Partners Slovakia

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Partners for Democratic Change Slovakia (PDCS)

Dusan Partners-Slovakia has provided conflict management training and consultation services to the country's NGO, local government, business, academic, and ethnic minority communities since 1991. The Center provides services through Bratislava center and new branches in Kezmarok, Presov and Rimavska Sobota connected with Program for Roma Integration. Partners Slovakia specializes in citizen participation initiatives and building consensus among diverse sectors, facilitating sessions involving local government, NGOs, businesses and other community stakeholders for cooperative local development.

Highlights from Partners-Slovakia’s programs include:

NGO Development. Partners-Slovakia builds the country's emerging third sector through training and consulting to different NGOs in vital organizational development skills, including networking, self-funding, project development, and advocacy, strategic planningy. The Center has published and contributed to a number of handbooks that assist NGOs in sustainability and diversifying income generation. Some of them were translated to English and Russian Language, namely Reader for Non-Profit Organization.

Network Building. Partners-Slovakia works to build consensus and form coalitions and networks among diverse groups. The Center’s efforts were highlighted by OK98, a nationwide civic campaign for free and fair elections, in coalition with 11 NGOs, during the 1998 parliamentary elections; this movement resulted in high voter turnout, election monitoring, and democratic change in parliament.

Minority Rights & Ethnic Conciliation. Partners-Slovakia trains national and ethnic minority representatives in effective communication and citizen participation skills, focusing on empowering Roma organizations and communities. The Center also facilitates majority-minority dialogues and provides conciliation and mediation forums to resolve minority-related disputes. Together with Partners Czech Republic, Partners Hungary and Partners for Democratic Change manages long term program “Program for Roma Integration”.

Peer Mediation. Partners-Slovakia established peer mediation programs in over 40 primary and secondary schools and universities in Bratislava, Banska Bystrica, Levice, Nové Zámky, and Prešov. The Center trained volunteer students and teachers in conflict resolution skills and then worked with them to develop mediation programs that resolve school-based disputes.

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Center Profile

Director: Dušan Ondrušek, Ph.D.
Center since: 1991
Contact Information: Sturova 13, 811 02 Bratislava
Tel: (421-2) 5263-3851 or 5263-3852
Fax: (421-2) 5293-2215
Email: pdcs@pdcs.sk
Web: www.pdcs.sk

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1779 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Suite 515, Washington, DC 20036

TEL: 202-942-2166 FAX: 202-939-0606