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 Russian NGOs due to obvious historical causes are far smaller in comparison with the USA ones and each Russian NGO mainly works with one concrete thematic or field. We want to highlight that due to the project “NGO Management Exchange Forum” – Russian organization got the opportunity not only to know their peers from the USA but also to find out more details and information about the work their colleagues realize in Russia.
During both conferences in Moscow and New-York - the project participants worked as one team being very kind and open sharing, discussing and learning the realities of work in 2 countries. It is important to say that Moscow conference was a starting point where the participants got acquainted with each other and learned information about the organizations participating in the project. Thus, three days is a very short time but the USA participants still managed to explore Moscow a little bit - Moscow which turned out to be hospitable, clean and full of American brands.
Speaking about the organization of the conference CIC faced some difficulties that happened due to the logistical issues – the differences in systems of 2 countires. So, for example, our colleagues form the USA booked the hotel but the system in Russia did not show any booking and when just some time is left and the participants soon are arriving and still it is not clear about the boarding and lodging. It is stressing… But all’s well that ends well! We are also to mention the simultaneous translation - the quality of which is of crucial importance for such events. When we were developing the project and its budget - the prices were rather lower in comparison with the ones we had at the dates of the conference. That was a lesson to learn that when you are developing the budget you need to take into account that at the time of realization the number could change – thus, we know that the funders also  do not like when you provide the numbers that higher, so all the time explanations and negotiations are to be at place. We also faced problems with the transfers, which were very slow even though our partners made special efforts to make a quick transfer. The agreement between CAMBA and Russia was also an issue that took a lot of time to be discussed and amended. We can’t but mention the work done to invite the right Russian participants for the projects. It is important to say that Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not say no or what a bad idea or that this initiative is not interesting for them. They supported CIC giving the advice on how the USA participants can obtain their Russian visas, thus this advice was not useful. The authorities did not interfere that was good.
Speaking about the visit to NY we are to say the USA Embassy was very supportive and we did not face any difficulties in obtaining visas even though we applied on regular basis. The conference in NY was a huge lesson as we learned a lot about the approaches, methods and strategies our peers in the USA use at work. For us a huge lesson also was to see how CAMBA operates as a team. In Russian realities in majority of cases the director is a great boss and he/she very seldom communicates with “ordinary” people. Within CAMBA only via participants list you can get to know the high positions of the people who are at the conference but via communication you would never guess.
 For CIC team was a great opportunity to stay a little longer after the conference and to participate in the event organized by Henry Street Settlement and to have meetings with CAMBA - to discuss the continuation of cooperation.
In general there were a lot of things at NY conference that you can get to know only at place and not any video or other materials can provide you with this knowledge and experience.
From the organizational point of view the whole project was a huge learning space as to bring people together to different places requires lot of details and a lot of them you can get to know only at present moment working with a group.
<p class="m_-2179860697081484573gmail-MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><img src="/images/stories/NY_ENG/25520774_1618237694904340_1482133612_o.jpg" width="300" height="225" alt="25520774 1618237694904340 1482133612 o" style="margin: 3px; float: left;" />Russian NGOs due to obvious historical causes are far smaller in comparison with the USA ones and each Russian NGO mainly works with one concrete thematic or field. We want to highlight that due to the project “NGO Management Exchange Forum” – Russian organization got the opportunity not only to know their peers from the USA but also to find out more details and information about the work their colleagues realize in Russia.</p>
<p class="m_-2179860697081484573gmail-MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">During both conferences in Moscow and New-York - the project participants worked as one team being very kind and open sharing, discussing and learning the realities of work in 2 countries. It is important to say that Moscow conference was a starting point where the participants got acquainted with each other and learned information about the organizations participating in the project. Thus, three days is a very short time but the USA participants still managed to explore Moscow a little bit - Moscow which turned out to be hospitable, clean and full of American brands.</p>
<p class="m_-2179860697081484573gmail-MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Speaking about the organization of the conference CIC faced some difficulties that happened due to the logistical issues – the differences in systems of 2 countires. So, for example, our colleagues form the USA booked the hotel but the system in Russia did not show any booking and when just some time is left and the participants soon are arriving and still it is not clear about the boarding and lodging. It is stressing… But all’s well that ends well! We are also to mention the simultaneous translation - the quality of which is of crucial importance for such events. When we were developing the project and its budget - the prices were rather lower in comparison with the ones we had at the dates of the conference. That was a lesson to learn that when you are developing the budget you need to take into account that at the time of realization the number could change – thus, we know that the funders also <img src="/images/stories/NY_ENG/Аш_в_Нью_Йорке.jpg" width="300" height="225" alt="Аш в Нью Йорке" style="margin: 3px; float: left;" />do not like when you provide the numbers that higher, so all the time explanations and negotiations are to be at place. We also faced problems with the transfers, which were very slow even though our partners made special efforts to make a quick transfer. The agreement between CAMBA and Russia was also an issue that took a lot of time to be discussed and amended. We can’t but mention the work done to invite the right Russian participants for the projects. It is important to say that Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not say no or what a bad idea or that this initiative is not interesting for them. They supported CIC giving the advice on how the USA participants can obtain their Russian visas, thus this advice was not useful. The authorities did not interfere that was good. </p>
<p class="m_-2179860697081484573gmail-MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Speaking about the visit to NY we are to say the USA Embassy was very supportive and we did not face any difficulties in obtaining visas even though we applied on regular basis. The conference in NY was a huge lesson as we learned a lot about the approaches, methods and strategies our peers in the USA use at work. For us a huge lesson also was to see how CAMBA operates as a team. In Russian realities in majority of cases the director is a great boss and he/she very seldom communicates with “ordinary” people. Within CAMBA only via participants list you can get to know the high positions of the people who are at the conference but via communication you would never guess.</p>
<p class="m_-2179860697081484573gmail-MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /><img src="/images/stories/NY_ENG/20170721_114434.jpg" width="337" height="190" alt="20170721 114434" style="margin: 3px; float: left;" />For CIC team was a great opportunity to stay a little longer after the conference and to participate in the event organized by Henry Street Settlement and to have meetings with CAMBA - to discuss the continuation of cooperation.</p>
<p class="m_-2179860697081484573gmail-MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In general there were a lot of things at NY conference that you can get to know only at place and not any video or other materials can provide you with this knowledge and experience.</p>
<p class="m_-2179860697081484573gmail-MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">From the organizational point of view the whole project was a huge learning space as to bring people together to different places requires lot of details and a lot of them you can get to know only at present moment working with a group. </p> |
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