Vidnova Program

📣 We’re looking for experts & facilitators!

Join the upcoming Vidnova Plus Dialogue on 27 January 2027 in Berlin — a one-day networking event bringing together Ukrainians in Berlin and Brandenburg with German and international civil society, institutions, initiatives, and other stakeholders. The topic we’ll tackle is “Collaboration that works: building partnerships for integration.”

We’re looking for:
🔹 Experts with experience in networking, community building & engagement, stakeholder engagement, cross-sector collaboration, and designing networking formats.
🔹 Facilitators with proven experience in Open Space methodology, participatory events, and facilitating large and diverse groups. Ukrainian + German or English required; Ukrainian + German is a strong advantage.

Experience with civil society, migrant/diaspora communities, community initiatives, or cross-sector groups is a plus.

We offer fair compensation, an international team, and the opportunity to help shape a participatory networking format connecting Ukrainian, German and international actors.

Apply by sending your CV and signed offer to [email protected] until 9 October 2026, 23:59 CET. Please include your role, relevant experience, proposed services, daily fee, and signature. Facilitators should also include a brief example of an Open Space event they have facilitated.

🌐 More info via our LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/p/einF3JAs

👉 Learn more about the program: vidnovaplus.de/dialogue

Vidnova Plus is developed and coordinated by Commit gGmbH and co-funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union.

[Ukrainian in the comments]

In a conversation with Martin Fielko, marketing & communications professional at the Collective Leadership Institute, he shares his perspective on why communication can no longer be treated as something secondary by civil society organisations. According to Martin, having valuable work is not enough. For NGOs, communication is part of creating change — from making complex topics accessible and reaching broader audiences to building meaningful partnerships and finding new ways to connect with people.

🔗 Read the article in English: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/best-idea-world-stays-just-nobody-knows-interview-martin-e4lte

🔗 Read the article in Ukrainian: https://shorturl.at/HnX02

📌 The third Vidnova Plus Dialogue will take place in December 2026. Stay tuned for the open call.

A big thank you to our Maryna Hovorukhina, Program Manager of Vidnova Plus, for conducting the interview.

Vidnova Plus is developed and coordinated by Commit gGmbH and co-funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union.

[Ukrainian and German in the comments]

Applications for our MicON podcast workshops are now open! 🎙

Stories have the power to connect us. They can help us understand each other, challenge stereotypes, and create space for dialogue. MicON is a podcasting workshop series running from November 2026 to March 2027, designed for adults from Ukraine who are registered in Berlin or Brandenburg and have a fleeing or migration background. The series is for people who want to learn how to create their own podcast and share their stories, from concept to production.

Workshop language: English
Choose the language of your episode: English, German, or Ukrainian

The workshop series includes:
💜 Introductory in-person workshop on November 6, 2026
💜 Four online masterclasses (group coaching) from November to December 2026
💜 Individual online coaching sessions in January 2027
💜 Studio coaching session on February 4-5, 2027
💜 Podcast production workshop (group coaching) on February 12, 2027

🚀 Application deadline: October 16, 2026
👉 No prior experience required. Participation is free of charge.

Curious?
🔗 Read the call here: https://vidnova.org/vidnova-plus/micon/
🔗 Fill in the application form here: https://wecommit.typeform.com/VPMicOn2CApp?typeform-source=vidnova.org

The Berlin School of Podcasting X Vidnova X Commit

MicON Podcast Workshops are part of Vidnova Plus Engagement, created and implemented by Commit gGmbH and co-funded by the European Union.

📢 More time to apply for Vidnova Plus Engagement — until 21 September 2026!

Join the third cohort of Vidnova Plus Engagement (September 2026–January 2027) to turn your community idea into a real initiative with mentoring, skills, and community support.

You will:
✨ connect with like-minded people from Ukraine in Berlin and Brandenburg
✨ develop your idea with expert guidance
✨ gain practical skills to launch your project
✨ receive a participation certificate
✨ become part of the Vidnova Plus community

Whether it’s neighborhood gatherings, Sprachcafés, meetups, sports, or thematic events — there’s space for your needs and ideas.

📅 Deadline: Monday, 21 September 2026
🔗 Full call information available in our website (link in bio)
📌️️️️️️ Please note that this opportunity is only for Ukrainians registered in Berlin or Brandenburg.

35 Years of Independence 🇺🇦
This year, we mark Ukraine’s Independence Day with profound sorrow and deep respect for the people who continue to hold their communities together. This summer has brought the highest number of civilian deaths since the full-scale war began, reminding us that freedom and peace can never be taken for granted.

And yet, Ukraine’s independence lives not only in a historical moment, but also in the people who keep their communities going every day: volunteers, activists, local initiatives, civil society organisations, and everyone who stands up for one another.

Today, we remember those whose lives have been taken, honour those who continue to fight for Ukraine’s freedom, and send our warmest thoughts to Ukrainians everywhere — in Ukraine and around the world.

We invite you to join the protest march in Berlin, starting at 18:30 at Potsdamer Platz, organised by Vitsche. Because Ukraine’s independence is Europe’s peace. See more in our stories.

[Ukrainian in the comments]

✨ The Commit Podcast and Vidnova Plus introduce a new guest episode by Maryna Bratchyk – a journalist and participant of MicOn podcasting workshops.

🎙 Maryna explores' what feels “on time” during war and how it reshapes the way Ukrainians think and feel. War forces us to question things we didn't imagine before, complicating life not only through physical loss but also through deep emotional exhaustion. Through personal stories, this episode looks at judgment, guilt, and different realities inside and outside Ukraine. This podcast is a space to speak openly about what sits heavy on the heart. Thoughts that may seem untimely, but are in fact essential for Ukrainians as a nation, both at home and abroad.

