The Non-Governmental Organization “Change Agency “Perspectives” (originally – Kharkiv Women’s Non-Governmental Organization Center “Perspectives”) was established in December 1999 in the city of Kharkiv with the aim to support professional development of women with higher education under Ukrainian economic transformation conditions and to provide opportunities for women’s personal development and self-realization.
“Change Agency “Perspectives” was formed as a result of the Program for Retraining Women Scientists for the New Economy of Ukraine. This Program was implemented in the framework of the Partnership Project between Iowa State University (USA) and National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute" funded by BECA (Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs).
During 1999 – 2001 more than 200 women-scientists participated in the training on personal development, technology transfer, grant writing, organization management, and basics of economics. In total 45 courses in 15 disciplines were proposed. As a result of the Program a unique training model for personal and career development has been developed.
The organization has completed the following projects:
1999 – 2001 "Retraining Women Scientists for the New Economy of Ukraine Program"
The Program goal was to promote utilization of the intellectual potential and active involvement of women living in the Kharkiv region in the process of implementing economic changes in Ukraine.
The target audience of the Program was highly educated women with backgrounds in natural and engineering sciences who were looking for opportunities for new skills and acquiring knowledge for the purpose of personal growth and career development.
Program Objectives:
• Promotion of women’s professional growth;
• Assistance to women seeking change in their careers;
• Provision of knowledge and skills to the program participants for achieving success in the field of business.
Outcomes of three-year Program operation:
• 502 women took training courses;
• 200 workshops were provided;
• partnerships with numerous NGOs in Kharkiv and other regions were established;
• 20 topical roundtables were organized;
• 3 conferences were conducted;
• information consulting services were provided;
• an agreement between National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute" (Ukraine) and Iowa State University (US) was signed;
• 27 trainers and coordinators from both sides took part in exchange visits;
• 6 internships for Program enrollees were organized with the assistance of the Career Center;
• the results of a survey of more than 100 regional firms were used to refine the contents of the training courses.
2001 – 2004 "Training of Trainers Program (TOT)
The Program goal was to disseminate throughout Ukraine the training model and Career Center model developed by Center “Perspectives”. The TOT Program covered the following areas: 'Working with Adults: 'Methodology and Approaches', 'Project Management', 'Soft Skills', 'Economics and Management', 'Leadership', 'Technology Transfer', 'Career Center Services'. The program was conducted over 2 year period and consisted of 2 training seminars, distance education courses, mini-grant competition for participants and a final conference.
Outcomes of TOT Program:
• 100 women from different regions of Ukraine took part in the seminars;
• career programs were spread through 7 regions of Ukraine (Republic of Crimea, Vinnitsa, Donetsk, Lviv, Poltava, Kharkiv and Kherson regions);
• 14 teams (29 trainers) conducted their own training based on the Center “Perspectives” training model during the period September 2003 – March 2004;
• trainers trained at the Center “Perspectives” conducted 101 training (549 hours) for 869 women;
• a women’s NGOs network was created.
2001 – 2002 "Women Leadership: Problems and Prospects"
The project "Women Leadership: Problems and Prospects" was intended for women leaders of Kharkiv and small cities of the Kharkiv region.
The project goal was to develop the leadership potential and effective management skills of women who held official leadership positions in different kinds of organizations of the Kharkiv region. 42 women (managers of NGOs, charity foundations, state Universities and Institutes of the city and region) took part in this project.
The project included organizing and conducting two conferences-seminars:
- - The First International Conference “Woman and Career: Development Perspectives in the New Century”.
- The Second International Conference “Woman and Career".
The Project identified significant interest by its participants in not only leadership skills development, but also in other training courses such as Time Management, Working in Teams, Successful Negotiation, Making Effective Presentations, Conflict Resolutions, Motivation and Power Delegation, and others.
2001 – 2003 Marketing-Technology-Management (MTM) Productivity Study Tour program for Kharkiv sponsored by the Center for Economic Initiatives (Cincinnati, USA).
The project goal was to prepare Kharkiv businessmen to effectively participate in internship at US companies.
2002 – 2003 Local economic development programs funded by USAID and the Gillette Corporation
2003 - 2004 "Partnership Program on Distance Learning Implementation for Women-Engineers Professional Development in Ukraine"
The Program goal was to develop a distance learning program providing opportunities for self-improvement and career growth to women.
2004 - 2005 Joint project with Kharkiv Humanitarian Institute “People Ukrainian Academy” “Women and Careers in higher education”
The project goal was analysis of women’s careers in Kharkiv higher education.
Objectives:
• To investigate the compatibility between attitudes, values and careers.
• To define women’s vision of “an ideal career”.
• To describe skills and knowledge which women need for developing a successful career in higher education.
• To analyze problems which women face in career developing.
• To describe the most effective ways of problem decision.
2001 – 2008 Cooperation with programs and personnel of the International Executive Service Corps and the United States Peace Corps
2014 Babylon Reinvented: How to Approach ICL
Training and networking of those active in youth work and youth organizations IN THE FRAMEWORK OF COOPERATION WITH THE NEIGHBOURING PARTNER COUNTRIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
2014 Caught in the Web: social media tools for youth
Youth exchanges
IN THE FRAMEWORK OF COOPERATION WITH THE NEIGHBOURING PARTNER COUNTRIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
2015 Women’s Business and Leadership Growth Program funded by USAID