The Board of the Kyiv Legal Empowerment Practical Program has selected mentors (curators) to help teams from Kyrgyzstan, Northern Macedonia, Sierra Leone and Ukraine implement their ideas. Let us introduce mentors’ team to you
In December, participants of the KyivLEPP-2021 developed projects to improve access to justice in their countries. Five prototype solutions have withstood criticism from legal crash-test experts and demonstrated their viability. They were developed by teams from Kyrgyzstan, Northern Macedonia, Sierra Leone and Ukraine. All these teams will receive not only financial support, but also the support of experienced mentors who will help them to implement their solutions. Read more about team mentors below.
Kyrgyzstan – Olena Nemchenko
Olena is Pro Bono Lab manager at Ukrainian Legal Aid Foundation. Works with social initiatives (NGOs) and lawyers under pro bono cases. The aim of Pro Bono Lab is to unite participants from NGOs and law business for cooperation in cases which contain social usefulness. For example, at the end of 2021 some of the best law and auditing firms of Ukraine in cooperation with the Pro Bono Lab team developed a learning video course “Legal Empowerment for NGOs“.
This course helps civic activists to avoid the mistakes that are often made during the creation and operation of non-governmental or charitable organizations, social initiatives. It is located and open for learning on the educational platform of the Ukrainian Access to Justice School of Practice (http://edu.ua2j.school).
Kyrgyzstan team will be also supported by Anna Ilaschuk – Ukrainian Paralegals Association leader. The team will develop the paralegals’ network in Kyrgyzstan, so the experience of Ukrainian paralegals, and their institualization would be of an extreme help.
Northern Macedonia – Zoran Bikovski
Zoran is Sociologist with 19 years experience in Roma NGO sector. Zoran has rare pleasure to work at the same time as a researcher and also to work as a practitioner on the field, directly with Roma community. Author of many research articles about quality of services of Institutions on the local level, labour exploitations and marginalized groups, implementation of Law for Education and Social Policy Law e.t.c.
Since the 2011 year is Program Health Coordinator in NGO ,,KHAM” Delcevo responsible for the implementation of the program, Legal Empowerment and Social Accountability. Like results of his work and work of the team of NGOs “KHAM” have visible results in advocacy on the local and national level, improving the condition of the Roma community in access to Health services. In period 2014-2017 year is President of Macedonian Platform against poverty (97 NGOs). Since February 2015 is a Mentor for Romanian and Bulgarian NGOs who work in the field of Social Accountability. Participant of the KyivLEPP-2020 program. Together with his team, he managed to stop blocking the social accounts of low-income families in northern Macedonia.
Sierra Leone – Iryna Chaika
Legal Development Network, organizational development manager.
Began professional career in 2015 at the center for providing free secondary legal aid. Was involved in the provision of free legal aid, procedures developing and administration.
Joined the team of the Coordination Center for Legal Aid in 2017. Has been developing the network of PRAVOKATOR Legal Clubs together with the team for almost 5 years.
The interests include institutional development of the free legal aid system, training and development of service providers and service design, human-centered justice and legal empowerment for people.
Ukraine – Nazarii Boiarskyi
Nazarii has worked in the public sector since 2006. Human rights activist, trainer of non-formal education, working both in Ukraine and abroad.
Graduated from Vilnius University (Lithuania) (Master’s degree with honor in International and European Law), improved his skills at the Ukrainian School of Law, Institute of Legislation of the Supreme Council of Ukraine (“Legislative Activity” course).
Member of the group of trainers of the Department for Youth Affairs of the Council of Europe. Independent expert of the Eastern European Civic Education Network. Facilitator of the British Council’s Active Citizens program. Author of eight analytical reports on access to a fair trial and eight manuals on civic education.
Ukraine – Sheilat Afolabi
Sheilat is master of Journalism, Projects Coordinator at Ukrainian Legal Aid Foundation since 2017.
Responsible for the Foundation’s advocacy activities in the field of anti-discrimination and counteraction to hate crimes, as well as the right to free legal aid for vulnerable groups; preparation and conducting of training programs and courses.
Has experience in organizing and conducting training events and programs, round tables, discussions, etc. Participated in the preparation of guidelines for students of law clinics, information guides on protection against discrimination.
Kenyan KyivLEPP-2021 team hasn’t passed the crash-test of the Programme. Though with the help of KyivLEPP tutor the team successfully developed their prototype after the design-sprint. This team will receive expert support for the implementation of their solution.
The KyivLEPP program is implemented by the Ukrainian Access to Justice School of Practice with collaboration of colleagues from Ukrainian Legal Aid Foundation, Coordination Center for Legal Aid, Legal Development Network, Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, the PRAVOKATOR.Kyiv Law Club, with the expert and financial support of the Human Rights and Justice Program by the International Renaissance Foundation, with the participation of Dot_Dot innovation, HiiL, Kyiv Legal Hackers, Pathfinders for peaceful just and inclusive societies and PILnet.