CDN Mission statement 2011-2012

1. Introduction

Cooperation and Development Network is directed towards the development of its Member Organizations, youth and green organizations from Eastern Europe, supporting their needs of and efforts for social change and strengthening their role in society. Since Green parties remain weak and divided in almost all countries in the East, young greens represent the future of the green movement and green idea in the region. The past few years has shown us that all our countries are still suffering from an unacceptable level of non-democratic governance, lack of political diversity and independence, strong personality cults and concentration of power and resources, lack of environmental protection, and violations of human rights. Recognizing the Green idea as a way towards a more open, democratic and peaceful society, CDN sees young greens as agents of change, able to criticize, raise their voice, offer alternatives, motivate and include others.

We aim for a more coherent Green movement in Eastern Europe, made of politically self-aware organizations and individuals, guided by green politics and principles, operational and efficient with democratic structures, working nationally, regionally and internationally, keeping the conviviality, enthusiasm and specificity of youth work.

2. Geographical scope of action

After a great enlargement in 2008 and 2009 when organizations from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia joined the network, we have successfully worked in the Caucasus, organizing several events and enhancing regional communication and cooperation. By accepting Young Greens from Croatia and Belarus we got a new perspective in the Balkan and post-Soviet regions, widened diversity and got new partners in spreading Green values in these regions.

In the next two years we see as our task to gather the whole Eastern Europe, to find

young and green organizations from Moldova and Montenegro, suitable by their aims, structures and activities. By gathering all organizations under one wing, we want to enhance their cooperation, exchange of knowledge and perspectives. Showing through our work that unity in diversity is not only a dream or an empty phrase, but rather to set up a good practice and serve as an example. Connected by the Green idea, its principles and vision, its methods and strategies, we are constantly broadening our views and supporting and being supported in our strife for a Greener society, on national and international scale.  Furthermore, we acknowledge Russia as a country of special interest, where civil society, youth work, activism and political commitment are seriously endangered. CDN should strive to involve young people actively engaged in civil movements, finding reliable partners and possibilities to create a solid base for the promotion of Green values and the Green movement, aiming at supporting and participating in the creation of Green

organizations or Networks in this country.

3. Working plan

CDN is devoted to supporting green youth organisations. Having good foundations from our previous work, a solid level of knowledge and skills, we want to actively help green organizations to develop themselves in a political and operational sense. We see the democratic work of a youth organisation consisting of three levels: as a democratic and operating structure, participatory and open political decision-making and a supportive administrative work. Especially in Eastern Europe, one can find a lack on all three levels. Within our work we want to more concretely define problems on these levels, develop instruments and methods to improve the results on all levels and develop a strategy on how these improvements can be brought to the national Member Organisations and Partners. Moreover, we want to support the development of their knowledge and skills on how to achieve their goals. In order to transfer the knowledge and skills aquired to their national organizations, but also in order to ensure sustainability within CDN itself, we organize trainings for Executive Committee members, members of working groups, active and devoted individuals. Furthermore, we are planning to organize political trainings for our Member organizations, on international, regional and national levels supporting the capacities of politically committed young green organizations to meet the needs of societal changes based on green principles, human rights respect and democracy. Acknowledging the importance of international cooperation, we want to hold at least two regional meetings a year, giving an opportunity to young green organizations to share views on regional issues, creating joint strategies and political standpoints. CDN will continue organizing educational activities for young greens Europe-wide in order to further support member organizations, by supporting host organizations with organizational experience, international support, extensive media coverage and more. Among them, CDN wants to transform the Summer camp, as our biggest educational activity by its range, into a bigger event that will gather more than one hundred young greens, living and learning in the most sustainable and environmentally friendly way.

4. Internal development

In order to be more successful in fulfilling our aims and plans, we need to work on strengthening the internal structure, ensuring sustainability of resources, creating and maintaining communication channels and transferring knowledge and skills. We are expecting a high involvement of Executive Committee members in planning, coordinating and implementing activities, taking and fulfilling responsibilities in accordance with personal capacities but still on a high enough level to ensure the fulfilment of our aims. In order to provide them with sufficient knowledge, trainings and workshops will be organized. We also aim to further develop and start using tools that will make work more efficient and decision-making processes more accurate such as Skype communication, task manager etc. ensuring flow of information and work in between personal meetings. In order to have a clear and legitimate mandate for the practical and political work of CDN, we will annually organize a General Assembly. Moreover, as it has been proven more than useful, we are aiming at organizing, and making it a regular practice, Strategy Planning Meeting in between GA’s, in order to ensure the highest possible participation of Member organizations in planning and implementing decisions brought by the GA. Being part of a structure that enables involvement of a great number of young people, having a wide range of target groups and influence, we find working groups a very useful tool and practice. The gender and culture groups have recently been organizing educational events, developing their web presentation and planning future strategies. CDN will continue encouraging their work and development. We would also like to further support new initiatives raised at the Strategy Planning Meeting 2010, such as the structure group, the fundraising group, the capacity-building group and the communication group. Last, but not least, in April 2010 CDN was registered in Belgium, becoming CDN AISBL (Association internationale sans but lucratif – International non-profit association). In the forthcoming period we would like to finalize this legal process. As part of our support towards our Member organizations and of strengthening the Network itself, we will continue to cooperate with external partners, specially growing and maintaining connections with fellow Green organizations. We acknowledge the Federation of Young European Greens as our main strategic partner in spreading Green values and vision over Europe and will develop this relation and cooperation even further. We also find Green foundations partners of interest, where Green Forum of Sweden has been one of our main partners throughout the years. As to our geographical scope, we will also build our relations with Green East-West Dialogue and overall the European Green Party and its members. We strongly support other Green and Youth networks, aswell as other Young Green organizations worldwide.

5. Conclusion

The past years brought about great results and great motivation for future development. Fulfilling our previous mission, although somewhat incomplete, we are ready to face new challenges. Gathering experience of previous work, we have found ourselves capable to see changes in society and changes of needs of Young Greens in order to be up to them. Supporting its Members on organizational, administrative and political action level, CDN participates in promoting and implementing the Green idea, as well as in the expansion of the Green community and creation of a better future. Aims, plans and strategies remain a dead letter if people are not ready to implement them. In order to empower youth in Eastern Europe, we see our strength in gathering active young people, brave and willing to face all the challenges in their societies. CDN works on providing them with knowledge, skills, place for discussions and exchange of experience within regional and international arenas, supporting their work on national and international levels. In order to reach our aims we need to grow, to learn and to stay active.

Decided by CDN Network Meeting in 2011