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Description
In the development strategy of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie province until 2030, the topic of the Vistula River is mentioned numerously in the context of cargo investments and natural qualities. But there is little information on the social aspect of the river – building local identity and engaging inhabitants of the Vistula region. Our talks to people living there indicate one of the main problems is the lack of consistent discussion on the growth of the region, based everyone’s needs. Locally active groups have told us about the problem of highly polarised opinions among locals regarding investments in the Vistula region, as well as insufficient tools to start a dialogue on this topic. We will address these problems by organising in two large cities of the region diagnostic workshops for local decisionmakers, representatives of local institutions, NGOs, tourist organisations, and all inhabitants interested in the topic. Together we will create a map of challenges, opportunities, and the direction of joint initiatives for the Vistula River, and we will think about they should be managed. We will also run a cycle of Local Vistula Initiatives including actions around Vistula, problem identification, and solution ideation. Participants will join workshops on participation and local development planning. We will also set up Kujawska Vistula Network that will serve as a platform for local groups, organisations and institutions to talk about the development of the region and to build cooperation. The first partner in our project is Pracownia Zrównoważonego Rozwoju specialising in reinforcing social dialogue, which will help us run local diagnosis and engage inhabitants in the dialogue. The second partner is the Regional Vefsna Park in Norway that has rich experience in building cooperation around riverside areas and will support us with their know-how in this respect.
Summary of project results
In the Strategy for the Development of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship until 2030, the topic of the Vistula appears many times in the context of investments and natural values. However, there is little information about the social dimension of the river - about building local identity and the involvement of citizens in the development of the Vistula region. From our interviews with citizens and residents, it was clear that a major problem was the lack of a coherent and resident-based discussion on the region''s development. Locally active groups told us about the issues of strong polarization of the Vistula River community on the topic of investments concerning the Vistula and insufficient tools to start a dialogue about it.
We responded to these problems by organizing diagnostic workshops in two major cities of the region for local decision-makers, representatives of local and provincial institutions, NGOs, and tourism organizations, as well as interested citizens and residents. Together, we created a map of problems, potentials, and directions for action regarding cooperation for the Vistula River and its management policy. As part of the Vistula Local Initiatives series, we supported Vistula stakeholders in the implementation of peri-Vistula events involving local communities around the theme of the Vistula River. Local male and female leaders took part in workshops on participation and local development planning. This was the basis for the creation of the Kujawy Vistula Network, which is a space for local groups, organizations, and institutions to talk about the development of the region and build their cooperation.
The first partner in the project is the Sustainability Workshop, which specializes in strengthening community dialogue and helped us to carry out a local diagnosis and engage residents in conversation. The second partner is the Vefsna Regional Park in Norway, which has a wealth of experience in building cooperation around the riverside area and supported us substantively on this topic.
The project was mainly targeted at organizations that operate locally on the Vistula River in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship. Thanks to the activities implemented, they have established cooperation with each other, as well as with municipal and provincial institutions. This cooperation has also led to the signing of an agreement as part of the Kujawy Vistula Network, which enables the continuation of activities even after the end of the project. In addition, through workshops and joint problem-solving, project participants have increased their knowledge of river protection and its social dimension.
Summary of bilateral results
The cooperation promised to be good, but at some point it broke off and deteriorated. Someone recommended us and a Norwegian organization started working with us. We made visits and thought it would be a prelude to further activities, but after the visits (which took place according to the project) they did not take up our proposals for further activities (despite a specific proposal about coming to Poland, which would be covered by the project). The quality of the visit in terms of content and the level of public dialogue around ecology in Norway presented at the visit impressed us positively, so we learned a lot either way. In turn, the partner liked our Vistula Festival.