A group of specialists from Saint-Petersburg and Leningrad oblast, Russia completed a professional training on NGO Accountability, Transparency, and Good Governance, in Detroit, Michigan, from September 10th through October 1, 2009, under the auspices of the Community Connections – Russia program. The group consisted of 10 participants - 6 female and 4 male. The age range of the participants was 29-59 years old. The participants are professionals working in different NGOs of the region. The delegates were hosted by the International Visitors Council of Metropolitan Detroit.

The 22 day program in Detroit for participants from Russia with the theme of NGO Management included a balance of site visits, seminars, roundtable discussions, volunteer activities, cultural and social activities.  During the course of the program the Russian participants learned best practices in NGO management; NGO transparency and accountability; partnerships between NGOs and the government, and the government's role in NGO accountability; how to involve the public in NGO activities; explored volunteer recruitment and sustainability. The participants experienced meetings, roundtables and hands-on experiences and dialogue sessions at various organizations involving oversight and management of non profit organizations: the Center for non Profit Management at Lawrence Institute of Technology, accounting firm of Plante & Moran, the law firm of Plunkett & Cooney, meetings to discuss PR strategies and media with Crain's Business Week and the Community House of Birmingham, a Rotary meeting, a meeting with watch dog Better Business Bureau and a myriad of non profit organizations to talk with their leaders and Board Members, besides meetings at the Community Foundation of SE Michigan, the CS Mott Foundation who does work in Russia and other Eastern European countries and the Skillman Foundation. The Russian participants received hand-outs, materials, learned fundraising & media/PR techniques besides information on websites and places they could visit on the Internet to obtain pertinent materials.

Program participant rated the program highly in terms of its currency and usefulness to their professional development.

"Every question stated in the program was discussed in detail. Representatives of all organizations we visited were extremely friendly and open. The work of the host organization was above all praise", commented Elena Guseva, Program Director of the "Alexandra" Service for Victims of Violence.

"I remember the day spent in the "Affirmation", organization working in the same field as my organization. This visit helped me to view perspectives of my organization development", said Valery Sozaev, Director of the "Coming Out" LGBT Organization.

"It has become quite clear for me that a non-governmental sector in the US is a real sector of economics, which employs the same mechanisms as in other sectors: with the money invested, with a huge amount of paid services, with a real need in the real estate management, etc. Our discussions about the role of the Board of Directors in NGO governance gave me an idea to incorporate this experience into practice, in particular in operations of the charitable fund which we plan to establish", added Anna Orlova, Head Coordinator of the Resource Center for NGO's.

All of the participants reported that their visit to the Lawrence Technological University was the most memorable. They highly valued a session held by Dr. Jerry Lindman, Director of the Center for Nonprofit Management.

According to Valery Sozaev, "American professors lectured at the Lawrence University were a mine of information. It was a good idea to start up the program with this session, because all of the theoretical information received there has been observed in the practical work of the organizations visited later on."

"I got surprised by the fact that there is a special university training program aimed at teaching NGO leaders. It was one of the most informative and useful meetings which covered such topics as fundraising, management, human resources, work with volunteers and mass media, and PR-strategies", shared her opinion Elena Guseva.

Rima Sharifullina, President of Peterburgskaya EGIDA NGO, commented on her visit to the organization working in the field of protection of the constitutional rights: "I got impressed by a large number of lawyers volunteering for the organization and a variety of the work areas. This visit gave me an idea of the large-scale volunteer movement in the US, NGO governance structure, and lobbying strategies. I realized that we have to invest more efforts and time in PR, holding information campaigns, and devoting more time working with the Board of Directors."

One of the highlights of the program was professional appointments planned for each participant with an NGO similar to theirs in St Petersburg. It was very successful but logistically difficult.

The concept of volunteerism was highly regarded and several participants said that they would encourage their organizations/institutions/schools to be involved with considering utilization of volunteers. One of the sessions involved visiting the Community Health Awareness Group where participants assembled personal hygiene packets and bundled needles for distribution in the community.

The volunteer movement in the United States gave rise to considerable interest among program participants. Maria Zhevlakova reported that she was impressed by a civic position of the American people, their volunteer spirit and aspirations for charity work.  "I realized that Americans dedicate many hours working for NGOs as volunteers and they consider this work to be honorable and prestigious," added Rima Sharifullina.

The Russian delegates got the opportunity to participate in the rich cultural life of the Detroit city. They toured the historic Downtown of Detroit, visited The Henry Ford Museum, Detroit Institute of Art, The Detroit Zoo, Renaissance Festival, Greenfield Village, and other sites. Guests from Saint Petersburg took part  in various activities: welcome parties, boating trip, swimming in the lake, dinners together with the host families. They keep warm memories of the party organized by the Chudnoff family, Judy's Welcome dinner, a visit to the lake.  To introduce American families with Russian culture, program participants organized a Russian party by bringing in and cooking traditional Russian meal, singing Russian songs.  All these activities were met with great enthusiasm and appreciation.

Accommodation with American host families gave the Russian participants the opportunity to gain a closer insight into American life and culture.

Valery Sozaev remarked that relationships with the American host family were simultaneously warm-hearted and friendly. Rima Sharifullina greatly enjoyed the experience of living with the American family:  "I really liked Judy's family. We didn't experience any difficulties. The most striking event was a visit to the church where I got impressed by a sense of unity with people who came to the service. I was given the opportunity to sing with a church choir. That was the most touching moment during my stay with Judy and I am very grateful to her".

Anna Orlova shared her impressions: "Our hosts were very hospitable. They arranged for our group a visit to fitness center and swimming pool, organized a trip to the school for hearing impaired children, a visit to a community college. They invited the group to their home for a dinner, organized biking and boating, swimming in the lake and other activities".

Rima Sharifullina added her reminiscences: "I got amazed by the benevolence, kindness, and dedication of the American host families. Unforgettable memories are associated with those fabulous evenings we've been socializing with the host families.  Positive attitude and zest for life which I saw in Judy, Schiela, and Jim impressed me greatly."

The delegates were greatly satisfied with their placements with American families. They established friendly relationships and participated in various activities organized by IVC Detroit along with the host families. Both parties - visitors and families have got positive experience and keep fond memories of each other.

Since returning from the United States, participants are determined to actively apply new experience in their own working practices. Sergey Krutov, Director of Social Services of the "Nochlezhka  (Bunkhouse)" NGO, outlined his plans: "During professional training I clearly understood what is meant under the terms transparency and accountability and how it works not only for the benefit of the organization, but for the whole society. I would really like to apply this experience in my organization and we will start publishing financial reports on our website."

"I would like to continue cooperation with the program in any form. Firstly, because to date it is one of the best exchange programs I have participated. Secondly, from the position of the lawyer and director of the community organization, I consider the US experience in the development of volunteerism and NGO sector to be the best," concluded Elena Guseva.

Upon completion of the program participants will now develop materials to use in their organizations and communities, conduct programs that will encourage dissemination of information on the best strategies for developing programs for non profit organizations, meet with media in St. Petersburg to inform them about program, continue communication with Detroit professional resources and organizations, and advocate for more respect for NGOs.