutions and community spaces (establishing or
developing open community spaces; training teachers, consultants, mentoring teachers,
volunteers, and the leaders of local study circles and discussion circles; piloting training
methods and elaborating the conditions of their further implementation; establishing the
information/publicity background serving the programme in the long run).
In co-operation with local institutions, the Civil College Foundation has been functioning as a
consultation/training point in the implementation of the programme.

f. International projects

Starting from the second part of 2004, the Civil College Foundation has developed a number
of international projects to carry out its long-term strategic plan. The general objectives of
these projects are as follows:
- Team building: to train a new generation of trainers well-versed in community work
(language skills, vocational training),
- Institutional development: to enhance the training capacities of the Civil College
Foundation,
- Curriculum development: to develop new curricula and methods,
- Network development: to assume a more significant role in national and international
networking,
At present, the Civil College Foundation is in the process of raising funds for implementing
these projects (PHARE ACCES 2003, and the international grant programmes of the National
Civic Fund).

g. Training courses
Launching training Training activists involved in Organizational development
courses targeting the commencing community and courses for civil organizations
development of local civic actions (ongoing) established in the framework
civic structures (model of particular projects
experiments)
With the establishment of The Civil College Foundation As a general rule,
the National Development has carried out its training plan organizational development
Workshop, training for 2004, in frames of which a courses were organized in the
courses targeting the total of 7 so-called “civic” and particular small region or local
development of new civic “community” training courses community, in the form of day-
structures were launched were organized as follows: courses or (24-hour) weekend-
in 3 small regions (3 courses (16 courses altogether).
courses altogether). These courses are functionally
Besides implementing linked to the local development
these small regional processes already launched, and
courses, in the second part aim at enhancing the
of 2004 the Civil College effectiveness and sustainability
was involved in the of existing citizen initiatives.
organization of an average
of 2 citizens’ forums per
small region.

Our target groups were: Our target groups were: Arló, Our target groups were: “The
Kurca-Kórógy small Hét, the community activists of People of Szegvár for Szegvár”
region, Ózd-Putnok small Szegvár, Pécs-Istenkút and its Association for Community
region, and the Upper- environs, Upper-Kiskunság Development, “Together for
Kiskunság small region. small region, Ózd small region, Hét” Association, Association
Average number of the Region of Eastern-Hungary for Community Workers in the
participants: 15-22 / course – Nyíregyháza. Upper-Kiskunság, Sun Club
Duration: 24 hours (1 Average number of Foundation, and the
residential weekend per participants: 12-20 / course Community Development
course) Duration: 24 hours (1 Association of Székelyland
The costs were covered residential weekend per course) (Romania).
from grants and tuition The costs were covered from Average number of
fees. grants and tuition fees. participants: 12-15 / course
Duration: 1 day or 1 weekend
The costs were covered from
grants.
Our partners were: B-A-Z County Institute for Culture, Hungarian Association for
Community Development, Intercommunity Foundation, Association for Community Workers
in the Upper-Kiskunság, “The People of Szegvár for Szegvár” Association for Community
Development, Local Council of Szegvár, Local Council of Arló, Association for Pécs-
Istenkút, VÁTI.

Civil College Foundation – Internal Organizational Development Course 1


The internal organization development courses of the Civil College Foundation aim at
analyzing and developing its organizational structure, fundraising activities and network
development work. In 2004 two such development courses were held (January and
September), attended by the active core, teaching staff and external workers of the Civil
College Foundation (average number of participants: 20-25).

Introduction of our own credit system


We have devised a credit system for developing the training system of the Civil College
Foundation and stimulating the further learning of those having attended Civil College
courses. Presumably, we will be able to introduce the new system in 2005/2006. The system
provides course participants with the opportunity to study training modules in an optional
order or time schedule, or even independently, taking just one course altogether. In this way,
through completing our Community, Civic, Democracy, Community Enterprise and
Community Media courses, participants can collect up to 5 credit points and can acquire a
qualification in community work, or they may complete a 120-hours intensive community
worker training course to get this qualification. In the new system we offer discounts for
training participants, which are calculated on the basis of courses completed, the number of
participants, or booking courses in advance. We inform stakeholders through different media,
mailing lists and mail merges.

Regular orientation, contact building and attending training courses in order to seek up
new fundraising opportunities (grant and web-site watch, and attending the programmes and
events of sponsors and grant programmes).

With support from the Institutional Grants Programme, we managed to reorganize the
management of the Civil College Foundation through employing a part-time
organizer/administrator beside our full-time employee. The duties of the new worker include:
watching grant opportunities and websites, and attending the open days of sponsors and major
events organized by civil organizations.
The home page of the Civil College Foundation has been developed recently (the uploading
of materials and the testing of the page is still in progress, but the page is already accessible at
www.civkol.hu or www.civilkollegium.hu). The development of the website was made
possible by electronically processing and systematizing the documentation of previous years.
In this way, the page contributes to the development of the organization in various respects.

In relation to the development of organizational activities and management, international


contact building was also given a priority during the last year. We planned fundraising
opportunities and attended the open days of sponsors parallel to developing new international
projects. In this way, we are trying to implement individual projects in several phases (with
secure intervals), involving different funding opportunities (with modest funding requests).
For example: building contacts, exchange trips - Grundtvig; curriculum development – Phare;
research and training – European Cultural Foundation, National Civic Fund). The
involvement in the training course organized by the Tempus Public Foundation and funded by
OSF Hungary also serves the objective of improving the level of our fundraising activities.

Our sponsors and partners in 2004

Financial Report

József Huszerl Máté Varga


President Managing Director

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