In Zhytomyr region module 2 of Lab of Active Citizens has been successfully launched.

The agents of a change have learnt to analyse the declarations of the MPs and public officials and identify the corruption schemes in public procurement, in the energy sector and in housing and communal services. They have also learnt to employ effectively the instruments of conducting journalistic investigations.

The most relevant and pressing problem of Zhytomyr region is an absence of transparency in calculating gas and water rates, informed the Lab’s trainer Serhiy Yatsyk.

“The most crucial these questions refer to a housing cooperative. To pass a house in the operation of a housing cooperative  and then to forget about it is the best solution of a problem for the authorities. If there is a severe accident (the rupture of pipelines etc) what then shall the housing cooperative do? Take a credit?”  – such questions were asked during the session of the Lab.

The trainer pointed out that a preparation level of the participants of the regional education training was sufficient enough to conduct discussions. During the training session positive as well as negative examples of fighting corruption in the sphere of public procurement and housing services were presented.

“Our activists are highly motivated to work locally and the experts of the project gave them tools to do it. It is also very nice to have legal support of Media Law Institute. I think that soon enough owning to the teamwork, a several successful and effective investigations will be published,” – rendered Serhiy Yatsyk.

The module 2 of Lab of Active Citizens shall be conducted in 16 regions of Ukraine.

This large-scale educational project is organised by Media Law Institute in partnership with the Reanimation Package of Reforms.