June 12, 2026

The trustees are delighted to report that in March 2026, Valdonė Šniukaitė took on the role of Programme Manager at BEARR, after more than two years as the Trust’s Information and Administration Officer. This marks a new stage in her involvement with the organisation and a transition to a full-time position.

Valdonė shares some reflections on her time at BEARR and her new role:

“When I joined BEARR over two years ago, I was motivated to be a part of an organisation that focuses on supporting local grassroot initiatives and community-led responses, especially in the context of Russia’s war in Ukraine. What I’ve come to appreciate even more during my time here is that BEARR listens to the organisations and communities it works with, rather than setting priorities in a top-down way. I believe this makes BEARR’s work more relevant, effective and sustainable, and it is one of the reasons I am proud to be part of the Trust.

As someone from Lithuania, I have always felt a close connection to the region. My undergraduate studies in East European Studies at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies at UCL deepened my understanding of the countries and societies that BEARR works with.

Last year, I completed an MA in International Conflict Studies at King’s College London. Working at BEARR alongside my studies, I became particularly interested in the ways conflict affects vulnerable communities and the civil society sector. While this is especially visible in Ukraine today, many communities across the wider BEARR region continue to face the social and economic consequences of conflict and instability. Being able to support organisations working directly with those communities is something I find meaningful and motivating.

Since joining BEARR I have worked on various tasks, from organising lectures and conferences to supporting grant programmes and day-to-day operations. A significant part of my role has also involved maintaining relationships with our partners across the region and learning about the realities they face in their communities. One of my key projects has been the implementation of Salesforce software to improve partnership management and track where and how BEARR has engaged with civil society organisations over the years. The results of this work may be apparent only behind the scenes, but it helps us work more effectively and provide better support to the organisations we partner with.

As Programme Manager, I am keen to deepen my understanding of how funding can be designed and delivered in ways that strengthen the voice of grassroots organisations, while paying closer attention to ethical grant-making practice, the distribution of decision-making power, and the broader implications of how funding priorities are set.”

Valdonė has been an excellent Information Officer and we are delighted that she has taken on these new responsibilities.