Two days of intensive work, new knowledge, and vibrant exchange.

The Uzhhorod office of Voice of Romni hosted the training “From Idea to Implementation: Effective Fundraising and Project Management for Roma CSOs.” We organized this event for our grantees as part of a project supported by the Center for Disaster Philanthropy.

This is a vital, multi-component project, says Anzhelika Bielova, President of Voice of Romni:

“Its goal is not only to provide grants to grassroots Roma organizations — those working directly within communities — but also to strengthen their organizational capacity and ability to seek and secure long-term funding for socially important local initiatives. Each of these organizations works closely with their community, understands the needs, and knows the most effective solutions. As an experienced organization that has grown significantly over the past five years and built many successful partnerships for positive change, we want to share our expertise, empower others, and expand our network of Roma CSOs.”

We welcomed 10 participants from civil society organizations in Zakarpattia and Peryaslav (Kyiv region), who this year received grants from Voice of Romni for initiatives aimed at strengthening communities and advancing the rights of Roma women.

Each team gained not only a solid theoretical foundation but also practical tools for implementing socially significant projects. Our goal was to support Roma-led initiatives in confidently moving forward with fundraising and bringing their new projects to life.

The training was led by Olha Korneva — a trainer with nearly 20 years of experience studying local governance issues and processes in Ukraine, the U.S., and EU countries. She combines academic research with hands-on expertise in fundraising and project management.

The participants were not just passive listeners — they actively engaged in group work, discussed real-life examples, asked plenty of questions, and shared their own experiences. It was a collaborative and dynamic learning process.

We had in-depth discussions about the challenges Roma CSOs face in securing funding, the importance of advocating for their interests within the grantmaking environment, and the power of partnership and mutual support among organizations. We firmly believe that the knowledge gained during this training will give these initiatives a greater chance of success — and lead to real, positive change in the lives of Roma families and communities.

Thank you all for your engagement and active participation. We look forward to seeing your projects come to life in the near future.