From 14 to 17 April 2026, the four-day International Leaders’ Training Course “Community Accelerator” took place at the University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland, within the framework of the project “SUCCESS | Socially innovative Ukrainian Centres in Central Europe: Empowerment and Social Support”. The training was organized by the University of Silesia in cooperation with Vytautas Magnus University and the VMU Ukrainian Center, bringing together 25 Ukrainian community leaders, volunteers, activists, and NGO representatives living in Poland and Lithuania.
The international format of the programme created a valuable space for cross-border dialogue, peer learning, and partnership-building among participants working in different local contexts but facing many shared challenges and opportunities. Over four intensive days, participants exchanged experiences, explored community engagement practices, and developed ideas for future cooperation and joint initiatives between Ukrainian communities in both countries.
The programme combined theoretical knowledge with practical application and focused on strengthening civic participation, democratic engagement, and community leadership. Through workshops, facilitated discussions, project development sessions, and guest lectures, participants deepened their understanding of:
- civic participation and democratic processes in the European Union
• community mobilisation and inclusive engagement
• migration, hospitality, and social inclusion
• project planning and initiative development
• translating local community needs into concrete civic actions
• building sustainable partnerships and community networks
A key focus of the training was supporting participants in developing their own community initiatives and transforming ideas into practical, locally adaptable projects. The interactive format encouraged active participation, teamwork, reflection, and exchange of experiences between Ukrainian communities in Lithuania and Poland.
The programme was enriched by the contribution of experienced trainers, alongside invited lecturers and speakers from Poland and Spain who shared their academic, professional, and volunteering experience in the fields of migration, civil society, and community engagement.
Beyond skills development, the International “Community Accelerator” became an important platform for strengthening connections between Ukrainian communities across borders, fostering new partnerships, and encouraging long-term cooperation initiatives between participants and organizations in Lithuania and Poland.
The training course was co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Social Fund Agency. Neither the European Union nor the Granting Authority can be held responsible for them.
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