The Progressive&Strong Strategy Session: How to Make Decisions Quickly

How quickly do you make decisions? Have you ever recorded the time from question to answer? Have you ever considered the long-term consequences of your decisions? Well, the Progressive&Strong do it very quickly! According to the recorded results – seven minutes from question to positive answer.

As it turned out, this was a kind of test of readiness for action, openness to new opportunities and the ability to step out of one’s comfort zone quickly. After all, among the activists of the NGO ‘Progressive&Strong’, there are indeed many who are quick on their feet, unafraid of spontaneous decisions, and ready to embrace new ideas and challenges in literally a matter of minutes. And also to ‘snatch’ tickets for the only train heading in the right direction.

Indeed, twenty-five participants from various educational institutions and different parts of Ukraine very quickly decided to gather in the small town of Kamianets-Podilskyi to strategize together on the development of the NGO ‘Progressive&Strong’. As we know, fortune favours the bold, so it is no surprise that this trip also took on a symbolic significance. The participants were lucky, as their stay coincided with City Day. And this was just the first of a series of pleasant coincidences, as most of them travelled on the same train — and even in the same carriage, the lucky number 8 — without delays or obstacles, despite the difficult conditions of wartime. All three days of the event passed in this atmosphere of positivity and light-hearted irony.

The first day, 14 May, began, as is customary, with registration and a welcome coffee. The opening strategic session on the first day was led and moderated by Nataliia Shevchenko. Next, as always, there were icebreakers — a signature feature of ‘Progressive&Strong’ in-person events, which help participants get into the right mindset for working together and create a friendly atmosphere.

This time, Oksana CHUB set a small task to count all the participants in the form of a game — clapping on numbers containing the digit three or multiples of it. The task turned out to be not as simple as it seemed at first glance, and required attentiveness, concentration and teamwork. In the end, the participants not only completed the exercise but also finally ‘counted off’ in the usual, traditional way.

The discussion then turned to who these ‘progressives’ are and what the benefits of membership in the organisation are. Everyone presents shared their own views. From what was said, ‘Progressive’ is about networking, unity, communication, the voice of educators who are finally being heard, open discussion of pressing issues, continuous development through learning, personal growth, transparency, courage, mutual support, quality, ideas brought to life, and even, as some noted, family and the mafia. Another important point raised was that whilst there are many civil society organisations today, the NGO ‘Progressive&Strong’ is one of the largest and is not afraid to tackle complex problems. Furthermore, the organisation, which in 2017 mainly brought together lecturers from higher education institutions, now represents all levels of education, including pre-school.

To find out more about the new activists in the community organisation, they moved on to an icebreaker exercise, where two participants who didn’t know each other were paired up, and then each person introduced their partner and shared some interesting facts about them.

The first day of the Strategy Session came to an end in such a lively, eventful yet completely unobtrusive manner. And the main symbol of the day was our group photo, with a new face taking centre stage.

However, our day did not end there, as another pleasant surprise awaited us — a guided tour led by Olga VINNYCHUK. In her spare time, she leads tours of her hometown — the enchanting Kamianets-Podilskyi, which Lesia UKRAINKA once aptly and poetically described as a ‘flower on a stone’.

During the walk, we were able to discover the city’s history in a new light and visit the church with an unusual architectural structure nearby — a former minaret, which even today serves as a reminder of the historical period of Turkish rule in these lands. It is precisely such places that particularly vividly combine multiculturalism, historical memory and the unique atmosphere of Kamianets-Podilskyi.

The second day of the ‘Progressive&Strong’ NGO’s Strategic Session got off to a lively start. Once again, Olga VINNYCHUK organised the opening activities for us by leading the icebreaker ‘Horses at the Racecourse’. The participants quickly got into the swing of productive work and were reminded once again just how versatile and creative Ukrainian educators are.

The rest of the session was devoted to a strategic analysis of the organisation’s key areas of activity and the education sector. Participants formed teams and worked on SWOT analyses across various areas: veterans and inclusion, vision, analytics, communication, events, ‘Islets of progressivity’, and institutions of higher, pre-higher vocational, vocational and technical, school and pre-school education. This format allowed for a comprehensive look at the current challenges, opportunities and prospects for the development of Ukrainian education.

For the first time, the participants included members of the organisation representing pre-school institutions. This is particularly valuable, as pre-school education forms the foundation for a child’s future development; it is during this period that initial social skills, emotional intelligence, the ability to interact, cognitive curiosity and attitudes towards learning in general are formed. This is precisely why involving representatives from the pre-school sector in joint strategic planning opens broader opportunities for a holistic vision of educational development and support for children at all stages of their development. Three memoranda were also signed on the creation of ‘Islets of progressivity’ in pre-school institutions.

