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About projects

The Open Policy Foundation was established as a non-governmental organization in 2008.

The Mission of the Open Policy Foundation

Promote the formation of a democratic, legal, and socially-oriented society on the principles of sustainable development, the development of the country's scientific potential, the deepening of the integration of young people into the European space, the upbringing and formation of people of a new generation with respect for traditional values.

Activities of the Foundation:

  • influence on the formation of state policy in the spheres of:
    • protection of the rights of children and youth;
    • science and education;
    • assistance to schoolchildren of 11 (9) grades from eastern Ukraine and Crimea;
    • ecology;
    • public broadcasting;
    • addressing issues of international environmental safety and environmental protection, including the implementation of specific projects and programs at the regional and national levels;
  • establishment of communication with local communities in order to promote the idea of ​​sustainable development;
  • promotion of the formation of intercultural dialogue in the conditions of diversity, respect for the traditional Ukrainian culture and cultures of national minorities, the implementation of activities aimed at promoting culture and art in society and their development (Family Center "How to Draw a Bird"; International Family Festival "How to Draw a Bird" is a separate project of the Foundation, which has been working for more than 8 years);
  • promotion of intergenerational dialogue, social solidarity;
  • formation of a culture of media use, prevention of electronic aggression, training of young journalists (International Media School, Children's Media Studio "Birds"; discussion media clubs are separate projects of the Foundation, which have been working for 6 years);
  • the popularization of science in society, the establishment of communications between schools, universities, scientific institutions, families for the education of young scientists (The International Green School, scientific weekends, science festival, which are separate projects of the Foundation and have been working for 5 years);
  • development and implementation of measures aimed at psychological rehabilitation, provision of social and educational services to victims of the military conflict in the East of Ukraine (Project "Assistance to Students of 9 and 11-Graders from the ATO Zone: Social and Educational Support", assistance to families of ATO participants; projects are being implemented by the Foundation since 2014 in cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Education of Ukraine, the profile parliamentary committee, UNICEF).

In its activity, the Foundation constantly cooperates with local and central authorities, international organizations, local communities, artists, scientists, universities, academic scientific institutions, museums, schools (scientific lyceums, art schools, rural schools), and public organizations.

Since 2014, the Foundation has been actively cooperating with the government, namely the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, parliamentary committees, and local self-government bodies. In March 2016, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the non-government organization "Open Policy Foundation".

The Foundation is an active participant in the UNICEF Education Cluster, working groups in the parliament to draft laws on science, education, Interdepartmental state working groups to address educational problems of eastern Ukraine, Crimea, Public Council of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine. The Foundation is also a participant in international organizations dealing with ecology, climate change (IPCC – the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). This form of work contributes to the national dialogue, the implementation of the ideas of the Open Government and the best international practices.

The Foundation’s permanent information partners are:

UNIA "Ukrinform", "Interfax", radio "Promin", radio "Era", such TV channels as ICTV, TVi, since 2014 – Espreso TV.

The Foundation’s experience in managing grants:

  • "Study on the Observance of the Rights of Children of National Minorities in Ukraine" (2009);
  • "Formation of Intercultural Dialogue among Young Journalists" (2009);
  • "Modern Methods of Working with Young People Studying in Conditions of Cultural Diversity" (2010);
  • "Children's Media Studio "Birds"- a Platform for the Formation of the Values ​​of Freedom of Speech" (2011);
  • "The International Media School - a Platform for the Formation of European values" (2012). The grants are realized with the support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine;
  • "Presentation of the Position of the Ukrainian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum in Brussels" (2013, Vidrodzhennia Foundation);
  • International competition of innovative eco-projects for villages "Green School - Green Life" (2014);
  • All-Ukrainian Science Festival (2015)
  • International Green School (2015). The grants are realized with the support of the Embassy of France in Ukraine;
  • A sociological survey in which voters were interviewed who planned to participate in the elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on accession to NATO and relations with Russia (conducted by GfK Ukraine in September 2014);
  • Participation in the OSCE seminar on "Enhancing the Effectiveness of the OSCE by Strengthening Cooperation with Relevant Regional and International Organizations" (Warsaw, May 12-14, 2014);
  • An information campaign timed to the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21) in Paris (with the support of the Embassy of France in Ukraine).

The initiators and founders of the Foundation were political scientist Igor Zhdanov, artist Oksana Denysevych, ecologist Oksana Patselyuk, folk master on embroidery Olga Shynkarenko, and historian Iryna Zhdanova.

By November 2014, the Director General of the Foundation was Igor Zhdanov, (Wikipedia), political scientist, active participant in the process of democratic reforms in Ukraine, commandant, member of the Maidan Council during the Revolution of Dignity of 2014, now Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, candidate of political science.

Since 2014 the Foundation is headed by Iryna Zhdanova, a scientist, an expert on youth policy, candidate of historical sciences (link to CV).

On a permanent basis, the Foundation employs 6 people (on a voluntary basis). Both experts and volunteers are involved in the implementation of projects and initiatives. Students of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and NaUKMA practice at the Foundation.