Since January 2005, the international Ukrainian-Polish project "I Know What I Should Know; I Know How to Find Out About It; I Know Where I Will Find Out About It" has been implemented in the city of Lutsk. This project is a joint initiative of the Volyn public organization "Association of Young Reformers (AMoRe)" and its Polish partner, the "Tea" Society from the city of Tomaszów Lubelski. The project is financed within the framework of the Polish-American Freedom Foundation Program "Changes in the Region – RITA," which is implemented by the Education for Democracy Foundation. The Lutsk City Council also provides support in implementing this project. So, since the beginning of April, within the framework of implementing this project, a Public Information Center (PIC) has been operating at the Lutsk City Executive Committee, whose activities were organized by the Association of Young Reformers. The coordinator of the project from the Ukrainian side, Mykhailo Shelep, answers the questions. Yu.Kh.: "So, how and to whom did the idea come to create a Public Information Center?" M.Sh.: "The very idea of writing the project and creating a Center where consultations would be provided to citizens regarding the work of the city authorities was proposed by our Polish partners. Similar Centers have been operating in the Republic of Poland for over a year now. There they are called 'Citizens' Information Bureaus.' Something similar has begun to be created in a number of regions of Ukraine as well. So, the 'Tea' Society proposed that we become partners in implementing this project from the Ukrainian side, and after our agreement we sent an application to the 'RITA' program, which financed this idea."
Yu.Kh.: "What is the main purpose of the newly created Center?" M.Sh.: "First, it is to provide information to Lutsk residents about who in the Lutsk city executive committee and city council deals with specific issues that concern citizens. That is, we strive to point out the right path to solving problems. Because people begin searching for the necessary departments and divisions only when a certain problem starts to bother them. We possess such information, so we can help. Also, our lawyers can provide certain legal consultation on how best to solve a specific problem. The next purpose is to go to the people ourselves and tell them about certain problems and ways to solve them: through the media, information materials. After all, the more people are informed, the fewer misunderstandings and problems they have. In the future, we plan to create a kind of bank of public information on a wide range of issues on the basis of the Center."
Yu.Kh.: "How then does the work of the PIC differ from the activities of the Citizens' Appeals Sector operating at the Lutsk City Council?" M.Sh.: "First, the appeals sector is a subdivision of the city executive committee, while the Center is an initiative of a public organization. Second, the appeals sector receives and registers written appeals from citizens to the city mayor and his deputies, and helps organize personal receptions of Lutsk residents by the city leadership. We, simply put, provide consultations on who deals with what, where they are located, and how best to act in a certain situation."
Yu.Kh.: "The Center has been operating since the beginning of April. Your achievements, accomplishments?" M.Sh.: "The very opening of the Center is an achievement for us. It is not as simple as it may seem at first glance. But the most important thing is that people come and seek help. That is, this proves that the idea is in demand and that what we are doing is needed. And our achievements will probably be evidenced by people's feedback. If they are satisfied with the consultations they receive from us and this helps them solve their problem, then that will be a qualitative indicator of our work. So – everything is still ahead."
I will note that the project's working group includes young lawyers, political scientists, and sociologists, and on a volunteer basis. Oksana Hromadska, legal consultant of the Public Information Center: "We work here not for money. The main motivation is to provide real help to everyone who needs it. In addition, this will help all employees of the Center, in particular me, as a young specialist, to gain the experience necessary for further activity and acquire skills in legal work – this is an interest of a purely professional level." In the future, it is planned that the work of the Public Information Center will contribute to changing the stereotypes of Lutsk residents regarding the role and functions of local self-government bodies, increase the civic activity of Lutsk residents, and help establish two-way communication between the local community and the city authorities. Well, I think it is worth wishing the young proactive reformers success in their work and, perhaps, new interesting endeavors.
In the photo – the implementers of the project – representatives of the "Association of Young Reformers (AMoRe)" and the "Tea" Society