Civic engagement – About experts

Mr. Milan Zbořil is working in positions with strong focus on civil socity development, community organizing and citizens participation.

Since September 2012 he has worked in senior position for National Democratic Institute as a director / manager of programs focused on development of civil society organizations and citizens participation in republic of Moldova and Ukraine (September 2012 – April 2015) and program of pre-election activities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Belarus (non-partisan/NGOs election monitoring, candidates forums with representatives of different political parties prior presidential (2015) and parliamentary (2016) elections.

Prior to working for NDI he was a Lead Organizer for European Community Organizing Network (ECON), working also as a trainer and consultant for ECON.

Since 1992 he has worked for several different local, national and international non-profit organizations mostly on programs focused on supporting citizens’ participation and engagement, democratization and human rights in Slovakia and Europe. He has worked as a community organizer since 1996. From August 2001 till August 2002 he has been working as a humanitarian worker in Chechnya after Russian-Chechen wars. He was the founding Director of Slovak Refugee Council. In 2007, together with Mrs. Martina Novakova published “Integration guide for refugees in Slovakia”

As a trainer, facilitator, and consultant he worked in over 10 countries outside of Slovakia, organizing seminars on community organizing, public participation, organizational development, and strategy / development planning, among others.

He wrote several articles about citizens’ participation, including chapter “From National Politics to Local Community Participation” in Learning for Local Democracy – A Study of Local Citizen Participation in Europe.

Professional experience
Lead trainer, Methodist, Social pedagogue, OA “The Beginning of Life” Professional skills and achievements: every year led four groups of senior pupils for
15-20 people, weekly held for them personal growth trainings and helped them to
decide on their profession (as a result, over 4 years more than 250 senior pupils decided on their profession). Recruited volunteers. Organized and coordinated social projects and actions.
Responsibilities: drawing up and maintaining training personal growth, training and
team building, participating in the creation of a course of personal development
trainings “Preparing for Success”, coordinating social actions, writing methodological materials and manuals, conducting trainings in schools, conducting lectures, trainings and individual consultations for young people and students of leadership schools.
Responsible for holding teenage and youth clubs, member of the Youth Council, OA “Beginning of Life” Executed duties: entertainment, team building and edifying teenage and youth clubs, participation in the creative council.
Coordinator of volunteer groups participating in short trips for social work Responsibilities: coordination of trips for social work and management of volunteer
groups participating in these projects.