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Description
Nowy Port is the former industrial and worker neighborhood of Gdańsk, which is currently undergoing a second phase of revitalization. At the heart of the neighborhood there is a block of low-income housing units whose inhabitants have a very limited influence over the development of their immediate environment, currently in a derelict state. We would like to change that by creating a systemic model of citizen participation in the governance of the neighborhood. We will take into consideration current challenges relating to the diversity of the groups involved, as well as social exclusion. The project is addressed to the members of our community, and the solutions will be implemented as a pilot program that later will be replicated on the city-level. We will identify the needs pertaining to civic engagement among the community of Nowy Port. Together with the citizens, we will promote the concept of the participation model across the neighborhood. After the informational meetings are concluded, we will organize educational classes during which the participants will learn about the reach and competences of different institutions and organizations operating in Nowy Port, their representatives, and tools for civic engagement, such as participatory budgets, legislative initiative, or Gdańsk Neighborhood Fund. Together, we will create a participation model for working with the citizens and other stakeholders that is based on the four following pillars: Collaboration, Inclusion, Strengthening, and Visibility. We will create tools and methods for engaging the citizens in making decisions about the development of the neighborhood. Finally, we will pilot the program and advocate to make it widespread within the development policy of the city of Gdańsk.
Summary of project results
Nowy Port is a former working-class district of Gdańsk that has undergone revitalization in recent years. Due to its history and spatial layout, which does not resemble a large city, many residents of this district feel a strong attachment to it. In recent years, new residents have joined our community, including individuals from the Ukrainian community. At the heart of the district, there is a neglected quarter of social housing, whose residents have limited capacity to influence the development of their surroundings. That’s particularly true for young people. We changed this by creating a systemic model of young residents'' participation in district management. We took into account the current challenges related to the diversity of resident groups and social exclusion.We diagnosed the needs related to social engagement among young residents of Nowy Port. Together with children and youth, we popularized the principles of the participation model in the district. After informational meetings, we organized educational activities where participants learned about the competencies of institutions and organizations operating in the district, their representatives, and civic engagement tools such as participatory budgeting, legislative initiatives, and the Gdańsk Neighborhood Fund.Together, we created a model of participatory work with district residents and other stakeholders. We developed tools and methods to involve young people in co-deciding on the district''s development. Finally, we conducted a pilot project and sought to disseminate the model within the policies and institutions of the city of Gdańsk.Thanks to the project activities, we were able to strengthen the voice of young people in areas that interest them. The youth gained effective tools for influence, and the city gained tools for engaging them.
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