Others about us

I think [Orion Grid] had a combined impact [on me]. On the one hand, being immersed in the process opens your eyes in a very specific way to how others understand and navigate, in this case, the topic of climate change. On the other hand, I found it very interesting to conceptualise it through the eyes of a researcher, because we actually have very few opportunities to 'experiment' with the methods and design of the research, and it's also useful to step into the shoes of the person being 'researched' to get a sense of some vulnerabilities that you can otherwise only guess at whether they're there or not.

- participant in an action learning group for the project "Unearth: narratives, experiences and solutions for climate change beneath the surface of publicity"

I believe that with its efforts to create a space for dialogue and to address current socio-political issues in an in-depth and highly inclusive way, the organisation seriously distinguishes itself from most civil society organisations and has a positive impact on the democratic processes in the country.

- a member of the Grid’s network

The various activities of the organisation have created a space and opportunity for me to reflect on important issues with others through mutual respect, the pursuit of exploration and problematisation.

- a person who responded to a survey as a stakeholder in a strategic process

[Orion Grid's impact on me is that] I started asking a lot of questions.

- a member of the Grid’s network

By facilitating organisational processes and assisting in conflict resolution, Orion Grid has had a significant impact on our movement.

- a beneficiary

[Orion Grid] reinforced my socio-political engagement at the level of my thinking and perception as a political subject, reinforced my left political orientation even though I define myself closer to the center, significantly supported my environmental and feminist orientation with increased awareness and active engagement.

- a beneficiary

In recent months, both my non-binary child [student association leader] and I have had the privilege of working with Orion Grid. We have been impressed with the creative, open-minded, flexible, professional, compassionate and supportive approach. I have witnessed how their solid critical thinking and advocacy for justice and equity result in projects and educational materials that are inspiring, informative, engaging and positively charged.

- a beneficiary

I have known the work of Orion Grid since its inception. Their team consists of reliable and highly qualified professionals in the social sciences. I had the privilege of collaborating with a team member who provided me with fresh insight and innovative ideas about current phenomena that are difficult to understand.

- a psychoanalyst

A number of local and cross-border democratic citizen initiatives in which I have participated have benefited from the group dynamics facilitation provided by Orion Grid. I believe that increasing the capacity of the team to offer accessible professional support and expanding the relevant portfolio would have a positive impact on European civil society as a whole.

- a beneficiary and a member of the Grid’s network

I've definitely learned a lot of new things [from participating in the Grid] that I wouldn't have paid attention to otherwise. My ability to critically analyse information has greatly increased. I recognised as problems phenomena that, in the spirit of our patriarchal society, I had internalised and normalised.

- a person who responded to a survey as a stakeholder in a strategic process

With the “Unearth” project report you have started a discussion on the problem of "broken" communication on climate change and it seems to me useful to extend the discussion to how we communicate human rights, democracy, the fight against gender-based violence, because quite often with inappropriate choices of messages we may be reinforcing the narratives we are fighting against. In a year with several elections coming up, it seems important to me to pay more attention to the full democratic participation of all members of society. Too often the conversation about democratic participation stops at voting or not voting in elections, which is not very productive.

- a person who responded to a survey as a stakeholder in a strategic process

Through the pandemic, the lockdown, the lack of good job prospects within my specialisation, I felt desperate and tired. The first thing I thought of was to write to people I trusted. Accordingly, I wrote to [my current consultant]. I was at the gym and feeling really bad about everything and the potential opportunity to stop working a job I hate. It's a paradox, isn't it? She and I started seeing each other, online, every two weeks. 

We discuss what's been going on, what I'm not sure about. Little by little, I began to trust and present my emotion, in a more pure, unadulterated form. There are days I hate myself and feel like I'm not doing anything meaningful. Literally before we started with the sessions, I would wake up thinking I was doing nothing with my life. And that feeling, had an impact on my whole day. 

Now, I can't say that the feeling is completely gone, but I can say that it's easier for me to fight it and control it. On the other hand she allows me to share at my own pace, I don't feel judged, I don't feel guilty about things I generally feel guilty about. I feel free to share. When I saw that I felt a little better, I started convincing my friends to see a psychologist too. Because the fast-paced, competitive world we live in doesn't really give us the space and time we need to deal with the problems of being or the problems of the past. 

- a beneficiary, who already a year later has successfully realised herself as a professional, successfully confronts problematic trends in society and the organisations she works in and is about to specialise abroad