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Description
Civic engagement among the seniors of Silesia Voivodeship is relatively low. According to the Social Policy Strategy for Silesia Voivodeship in 2006-2020 only 15% of the seniors from the region are civically engaged, despite volunteering remaining a foundation of the civic engagement. According to the 2011 research from Klon/Jawor Association, the civic engagement in this region is even lower that the national average and is decreasing. According to our own observations, many seniors from Gliwicki and Tarnogórski districts want to engage but don’t know how. What is more, individuals in danger of social exclusion – the homeless – have even lower chances of being civically engaged. According to our interviews with professionals working with seniors or unhoused individuals, we have learned that there is a need to work towards more opportunities for civic engagement. These unhoused and senior individuals see the value in collaborative work for the common good. Responding to those needs, we will conduct a series of workshops on civic engagement, volunteering, NGO sector and organizing civic initiatives. We will facilitate educational and team building retreat for seniors and unhoused individuals to meet and exchange knowledge and skills. Each of the participants will receive individual support from a mentor, or a psychologist that will pertain to the personal development and current problems of an individual. Additionally, participants will divide into five teams and each one will create its own initiatives that they will, with our help, implement in their respective communities. The project will conclude with evaluation workshops during which the participants will present recommendations for their local governments, social service agencies, and other institutions working with the involved stakeholders to make their actions more comprehensive and better meeting their needs.
Summary of project results
The civic engagement of seniors in Śląskie Voivodeship remains relatively low. From the Śląskie Voivodeship Civic Policy Strategy we learn that even though volunteering is a foundation of civic engagement, only 15% of seniors from that voivodeship remains engaged. According to research by Klon/Jawor Association from 2011, civic engagement in the region is lower than the national average and has a diminishing tendency.Our observations suggested that many seniors from Gliwicki and Tarnogórski districts wants to become civically engaged, but lack the sufficient knowledge on how to do it. Additionally, we observed that the unhoused individuals have significantly lower chances of becoming civically active citizens. From our conversations with individuals working with seniors, as well as with the unhoused population, we learned that they see the need of working together towards civic engagement and appreciate its value.Responding to these needs, we conducted a series of workshops focused on civic engagement, volunteering, NGO sector and organizing civic initiatives. We have organized educational and integrational trips for seniors and unhoused individuals to learn and share knowledge. Participants received individual mentorship and psychological support focused on personal growth and overcoming current personal problems. Participants created five teams, each designing a local initiative and implemented it in their community with our support. Individuals prepared budgets, and even managed to even save some funds. Everyone decided that the extra funds should be dedicated for an initiative focused on the unhoused population. The ability to make those decisions on their own gave our participants a heightened sense of agency.Evaluation workshops at the end of the project allowed the participants to create recommendations for the local government, social services and other institutions working with those groups to make their actions better adjusted to the needs of these two populations.During the implementation of the project we noticed that participants developed knowledge and skills around volunteering, as well as an increase in their motivation. The two groups also managed to integrate with each other better.
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