Stronger Roots Publications
Read our publications
Since 2019, the Open Society Fund Prague has been working with a Czech think-tank Glopolis, Open Society Foundation Bratislava and the Hungarian NIOK Foundation in a consortium to implement the Stronger Roots Program and jointly strengthen the roots of civil society in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. The program is funded by the European Union from the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme
Publications on Social Base Building
Case study: Parents’ Union (Czechia)
In 2016, Teach Live [Učitel naživo] launched a year-long pilot of the same educational program, which was attended by over 200 graduates and students in the subsequent years. Two years later, it launched the Teach
Case study: Teach Live (Czechia)
In 2016, Teach Live [Učitel naživo] launched a year-long pilot of the same educational program, which was attended by over 200 graduates and students in the subsequent years. Two years later, it launched the Teach
Case study: Veronica (Czechia)
Veronica was founded in 1986 and over the decades it has managed to build up a diverse circle of supporters. Some people support the organisation financially, while others attend its seminars in Hostětín, read the
Case study: Seedbed (Czechia)
Seedlibrary [Semínkovna] has been successfully operating since 2015. However, as the network gradually grew, it became harder to maintain it without developing a larger structure, clear processes and other systems. It was obvious that the
Case study: Arnika (Czechia)
Who follows our work and what do they expect from it? This was one of the questions the Prague-City for Life team asked in a project supported by the Stronger Roots program. The goal was
Case study: Association for International Affairs (AMO, Czechia)
The Association for International Affairs decided to use the 30th anniversary of the Prague Student Summit to reach out to its broad and diverse alumni base. The goal was not only to revive contact with
Case study: Konnekt Association (Hungary)
The case study presents how the Konnekt Association revamped its communication aimed at reaching students and alumni. The organisation mapped the needs, communication habits and donation motivations of its target group through research, including interviews,
Case study: Pécsbánya Cultural Association (Hungary)
The case study shows how the Pécsbánya Cultural Association renewed the involvement and advocacy of the local community in a disadvantaged mining town. The organisation assessed the needs of residents through research and then launched
Case study: Gólyahír Foundation for Adoptive Families (Hungary)
The Gólyahír Foundation recognised that the increased demand for its services could only be met in the long term through a broader social base and conscious communication. Building on comprehensive research, it developed new strategic
Case study: Élménylelő Youth Association (Hungary)
The case study shows how the Élménylelő Youth Association developed conscious, long-term partnerships from occasional corporate support and how they involved new corporate partners. Building on personal relationships and experience-based programmes, they developed a new
Case study: Bátor Tábor Foundation (Hungary)
With the support of the Stronger Roots Program, the Bátor Tábor Foundation has rethought its regular donor strategy. The previous donor management system, which was in need of improvement, has been replaced by a conscious,
Case study: Stará jedáleň (Slovakia)
After the renovation and launch of the centre, the original team of founders stepped back and took on a supervisory role. The centre was run by two people, who were successful in launching new activities,
Publications on Network transversal collaboration
Case study: Standing Conference of Associations in Education (Czechia)
When cooperation is marked by frequent and unpredictable changes in conditions, goals may seem unattainable and energy dissipates. But this was not the case for the Standing Conference of Association Education (SKAV). It successfully mobilized its members
Case study: Platform for Training Environment (Czechia)
The Platform for Training Employment (PLATZ) promotes the idea that giving a job to people with social disadvantages is not enough. It is equally important to reduce barriers linked to their disadvantage and to provide
Case study: Szabad Terek (Hungary)
What happens when a once-vibrant network loses its drive? Szabad Terek faced this challenge head-on. A major change in leadership brought new opportunities for growth. By redefining its mission, and forging stronger ties with local
Case study: Egalipé Network for Roma Equality (Hungary)
During the Stronger Roots programme, Egalipe managed to undergo a significant internal transformation. The network concentrated on three thematic areas, established a new organisational structure, initiated internal dialogue around contested issues, and expanded by welcoming seven
Case study: Climate Coalition (Slovakia)
Participation in the Stronger Roots programme gave the Coalition additional, targeted capacity to address long-standing challenges. On the one hand, it explored how to advance specific proposals in Slovakia’s unstable and fastchanging political environment. At the same time,
Case study: Association of Children’s Forest Clubs (Slovakia)
Participation in the Stronger Roots programme enabled the Association to strengthen its collaboration with public authorities, which until then had been more occasional. Through sustained engagement, it gained new allies at the Ministry of Education, which has
Case Study: Hungarian Green NGO Network (Hungary)
The Hungarian Green NGO Network strengthened its ties to a number of religious and youth groups working on environmental advocacy and climate change. It expanded its membership base and board diversity and also introduced new
Case Study: Association of Organisations Working in Penal Affairs (Czechia)
The case study follows the process of building relations between the Association of Organizations Working in Penal Affairs and the General Directorate of the Prison Service in the Czech Republic. A successful project brought up
Case Study: Self-Regulatory Board of Fundraising Organizations (Hungary)
The CSR Platform changed the way of thinking on how to collaborate with the corporate sector. From simple asking for a donation, they moved to a stronger relationship and developed fresh ideas for the cooperation,
Case Study: Association of Independent Producers (Slovakia)
The goal is not for everyone to have the same views, but to facilitate a debate in order to find a viable solution that would be accepted by all. The Association demonstrates how common solutions
How to Engage with Divergent Stakeholders
This handbook offers practical tips for networks that would like to engage with divergent stakeholders towards collaboration.
The Concept and Impact of Transversal Collaboration
The publication by Glopolis explains how collaboration with diverse stakeholders can make networks more resilient.
Publications about the Stronger Roots Program
Key Societal Trends, Challenges and Opportunities for the Civil Society in the Visegrad Region
In the study, Glopolis examines the key factors affecting the functioning of civil society organizations and challenges and opportunities for civil societies in the Visegrad countries.
Stronger Roots Program Leaflet
Would you like to learn more about the Stronger Roots Program? Learn about the essence of the social base building and transversal collaboration concepts and methods of work of the Stronger Roots Program in a
Evaluation: Results and Impact Summary in 2019-2022
This summary presents the key qualitative and quantitative results of the external and internal evaluation of the first round of the Stronger Roots Program in 2019-2022.