Every community has its own problems that seem complicated or even insoluble. However, active and determined people are capable of changing the reality around them for the better. The DOCU/CLUB Network has significant experience in supporting advocacy initiatives: in the course of the last 6 years, 105 projects have already been implemented in large and small communities all over Ukraine. These stories of real changes have become reality due to the active efforts of moderators of the Docudays UA film clubs, who have learned to use documentary films as tools for community cohesion and advocacy of their ideas for the government institutions. 

If you have an idea that will help make your community safer, more united, and fairer, and you want to turn it into a real advocacy campaign, you are welcome to the Advocacy School “DOCU ACTS 6.0.” The school aims to strengthen participants’ capacity to support people in their communities during wartime and to promote democratic reforms through advocacy and civic engagement. This is a space for learning, inspiration, and cooperation, where ideas emerge to become successful transformations within communities. 

Participants who reside and organize their activities in Ukraine are invited to enroll in the Advocacy School.

What you will gain from the School:

• Applicable knowledge about human rights, advocacy, and civic engagement;

• Step-by-step understanding of how to turn a community issue into an effective advocacy campaign;

• Information about the cases of successful advocacy initiatives that were realized by participants of previous programs;

• Individual consultations from experts who will help finalize your idea;

• New tools for using documentary films as a resource for dialogue, community cohesion, support during war time, and human rights protection;

• Networking with active moderators from all over Ukraine, an opportunity to share experiences, establish new partnerships, and develop professional contacts.

Upon completion of the training, you will gain new knowledge and a clear vision of how to plan an advocacy campaign, work with stakeholders, engage partners, communicate with government authorities, and drive transformations in your community.

Participants of the School will have an opportunity to take part in the competition and receive financial support to implement their advocacy project.

Who is welcome to apply?

We are inviting active and committed people who:

• strive to develop their communities;

• see problems that require solutions;

• are ready to propose an idea for a future advocacy campaign and are capable of implementing it after participating in the School;

• want to gain the knowledge and support needed to realize their idea;

• want to learn how to use documentary films as advocacy tools.

Please note: the advocacy campaigns of the “DOCU ACTS 6.0” Program will be implemented through Docudays UA film clubs; therefore, screenings and discussions of documentary films from the DOCU/CLUB Network’s collection must be an integral part of the advocacy campaigns.

Please fill out the registration form to apply for participation in the Advocacy School.

Application deadline is August 30, 2026. 

Participants in the Advocacy School will be selected on a competitive basis.

During the evaluation process, the DOCU/CLUB Network team will consider the applicant’s motivation, the relevance of the proposed idea, and its potential impact on the community.

Travel, accommodation, and meals for participants of the Advocacy School will be covered by the DOCU/CLUB Network.

The results of the previous advocacy campaigns implemented by “DOCU ACTS” are available on the website 

Join the Advocacy School “DOCU ACTS 6.0” and work with us to transform documentary film, knowledge, and community power into real solutions that change people’s lives for the better.

 The development of the DOCU/CLUB Network is funded by the Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine, Fondation de France, and the Czech organization People in Need within the framework of the SOS Ukraine initiative.

The opinions, conclusions, or recommendations are those of the authors and compilers of this publication and do not necessarily reflect the views of the governments or charitable organizations of the respective countries. The authors and compilers are solely responsible for the content of this publication.