In 2007, SPARK started successfully with a new project: the Young Pro's Program. Goal of this program is to support young and ambitious NGO's in the Netherlands that have the intention to professionalize their projects and organization. SPARK is supporting these organizations in 2 ways: via our Young Pro's Incubator and our Young Pro's Training Program.

Young Pro's Incubator
SPARK gives young, starting and promising development organizations the chance to develop themselves into a professional organization. One way of achieving this is by giving these organizations the chance to work from our incubator space at the University of Amsterdam, where they will have access to office equipment, office space, telephone and internet connection Moreover, if needed, SPARK will offer them free consultancy on project development and project management. At this moment, 3 organizations are active in the incubator: Young Urban Achievers, Danube Foundation and LifeLines. In the course of 2008 we hope to accommodate more young NGO's. 

Young Pro's Training Program
In November 2007, SPARK started with a training program for young and innovative NGO's in the Netherlands. This training, existing of about 14 sessions of each 3 hours, will run into May 2008. If positively evaluated, this sequence will be repeated next year. The training, provided by different organizations and experts such as MDF, BBO, Dubois & Co, and others, will focus on all kinds of topics that are important for a young NGO: developing a donor-proof proposal, preparing a sound budget, developing a communication plan, a good partner policy, lobbying and much more.

The first 7 trainings will be provided by MDF (http://www.mdf.nl). The other workshops/trainings are provided by other enthusiast experts in the field. The agenda of the training looks as follows: 

Training by MDF:
22 November: Projects, Planning and Introduction to the Logical Framework
29 November: Preparation: Stakeholder and Problem Analysis
13 December: Project Strategy: Intervention
10 January 2008: Indicators
24 January: Monitoring and Evaluation
7 February: Tendering Procedures and Appraisal
20/21 February: "Project Clinic": Individual Project Consultancy (20 min per org, 10 orgs each evening).

Training by other experts/organizations:
6 March: how to develop a sound budget and how to manage the financial aspect of the project, Dubois&Co
27 March: workshop Capacity Building, PSO 
17 April: workshop Lobbying, BBO;  
15 May: Sales and Communication Training: how to develop a sound communication plan; how to ‘sell' my project and organization towards donors and potential partners, Sales & Pepper & Steensma.

If you are interested in more information about the training or the incubator space, please contact Lieke van Gompel, l.v.gompel@spark-online.org