Partners for Democratic Change

Overview

Since 1989, Partners for Democratic Change (Partners) has worked in nearly 50 countries to prevent and resolve conflicts and increase citizen involvement in democratic processes. Partners’ initiatives strengthen citizen participation in government decision making, help governments become more effective, empower disadvantaged groups, and resolve long standing conflicts and disputes. Partners often works by establishing local Centers for Change and Conflict Management, which carry forward the mission of Partners in their countries.

Mission

Partners for Democratic Change is an organization committed to building sustainable local capacity to advance civil society and a culture of change and conflict management worldwide.

Program

Partners conducts many programs around the world, including:

Working with fishermen, environmentalists and the government to ensure that economic development in the Gulf of California does not damage the environment or threaten endangered species;

Increasing youth involvement in post-war reconstruction efforts in Lebanon;

Improving the lives of Roma (Gypsies) in Eastern Europe through a program that encourages tolerance between Roma and majority ethnicities and increasing Roma access to social services, including education and healthcare;

Tackling crime in Argentina by enabling local Citizen Public Safety Forums to work more effectively with the police and the government to design laws and programs that address and prevent crime;

Establishing local mediation centers throughout Kosovo, which, to date, have settled over 300 disputes, many that have ended violent conflicts;

Helping orphaned and disadvantaged youth in Bulgaria to learn the life and job skills they need to survive on their own once they have graduated from the state run system.

In its programs, Partners brings people together and empowers them to solve their own problems and conflicts, thus improving their lives, communities and nations.

Impact

Partners’ work has impacted hundreds of thousands of individuals in nearly 50 countries. As a result of our programs, people have benefited from new housing, educational and employment opportunities for minorities, improved public services such as sewer systems and garbage collection, new leadership positions for women and youth, decreased pollution, environmental preservation, increased safety and decreased violence, and many other improvements.

Countries of Operation

Albania, Argentina, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Jordan, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mexico, Moldova, Republic of, Peru, Poland, Slovakia, Yemen