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Strategy Meeting: Youth & Cross Border Programme Co-ordination
Kraków, Poland
June 23-24, 2003

Meeting Venue: Dom Polonii (Rynek Główny 14)

Aims & Goals: To discuss policy or strategy toward youth NGOs in Belarus and attempt to delineate some common guiding principles. 

Monday, June 23 

9:30 Welcome 

10:00 Comment and Analysis report from recent trip to Belarus of representatives of the Centre for Eastern Studies
Question and Answer session

11:30 Coffee Break (15 min.)

11:45 Presentation – Electoral Districts: democratic candidates, organizational structures and local campaign implementation. Weaknesses and Priorities 
Incl. Riding Map – with local activities

12:45 Discussion: Should equal resources and efforts be allocated/spent in all ridings? 

14:00 Lunch (1 hour)

15:00 Presentation – Local activity and a platform building for the parliamentary elections.

15:30 Discussion: What kind of activity from foreign NGOs can be helpful in such a platform building? 

16:30 Coffee Break (15 min.)

16:45 Coalition-building: purpose and form of NGO coalitions – lessons learned from previous elections.
Pros and Cons; how to – and whether to – influence this process from abroad.

18:00 Close Session

19:30 Dinner 
C.K. Browar – ul. Podwale 6-7 Tel: 429 25 05


Tuesday, June 24 

9:00 Dilemma of working with youth organisations and NGOs – enforcing transparency; non-partisanship. Principles and practice. 

11:30 Coffee Break (15 min.)

11:45 Relationship between Political Parties and NGOs: help or hindrance to the development of civil society and democracy? Is it inevitable given the current political climate? Role of International Community – external factors which may significantly change behaviour of NGOs (e.g. passing of the Belarus Democracy Act)

14:00 Lunch (1 hour)

15:00 Brainstorming session: Building a pro-democratic platform – should there be a clear and forceful separation of NGOs and political parties? How can this be achieved? Are NGOs and political parties natural partners or in competition with each other? What is the specific significance for youth NGOs?

17:00 Conclusion

17:30 Departure

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