Lessons in Cooperation for Strengthening the Coalition

Lessons in Cooperation for Strengthening the Coalition

Project duration: 1 July 2003–30 December 2004

Project funder: Baltic American Partnership Programme

Project coordinator: Modern Didactics Centre

Project partners – NGO coalition “Jungtys” (Connections) founders:
Youth Career Advising Centre
School Development Centre
Non-formal Education Debate Centre
Education Innovation Centre
Skuodas District Municipal Association of Parents of Children and Students

Founders of the Coalition “Jungtys”

PROJECT RELEVANCE

The institutions that established the informal NGO coalition “Jungtys” in 2003 jointly implemented a project in 2002–2003 titled “Education NGO Coalition: Learning to Represent the Interests of Students, Parents, and the Educational Community and to Influence Education Policy.” During that project, participants learned the fundamentals of advocacy, visited foreign organizations with expertise in the field, and organized local advocacy campaigns, discussions, and roundtables with representatives of various interest groups. The current project was initiated to continue these activities, further develop advocacy skills, and undertake coordinated actions to influence decision-making.

The core message learned and internalized during the previous project is that the voice of NGOs is heard, and real influence is possible not through confrontation, but by seeking constructive dialogue and cooperation. Simply raising problems or organizing hostile actions not only fails to achieve the desired results but also undermines the NGOs themselves, often leading to their collapse as institutions. The only path toward successful interest representation for any social group and a real impact on decision-making is cooperation. By coming together and working in unison, both the NGOs themselves and the segments of society they represent stand to benefit. NGOs are considered one of the most significant interest groups capable of articulating and representing the views of community members. The “Jungtys” coalition has decided to expand the concept of “education” through its activities, striving for the public to perceive it as an integral part of the socio-economic sphere upon which the welfare of the entire society depends. Therefore, the project envisages cooperation with the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, as problems often transcend the boundaries of a single ministry and require a broader perspective and more concentrated efforts.

Furthermore, the “Jungtys” coalition seeks to engage in discussions with ministries regarding clearer and more transparent procurement of services from NGOs. While NGOs provide professional services to individuals and institutions, they remain constantly dependent on external financial support. This situation is driven by laws regulating non-profit organizations, non-transparent criteria for financial support, and the fragmentation of NGOs themselves, which limits their capacity to compete in the market. Consequently, consolidation and cooperation with state institutions would provide greater clarity and more opportunities for the sector.

PROJECT AIM

To pursue collegial, constructive, transparent, and clear cooperation between NGOs and state educational institutions when considering educational documents, making decisions of public importance, and improving the quality of educational services.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

1. To prepare a mini seminar-presentation by the NGO coalition “Jungtys” for the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, the municipalities of Vilnius, Kaunas, Druskininkai, and Skuodas, as well as the media.
2. To organize roundtable discussions with the ministries and the municipalities of Vilnius, Kaunas, Skuodas, and Druskininkai regarding potential areas and paths for cooperation, identifying the needs and capacities of interest groups on both sides.
3. To discuss and publicize the criteria for the procurement of services from NGOs by the ministries.
4. To sign long-term cooperation agreements between the NGO coalition “Jungtys,” the ministries, and the municipalities.
5. To conduct training sessions for the NGO coalition “Jungtys” regarding the European Structural Funds and application opportunities.
6. To hold a joint conference involving the NGO coalition “Jungtys,” the ministries, and the municipalities to present the project’s achievements and future perspectives to the public.

PROJECT TARGET GROUPS

• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs);
• Representatives of ministries;
• Education administrators;
• Educators / Teachers;
• Students;
• Parents;
• Media.

PROJECT RESULTS

• On October 27, 2003, a long-term cooperation agreement was signed between the “Jungtys” NGO coalition and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania.
• On February 26, 2004, the informal “Jungtys” NGO coalition was officially incorporated as a legal entity — the “Naujos jungtys” Association.
• Cooperation was initiated and continues with the municipalities of Vilnius, Kaunas, Skuodas, and Druskininkai.
• In 2004, the coalition’s member organizations developed the project “Development and Testing of Preventive Measures to Enable Students to Remain in General Education Schools” and submitted an application to the Human Resources Development Programs Support Fund.
• Following a visit to Skuodas and discussions with the municipality and the local association of parents, it became evident that there is a pressing need to actively mobilize parents to represent their own and their children’s interests. Consequently, it was decided to convene a convention of parent communities and establish a national parents’ association.
• “Naujos jungtys” has established ties with international organizations such as CONCORD, TRIALOG, and DEPART.

FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

The experience gained has been beneficial not only to the members of the Coalition but also to its partners. The Ministry of Education and Science has expressed its satisfaction with the established cooperation and its belief in the mutual benefits through the press and during various meetings. Parent communities look to the Coalition for support in representing their own and their children’s interests. Other NGOs within the Coalition anticipate fruitful collaboration and institutional benefits through the development of joint projects and programs.