Timeline of the Active Citizens Fund Programme

2019

June

As a consortium, OSF Prague, the Committee of Goodwill – the Olga Havel Foundation and the Scout Institute signed the Active Citizens Fund Programme Agreement in the Czech Republic with representatives of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

July and September

We began launching projects with the Scout Institute to involve young people in civic activities and with OSF Prague to develop the skills of civic organizations in terms of their advocacy work.

August

We launched the first grant call for proposals for bilateral cooperation between Czech organizations and organizations from Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

September

We opened the first calls for proposals for system and basic grants.

We sent Czech representatives to an international event on civic education in Norway.

2020

March and April

The first supported projects started in the following areas: civic participation, advocacy and watchdog activities, the empowerment of disadvantaged groups, civic education and media literacy, and the strengthening of non-profit organizations.

September

During the first online networking meeting, we shared experiences from the projects with 80 supported organizations.

November

We actively responded to the consequences of the COVID-19 epidemic and reduced the mandatory co-financing of projects (between 5% and 0%).

December

We reached out to small and regional organizations with action grants for local events or initiatives.

2021

February

We launched a survey on the state and needs of civil society organisations in the field of IT in cooperation with the VIA Association.

March

We presented a webinar to Czech organization that introduced them to the functioning of the civil sector in Norway and Iceland and the benefits of bilateral cooperation.

May

We ascertained the results of the Skills Development Challenge connected to the organisation of online fundraising or crowdfunding campaigns for supporters and donors of civil society organisations.

August

We supported organizations throughout the first year of consultations and organised a unique grant call to strengthen the digital competencies of non-profit organizations.

2022

March

We announced the results of the second call for proposals for basic grants.

May

Another ten organizations received free consultations from the Advocacy Forum for their advocacy work for 1 year.

We published Stories of Courage of our grantees who were actively implementing changes in their surroundings on an ongoing basis.

2023

April

We organised a study trip to Hungary and Croatia on the topic of the early care of children.

August

We organized the Czech-Slovak 2023 Summer School of the Advocacy Forum to strengthen the know-how in planning advocacy strategies, conducting civic campaigns and media skills.

September

We initiated international cooperation and sharing experience through the preparing of a report on the state of the rule of law in EU countries.

November

We launched the Festival of Courage in Karlovy Vary – a series of events to close the programme in the regions.

2024

March

We organized a study trip to Norway on the topic of journalistic professional organizations.

April and May

We bring people together at the Festival of Courage in Brno and Ostrava and hold training programs in fundraising and PR.

June

We close all supported projects –⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ i.e. systemic, basic, action and bilateral projects.

October

We celebrate the courage of active people and organisations at the Prague Castle and the end of the Active Citizens Fund programme.