{"id":29873,"date":"2026-04-21T14:04:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T11:04:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ldn.org.ua\/?post_type=event&p=29873"},"modified":"2026-04-21T14:05:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T11:05:35","slug":"training-programs-from-legal-development-network-practitioners-for-communities-organizations-and-groups","status":"publish","type":"event","link":"https:\/\/ldn.org.ua\/en\/event\/training-programs-from-legal-development-network-practitioners-for-communities-organizations-and-groups\/","title":{"rendered":"Training Programs from Legal Development Network Practitioners: For Communities, Organizations, and Groups"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Author: Yuliia Bilyk, communication manager of the Legal Development Network<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, as the civil society sector struggles with a lack of resources to implement its initiatives, it is more important than ever for organizations to diversify their sources of funding. The Legal Development Network (hereinafter \u201cthe Network\u201d or \u201cLDN\u201d) views the provision of expert services as one of the most promising sources of funding for its member organizations. Therefore, with support from the Mott Foundation, the LDN offered Network professionals in various fields the opportunity to deepen their skills during a training-of-trainers program. As a result, twelve experts mastered tools that helped them structure their years of experience and develop high-quality training and capacity-building products.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Focus on Expertise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Training and educational programs for communities, government agencies, and organizations are an area where external specialists are typically invited. If a trainer lacks experience in the public sector and does not understand its specifics, there is sometimes a risk of simply wasting time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In the photo: LDN’s Director of Organizational Development Iryna Chaika<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf a topic has specific manifestations within the public sector, and the trainer fails to take this into account, it can happen that the training takes place but yields no results. It also happens that representatives of civil society organizations do not draw on experience from business or other sectors, thereby limiting the tools and knowledge they convey to program participants,\u201d<\/em> the LDN\u2019s Director of Organizational Development Iryna Chaika<\/strong> says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, experts from the Network\u2019s member organizations have been working directly with communities for decades and understand their real needs and challenges. This is precisely what makes their training products particularly valuable, as they are based not on abstract theory but on practical experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe set out to train our member organizations in coaching skills and, importantly, in how to \u2018package\u2019 practical insights into concrete products that will be interesting and in demand,\u201d<\/em> Iryna Chaika<\/strong> says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Training Process<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Iryna Glushchenkova \u2014 a facilitator with many years of experience working with organizations across various sectors \u2014 was invited to lead the training of trainers. She developed a phased program tailored to each participant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prior to the several-day meeting in Kyiv, Iryna conducted preliminary diagnostic interviews with the program participants, got to know them, their topics, and the context of their work. At the same time, she suggested that each participant review their own expert portfolio \u2014 specifically, analyze their presence on social media.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cI visited the participants\u2019 pages and then compared what I saw with what I heard during the interviews. The visibility of their expertise was inconsistent \u2014 very capable, very experienced people simply weren\u2019t showcasing themselves to the world,\u201d<\/em> Iryna Glushchenkova<\/strong> shares her first impressions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the preparatory phase, a three-day program took place in Kyiv. Each participant emerged with a \u201cstoryboard\u201d \u2014 a detailed outline of their educational product. Next came individual mentoring sessions on Zoom: refining materials, fleshing out plans, and preparing to pilot the products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThrough questions, I facilitated interaction and helped participants demonstrate the expertise that needs to be properly articulated. Sometimes I suggested formats, sometimes I highlighted key points: where to research the audience or choose a different activity,\u201d<\/em> Iryna Hluschenkova<\/strong> explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local Self-Government Bodies and the Public: Tools for Interaction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vitalii Dorokh, Head of the \u201cPravo\u201d member organization in the city of Khmilnyk, Vinnytsia Oblast, developed a training program for local government officials on effective engagement with the public. It is based on the results of a civil society organization\u2019s study \u2014 an analysis of the city council\u2019s activities across four levels of community engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The expert-led training is based on practical exercises. For example, participants \u2014 local government employees \u2014 try to find public information about their community on their own, thereby identifying their own shortcomings. After all, experience shows that compliance with legal requirements does not guarantee that the published information is accessible to citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In the photo: NGO \u201c<\/em>Pravo\u201d<\/em> Head Vitalii Dorokh<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not enough to simply provide information \u2014 you need to be heard. It\u2019s not just about publishing a document; you need to ensure that people actually read it,\u201d<\/em> Vitalii Dorokh<\/strong> explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The training program has already been piloted at the Khmilnytskyi City Council and can be adapted for any local government body. It will be useful for officials responsible for community outreach, heads of departments, as well as facilitators and consultants in the field of public administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital Safety for Adults and Teens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Oksana Yatsyuk, Deputy Director of the Podil Human Rights Center \u2014 author of the book \u201cYour Internet: Secrets of Online Safety\u201d and a long-time expert in digital and information security \u2014 has developed a training program featuring a master class. The program is tailored for a broad audience, particularly for library spaces where people of various ages and skill levels may gather.<\/p>\n\n\n

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In the photo:<\/em> Deputy Director of the Podil Human Rights Center Oksana Yatsyuk<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cWorking with the trainer on my product was very helpful. We explored various ideas together, discussed them, and now I have a training program and exercises I\u2019ve developed,\u201d<\/em> says Oksana Yatsyuk<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This product will be useful for libraries, community centers, schools, and any organizations seeking to improve their audiences\u2019 digital literacy in an accessible and interactive format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Financial Management for NGOs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Olga Saukh, the Financial Advisor with the Legal Development Network, not only developed a course on financial management but also immediately implemented the trainer\u2019s practical recommendations in her teaching practice.<\/p>\n\n\n

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In the photo: the Financial Advisor with the Legal Development Network Olga Saukh<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cThis course gave me the opportunity to organize my information and confirm that I\u2019m not just a self-proclaimed coach. Ms. Iryna helped me organize everything and take a step back to look at everything I\u2019ve already created and implemented. Thanks to following her recommendations, this course with my students has now become the best of all my trainings,\u201d<\/em> shares Olga Saukh<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The expert\u2019s course is aimed at organizations and teams that want to build transparent and effective financial management processes. It is particularly relevant for non-governmental organizations seeking to strengthen internal financial procedures or prepare their staff to work with international partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Combating GBV for Communities and Adolescents<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Iryna Biryuk, a lawyer with the member organization Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights, has been combining legal practice with advocacy work since 2020. During the training-of-trainers program, she managed to develop not one, but two products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first is a facilitation session for communities on establishing a mechanism for cooperation among stakeholders in the field of combating gender-based violence (GBV). The format does not involve traditional \u201clecture-style\u201d training \u2014 instead, Iryna helps the community team independently identify gaps in their work and find solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n

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In the photo: the lawyer with the member organization Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights<\/em> Iryna Biryuk<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cI won\u2019t be teaching you; instead, I\u2019ll help you \u2014 your community \u2014 improve the effectiveness of your work, identify gaps, and figure out how to address them,\u201d<\/em> explains Iryna Biryuk<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second product is an informational and educational program for teenagers on the topic of gender-based violence, which Iryna has already put into practice during her training. Both products are particularly relevant for communities, social services, schools, and organizations working with vulnerable populations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Investing in People as a Strategy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The training of trainers is not a one-time event but part of the Network\u2019s strategy: to help member organizations become more resilient and financially self-sufficient. To ensure that the training programs created by the participants become visible to potential clients, the MPR is launching a marketing campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In the photo: (from left to right) Iryna Biryuk, Oksana Yatsyuk, Vitaliy Dorokh<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201c<\/em>The training materials are excellent; it’s important to let the world know about them. I feel that the training-of-trainers program will serve as an additional incentive for participants to take their work out into the community, pilot their training programs, and receive invitations from other communities and organizations. After all, their expertise is truly unique and valuable,\u201d<\/em> emphasizes trainer Iryna Hluschenkova<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your organization or community is looking for training programs based on real-world experience in Ukrainian communities, the products developed by experts from the Legal Development Network could be the right solution. To get in touch and discuss details, simply email us at: office@ldn.org.ua<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Author: Yuliia Bilyk, communication manager of the Legal Development Network Today, as the civil society sector struggles with a lack of resources to implement its initiatives, it is more important than ever for organizations to diversify their sources of funding….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":29860,"template":"","project":[641],"section":[],"event-type":[],"region":[],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ldn.org.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/event\/29873"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ldn.org.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/event"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ldn.org.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/event"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ldn.org.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ldn.org.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/event\/29873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29876,"href":"https:\/\/ldn.org.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/event\/29873\/revisions\/29876"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ldn.org.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29860"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ldn.org.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"project","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ldn.org.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project?post=29873"},{"taxonomy":"section","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ldn.org.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/section?post=29873"},{"taxonomy":"event-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ldn.org.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/event-type?post=29873"},{"taxonomy":"region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ldn.org.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/region?post=29873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}