Representatives from the colleges worked together to identify the strengths of vocational pre-higher education, current challenges, opportunities for development and potential risks to the educational environment. The discussion provided a forum for developing a shared vision of future changes and for seeking practical solutions that could strengthen the role of vocational pre-higher education in Ukraine.

The work of the ‘Communications’ team was also meaningful and productive. Participants analysed the internal and external communication of the NGO ‘Progressive&Strong’, identifying strengths, areas for growth and opportunities to improve interaction within the community and with the wider educational sector. Indeed, high-quality communication is today one of the key tools for the development of modern educational organisations and the formation of an active professional community.

We also worked on developing and expanding the organisation’s other priority areas — in particular, we discussed the vision for future development, strengthening the analytical strand, event formats and co-creation, the ‘Educators Matter’ initiative, and the development of ‘Islets of progressivity’. Each of these areas provided a space for exchanging ideas, exploring new formats for collaboration, and developing solutions that will help the organisation support the education community even more effectively and expand its influence across different regions of Ukraine.

Throughout the day, participants not only analysed the current situation but also mapped out the organisation’s future. The focus was on new strategic directions for the development of the NGO ‘Progressive&Strong’, the creation of practical tools to support educators, and the strengthening of inter-regional cooperation. Working on shared ideas once again confirmed that the development of education today is impossible without partnership, open dialogue and a willingness to embrace change.

The second half of the Strategy Session was moderated by Bohdan FERENS, founder of the NGO ‘Progressive&Strong’, whilst part of the organisational team joined the session online. We carried out a sort of ‘assessment’ of the organisation’s current state — where we stand today, what achievements we have made, and in which areas we need to strengthen our efforts. The participants unanimously agreed that the NGO ‘Progressive&Strong’ should continue to grow, attract new people and strengthen its presence in the educational sector.

Particularly valuable was the insight that people are the organisation’s main driving force. After all, people come together with other people, unite around shared values, and inspire one another to bring about change. It was precisely this atmosphere of openness, mutual support and shared responsibility that was palpable throughout the Strategy Session.

Bogdan FERENS also shared his presentation at the ‘Khmelnytskyi Educational Alliance’ forum, which took place concurrently at the same venue and with the participation of our activists. The forum also addressed modern education, current challenges and the future of Ukrainian schools, with a view to establishing a strong, high-quality and modern education system in Ukraine.

At the same time, participants in the Strategy Session discussed and generated new ideas for the organisation’s development. Attention was paid to the need to strengthen the analytical aspect, develop communications and ensure a more active presence in the public sphere. An important conclusion was the realisation that every representative of the NGO ‘Progressive&Strong’ is part of a major communication campaign and a bearer of the community’s values.

In conclusion, the participants outlined the organisation’s immediate strategic goals. Particular attention is to be paid to supporting veterans and developing an inclusive educational environment — ranging from the creation of specific events and programmes to updating teaching materials in line with contemporary societal challenges.

Other priorities include launching new professional development courses with a more practical focus, strengthening the analytical aspect of the organisation’s work, expanding the ‘Educators Matter’ initiative, and developing new formats for collaboration within the ‘Islets of progressivity’ network. Emphasis was placed on recruiting new members from all levels of education — from pre-school to higher education — as it is precisely this cross-level collaboration that enables the formation of a holistic vision for the future development of Ukrainian education.

All the ideas and initiatives developed are united by a common goal — to create a strong professional support network for Ukrainian educators, capable not only of responding to the challenges of our time, but also of shaping new approaches to education, collaboration and social responsibility.

A particularly atmospheric element of the strategy session was the icebreaker involving three coins, which had kept the participants intrigued right from the very first day. The task turned out to be a unique model of fundraising in the form of a game: first, participants had to give a coin to someone they liked, then try to increase their ‘capital’ by negotiating and interacting with other participants, and later complete various tasks to obtain additional ‘resources’. As a result, the icebreaker became a vivid illustration of how interaction, openness to communication and a willingness to support one another help to create shared value.

The traditional and much-anticipated part of the event—the presentation of certificates—was not overlooked. The ceremony was held outdoors, where, in a festive atmosphere, alongside the organisation’s insignia and the flag of the NGO ‘Progressive&Strong’, each participant received their certificate of participation in the Strategic Session.

The final day of the event was devoted to completing the set task and creating short videos. For many, this was not only a new experience but also an opportunity to approach educational communication in a modern, creative and accessible way. What’s more, it was on this very day that Bohdan FERENS celebrated his birthday. The participants prepared a video greeting for him, and the creative process captivated them so much that they managed to film a considerable amount of content in advance — including a video invitation to participate in the 2026 Summit. This is exactly how this Strategy Session concluded — with ideas, inspiration, new insights and faith in the power of the educational community.

Don’t switch channels — the next instalment of this progressive story is coming very soon!