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Description
According to the research from the Urban Institute of Social Services in Elbląg, Zawodzie is one of the five most neglected neighborhoods in the city. Members of this community exhibit a very low level of civic engagement. According to our observations, one of the reasons for that lack of engagement is absence of space for meetings and developing of local initiatives. Our experience suggests that the local government rarely communicates with the citizens of Zawodzie. We will develop a neighborhood partnership composed of active citizens, civic organizations and entrepreneurs. We will file a petition on its behalf to the President of the Elbląg, asking for a formation of the neighborhood council and we will designate a person responsible for regular communication with the local government. We will also run a series of workshops and meetings for the members of the neighborhood partnership on leadership skills and implementing grassroots, civic initiatives. The participants will gain practical knowledge on how to engage in local initiatives and how to incorporate environmental protection elements into these initiatives. We will conduct consultations on the development of the neighborhood and organize citizen cafes where members of the community will be able to talk about issues important to them and their environment. We will also have activities for children and their parents, giving them a chance to pursue their passions and artistic talents, as well as learn about ecology. Together with the members of the community we will conduct neighborly initiatives and civic actions regarding courtyards and public squares revitalization, barter markets, communal gardens, picnics, and outdoor cinema.
Summary of project results
Zawodzie, according to numerous studies conducted by the Municipal Social Assistance Center in Elbląg (now: Elbląg Social Services Center), is one of the five most neglected districts in the city. The residents are minimally engaged in the community life. From our observations, one of the reasons is the lack of spaces for meeting and initiating or developing initiatives. Our experiences also indicated that the city authorities rarely communicated with the residents of Zawodzie.We established a partnership in the district, consisting of active residents, social organizations, and entrepreneurs. On behalf of the partnership, we submitted a request to the mayor for the establishment of a district council and appointed a representative for regular contact with the local government. We conducted a series of training sessions and workshops for partnership members, focusing on leadership skills and grassroots social initiatives. The participants gained practical knowledge on how to engage in local actions and incorporate environmental protection into them. We conducted consultations on the development of the district and organized citizen cafes where residents could discuss topics important to them. We held activities for children and their families, providing them with opportunities to pursue their passions and develop artistic skills while also acquiring knowledge about ecology. Together with the residents, we carried out neighborhood initiatives and social actions related to the improvement of courtyards or squares, item exchange markets, creating community gardens, picnics, and open-air cinema events.
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