Citizens Foundation

17 Smolensky boul.
Moscow, Russia
Tel: (7-095) 244-0042
Fax: (7-095) 230-2200
Contact: Dr. Igor Kokarev, President

The Citizens Foundation was founded in 1993 by a group of Russian scholars and intellectuals with the intention of providing an infrastructure for democracy based on grassroots citizen action and “self help” organizing.

While in America searching for humanitarian aid for Russians in 1991, Dr. Kokarev met with American community development specialists and decided that a citizen empowerment and community organizing model was the best way to achieve real improvement in the lives of Russian citizens. On his return to Moscow, he incorporated community development techniques into his programs for distribution of humanitarian aid. He developed a “People’s Store” in Moscow where “building captains” helped to assess residents need for donations and ability to pay. The proceeds of the store’s sales were used to support communal projects Subsequent projects have included a health center, legal services, and support for local community clubs. A Neopali-movka Community Center was created to encourage community involvement, and a community assessment has been underway to determine what issues and needs local residents are concerned about.

Citizens Foundation is working to become a major technical assistance center for local nongovernmental organizations, and plans to disseminate information about successful community development models throughout Russia. It has been conducting training sessions for local activists, publishing pamphlets that promote grassroots democracy, and is currently moving into new communities, where it is working together with activists to implement the skills taught in the training sessions. The organization plans to expand its support programs for local initiatives through technical assistance programs, the provision of small grants to neighborhood organizations, and coalition-building efforts.

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Center for Civil Society International [email protected]