📌 This episode is in Ukrainian. English subtitles are available on YouTube through automatic translation.

🔗 Listen on Spotify, YouTube or SoundCloud: https://tr.ee/4VmIrXj5p3

Host:
Maryna Bratchyk

Guests:
Mariia Kravchenko featuring her dog Jessie 🐶
Oleksandra Kiselova
Diana Dochi
Yulia

Mastering and editing:
Maryna Bratchyk

Producer:
Maryna Bratchyk

Music:
Background music sourced from https://freemusicarchive.org/home (Gnossienne 3 by Podington Bear)

Supervising:
Benjamin Lorch, Berlin School of Podcasting
Malwina Fendrych-Bluhm, Communications & Projects Lead, Commit gGmbH

This episode was produced as part of the MicOn Podcast Workshops, a component of the Vidnova Plus Engagement program, developed and implemented by Commit gGmbH and funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

[Ukrainian in the comments]

🌱️️️️️️ What does it mean to build a home between two worlds? The Commit Podcast and Vidnova Plus present a new episode of the Between Borders podcast by Alexandra Kiselova, participant in the MicOn podcasting workshops.

🎙 Lost and Found Somewhere Among the Worlds is an honest conversation about emigration, belonging, and preserving your true self while building a life in a new country. Together with Stu (Anastasiia Kozlova), a cultural studies researcher and Ukrainian author who is writing her first memoir about the journey of Ukrainians, Alexandra explores loneliness not only as one of migration's greatest challenges, but also as a space for creativity, reflection, and personal growth. Through personal stories and thoughtful reflection, the episode explores what it means to rebuild your life from scratch, find your own voice in a foreign country, and navigate between two worlds without losing yourself. It is a conversation about inner borders, adaptation, identity, and finding an anchor within oneself.

📌 This episode is in Ukrainian. English subtitles are available on YouTube via automatic translation.

🔗 Listen on Spotify, SoundCloud or YouTube: https://tr.ee/4VmIrXj5p3

Host:
Alexandra Kiselova

Guest:
Stu (Anastasiia Kozlova)

Mastering and editing:
Alexandra Kiselova

Producer:
Alexandra Kiselova

Music Credits:
The Light — Alex Jones & Xander Jones (YouTube Audio Library)

Supervising:
Benjamin Lorch, Berlin School of Podcasting
Malwina Fendrych, Communications & Projects Lead, Commit gGmbH

This episode was produced as part of the MicOn Podcast Workshops, a component of the Vidnova Plus Engagement program, developed and implemented by Commit gGmbH and funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

[Ukrainian in the comments]

✨ The Commit Podcast and Vidnova Plus introduce a new episode.

🎙 Ukrainian Music on the International Scene: Language and Integration – a guest-hosted conversation by Ann Krekhno, a cultural manager with Bohdan Semenchenko, a musician, member of Komisiia bandand Aureol music project.

📌 This episode is in Ukrainian. English subtitles are available on YouTube through automatic translation.

🎵 Language creates a unique atmosphere. When we listen to music in Italian, we may imagine the landscapes of Tuscany; Brazilian music can evoke images of Rio de Janeiro. But what comes to mind for international listeners when they hear a song in Ukrainian? In this episode, Ann and Bohdan discuss the integration of Ukrainian music into the European music scene and explore how Ukrainian musicians can connect with international audiences while responding to the realities of war.

🔗 Listen on Spotify, YouTube or SoundCloud: https://tr.ee/4VmIrXj5p3

Host:
Ann Krekhno

Guest:
Bohdan Semenchenko

Mastering and editing:
Ann Krekhno

Producer:
Ann Krekhno

Music:
Komisiia — Насипай, Пінг-понг
Aureol — Все мине

Supervising:
Benjamin Lorch
Malwina Fendrych, Communications & Projects Lead, Commit gGmbH

This episode was produced as part of the MicOn Podcast Workshops, a component of the Vidnova Plus Engagement program, developed and implemented by Commit gGmbH and funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

📢 Open Call: Experts, Facilitators & Mentors

Would you like to share your knowledge, facilitate meaningful learning experiences, or mentor people who want to make a difference in their communities?

Join Vidnova Plus Engagement—a skill-building program supporting people from Ukraine living in Berlin and Brandenburg to turn ideas into action and become active members of local communities.

We’re looking for:
✨ Experts in project management, organizational development, and facilitation (4–5 November 2026 and 13–14 January 2027)
✨ Facilitators for our in-person and online workshops (30 September–2 October 2026)
✨ Mentors to accompany participants online throughout the program (October 2026–January 2027)

What we offer:
🤝 Fair compensation
🌍 Collaboration with an international team
💜 The opportunity to become part of the growing Vidnova Plus community
🗓️ Application deadline: 16 August 2026

How to apply:

👉 Mentors
Please apply using the mentor application form: https://wecommit.typeform.com/VPAppMentor3C

👉 Experts & Facilitators
Please send your CV and a signed offer (a digital signature is sufficient) to [email protected] by 16 August 2026. Your offer should include:

1. Your name and contact details.
2. A title indicating that this is an offer for the Vidnova Plus project.
3. The workshop date you are available to facilitate (please select one of the three workshop periods).
4. A short description of the services you offer (e.g. facilitating an online or offline workshop), including your areas of expertise related to project management, organizational development, or facilitation.
5. Your daily fee (honorarium).
6. The date and your signature.

If someone from your network would be a great fit, we'd be grateful if you shared this opportunity with them! 💜