From September 29 to October 7, 2025, we welcomed 22 leaders from Ukrainian NGOs to Austria for the second edition of the Civil Society Leadership for Ukraine (CLPU for short). After receiving over 150 applications and a thorough selection process in late spring, we were thrilled to finally meet this outstanding group and start the journey together.
The first part of the CLPU took place in Payerbach, a beautiful town in the Austrian Alps. In this retreat-like atmosphere, participants could take out the pace of their lives and fully focus on their first sessions. Julia Rappich and Paul Rameder kicked the programme off with a well moderated session on the “Who is Who” of the group. After that first ice was broken, Michael Meyer and Anastasiia Zernova facilitated a day on good governance and its practical implementation. Day 3 was spent with Alina Nosenko who designed an “Impact Jam Session” on NGO strategy. Lisa Ringhofer concluded the days in Payerbach with insights into fundraising from philanthropy.
For the second part of the CLPU, we brought the group to Vienna for a more lively setting. Upon arrival, we offered an optional session on resilience and burnout in leadership positions before heading out to explore the city in a guided tour. The following day, Georg Matuschkowitz held a session on organisational development and good donor relations. The art of online and offline storytelling with Mathias Haas was up next on the agenda.
Day 8 brought two special highlights: first, we visited the offices of ERSTE Foundation, our main partner of the programme. CEO Boris Marte held a touching and inspiring speech, before Yana Barinova shared valuable insights into the Foundation’s work in Ukraine. Afterwards, we were invited to the Austrian Ministry for European and International Affairs, where participants shared the challenges civil society currently faces in Ukraine.
The final day started with an interactive session on NGO leadership with Michael Meyer. In the evening, we celebrated the ending of the physical part of the CLPU with a joyful closing ceremony. We had the honour to welcome Austrian Diplomat Emil Brix for that, who held a short keynote on the importance of civil society for democracy and urged to keep on advocating.
While it was hard to hug everyone goodbye, the CLPU is not over yet. The third part of the programme brings individual online coaching sessions with experts from practice and academia. In January, we will then all reconnect online for the final wrap up of the CLPU 2025 – and to talk about what the future could bring for this amazing cohort.
