New leaders – 2: community development is the must for Ukraine

On April 12, the first stage of the project, i.e., registration of participants, began. This year more than 500 applicants submitted participation forms, but only 276 of them were able to pass the test in accordance with enhanced requirements of the Supervisory Board. Those registered leaders offered for consideration their ideas for the national level, topics and directions of which ranged from public administration sector to humanitarian aid.

After the selection, the second stage of the project began, during which Voters registered on the New Leaders website voted for 25 leaders whose ideas they considered the best. The Selection committee chose more 25 participants.

In the third stage, 50 leaders met face-to-face with members of the Selection committee to prove that their policy is worth a million UHR. Based on rating results of the committee and viewers in the studio, top eight leaders made it to the final TV stage of the project.

During live broadcasts, the finalists of New Leaders were tested by experts who used a lie detector or asked compromising questions about the most acute problems of our society. TV audience determined the fortune of the project participants by voting. Each idea was worth implementing, but only one could become a winner of the project.

This year Ukrainians recognised a policy of Volodymyr Shmatko, mayor of Chortkiv and Ukrainian School of Political Studies alumnus, as the most worthy. During the project, Mr. Shmatko presented his programme for the economic development of communities.

He convinced TV viewers that decentralisation is a significant reform for economically successful Ukraine. He developed an action plan, implementation of which will allow de-shadowing of a professional sphere, will support local enterprises, as well as develop innovative projects in communities: business incubators, startups, and economic clusters.

USPS Community congratulates Mr. Shmatko on his long-awaited victory and wishes him not to rest on the laurels. We hope for effective implementation of New Leaders policy in Chortkiv and throughout Ukraine, as well as for successful realization of ideas of other finalists of the project.