Representatives of organizations from different parts of Ukraine learned about the peculiarities of building relations within the organization under conditions of uncertainty. 

Olena Matviichuk, an organizational development expert and coordinator of the Mentorship Program, shared basic information and practical cases.

At the second session of the cycle “Stabilization of CSOs under Conditions of Uncertainty”, participants of the Mentorship community learned about the existential fundamental motivation “Love to Live” in the context of CSO activities. This motivation is the second after “Being Able to Be”, which was discussed at the first session. 

In particular, the organization needs time, space and relationships – a triad that is responsible for the motivation “Love to Live”.

“We can’t feel life and live a life, and an organization can’t feel alive if it doesn’t have the space and time to communicate, to build relationships,” noted Olena Matviichuk.

The participants learned:

• How team relationships differ from contacts;
• How individual needs are manifested in relationships;
• The specifics of building healthy relationships within NGOs.

“Understanding needs is necessary. “Understanding needs is difficult. Finding the time and space for people to talk through their needs is important. The work of team mediators and facilitators is aimed at getting people to understand what needs they would like to meet and what they need to be done. Often, before the war, this role in organizations was played by leaders,” explained the expert.

According to her, it is important to speak the language of needs in the team. This will promote healthy relationships that have nothing to do with, for example, the negative manifestations of the Karpman drama triangle.

“When there are healthy relations within NGOs, organizations become stronger. Practicing discussion of what’s going on in the teams helps keep teams together and achieve results.”

Participants in the group practice session talked about meeting their own needs within organizations, especially as they work under conditions of uncertainty.

Mentorship Program 3.0 is being implemented as part of the Project Ukraine Civil Society Sectoral Support Activity implemented by the Initiative Center to Support Social Action “Ednannia” in partnership with the Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research (UCIPR) and Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM).