PEER-EX PROGAMME

Before – Assumptions

In our conversation, the peers shared some of the preconceptions they had before the process even started.

George Thomson from Volunteer Scotland, had a word of advice for future participants: to go into the experience as equals.

He tells us: “I think there’s a general assumption that civil society in Russia is in its infancy. I think it’s a false presumption to have. We both have things we can learn form each other and the willingness to do better.”

Based in Russia, Elena Fomina, from the Krasnoyarsk Center for Community Partnerships, says: “We have worked with a couple of organisations before in London so I knew how it worked with them but didn’t know much about Scotland and its civil society. For me it was great to see how developed some of the approaches are. I do think if there were more programmes like this people would have less suspicions around each other.”  

Jim Wallace, from Aberlour Child Care trust, adds: “When I visited Evgenia, people said to me ‘you’re 10 years ahead’ but in a lot of ways it isn’t the case, I felt fairly behind in some areas.”

Evgenia Kantsypko, who was paired up with Jim, works in St. Petersburg at the Charity Foundation “RAOUL”.

She says: “Before the programme I thought I am not a leader so maybe it won’t be for me. I just thought I will just try and see. When we had our first meeting I realised it wasn’t just about experience and strategy, it’s more about your values and connection to yourself and how you can inspire others just by being yourself.”

After - Lasting memories and lessons

Evgenia: I was really inspired when I visited Jim’s organisation. I enjoyed meeting Johnny, an outreach worker who works with people on the streets. He had been working with the organisation for 15 years and I was almost crying listening to him and how he spoke about young people.

It made me think that this was the most important thing for NGOs – to find and keep people like that. Since then, my attitude towards my colleagues has changed. I became maybe more understanding. I now make sure to give more positive feedback and make sure I acknowledge their work. Many of them work with people that are traumatised or that have disabilities and it requires a lot of sympathy.

In terms of our work, I realised we don’t talk about values enough and actually I had an occasion after the programme where a colleague and I had a disagreement on next steps for a project. I realised that disagreement was because we hadn’t spoken about our values enough, and had not written them down formally anywhere. That session of the programme on that really stuck with me.

Jim: I remember meeting the staff at RAOUL and hearing about a young man who started working in IKEA and it was clear without that support he received from the organisation (which helps young people who grew up in orphanages and young people with disability on their way to an adult independent life) he wouldn’t have got there.

During my visit I also learned about their Family strengthening programme, which showed real commitment to family reunification and a reluctance to give up hope. We don’t do enough of that in the UK – people are being? written off by the system.

George: I had a couple of standout moments. One was visiting community school sessions and hearing presentations from the representatives there.

But another moment that stood out for me was when we were site seeing in a busy area. I stepped off the pavement and on to the grass and I missed a step and fell over. Immediately a man who was out with his family came and helped pick me back up. I was really impressed – I think it says a lot about a place.

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