The Power of Many – Civil Society Europe

The social media series ‘The Power of Many’ aims to showcase impactful stories from civil society organisations that operate at the national level, bringing their voices to the forefront. Every two weeks, we bring attention to a different civil society organisation, which provides their perspective on how they work to improve people’s daily lives, how their tasks bridge citizens and the EU, and how being part of an EU network supports their work.

Check all our stories below!

Plataforma del Voluntariado de España

“Part of the work we do in Spain is channeling European knowledge, information, and opportunities to local organisations and to the people”. Hear from Brian Reyes, Support Officer for Volunteer Engagement and Partnerships, Observatory, and European Affairs at the Spanish Platform for Volunteering.

Belgian Disability Forum (BDF)

“Being active at EU level opens up many possibilities. If we could not be a member of an EU network, we wouldn’t be able to have an effect on European legislation”. Hear from Pierre Gyselinck, President of the Belgian Disability Forum.

AirClim

“Greenhouse gas emissions affect us all, so working with other European organisations is the only reasonable thing to do”. Hear from Kajsa Pira, Programme Director at AirClim in Sweden.

Humanity & Inclusion

“We ensure that the voices of people with disabilities reach European institutions, not by speaking for them, but by amplifying their stories and evidence”. Hear from Blandine Bouniol, Deputy Director for Advocacy and Institutional Relations at Humanity & Inclusion in Belgium.

RADA

“It’s important that the needs of Belarusian youth are taken into account in EU policy, because these decisions directly affect them”. Hear from Yulia Ralko, from the International Secretariat of RADA in Belarus.

Grupa Zagranica

“Advocacy isn’t just an ‘extra’ activity – it is fundamental to ensuring that the policies shaping our world are both fair and sustainable”. Hear from Jan Bazyl, Director of Grupa Zagranica in Poland.

Read Jan's story: Grupa Zagranica gathers 62 Polish civil society organisations working in humanitarian aid, international cooperation and global education. Our mission is to boost public knowledge about global challenges and monitor Polish international cooperation. We act as a representative voice for the sector, making sure that aid is about actual impact.

We act by listening. Our secretariat is like a “helpdesk” for members that connects them with partners. Since our members work on the front lines, their priorities become our priorities and shape our advocacy.

We gather their expertise and channel it to decision-makers in Warsaw and Brussels. It is a way to ensure that policies reflect real needs.

With time, this has led to tangible changes. Grupa Zagranica helped shape Poland’s 2011 Development Cooperation Act, the first legal framework for Polish aid, ensuring that resources are used effectively on the ground. We also influenced national school curricula, so that young people grow up with a better understanding of issues such as climate change or migration.

Through the recent EU Presidency Project, we’ve supported small local organisations to bring topics like climate justice and decolonial education to their communities. This way, we have managed to spark broader public conversations.

Since most Polish organisations are small, being part of an EU network like CONCORD really matters. It gives us “insider” knowledge of how the EU works, as well as legitimacy in front of national authorities. We are seen as part of a wider European force.

If these networks disappeared, policies would be driven only by political and economic interests, far from people’s realities. The human side of cooperation would fade, and with it, fairness and sustainability.