The aim of the project was to raise the competences of youth workers and activists in the field of cooperation with the business sector, conducting negotiations and building lasting partnerships. We wanted to enable participants to gain knowledge about negotiation techniques, fundraising and creating a coherent and professional image of the organization. The project also aimed to develop lasting results – including the publication of the “NGO Negotiation Manual” and annual fundraising plans for each of the partner organizations. It was also crucial to build a permanent network of cooperation between organizations from Poland, Spain and Portugal, enabling further exchange of experiences and strengthening the potential of activities at the local and international level. The project supported the development of competences of young people, promoting civic activity and entrepreneurship.
We decided to implement it because we identified specific needs both in our organizations and among the people we work with on a daily basis. Cooperation between non-governmental organizations and the business sector is still a big challenge - especially in the area of building long-term relationships, conducting effective negotiations and acquiring sponsors and partners supporting social activities. During the needs diagnosis, we noticed that many youth workers lack knowledge and practical skills in the field of fundraising, presenting the offer of cooperation or building a positive image of the organization. Moreover, young activists and volunteers, who are an important link in our teams, do not always have the space and tools to develop their competences in this area. The project also responded to the need to exchange good practices between organizations from different countries that operate in a similar environment but have different experiences and levels of advancement. Thanks to the partnership with organizations from Portugal and Spain, we were able to create a space for joint learning, sharing solutions and building new, more professional standards of cooperation between NGOs and businesses .