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Description
Based on observations, talks to local organisations, and our own research, we have diagnosed problems concerning the level of knowledge among inhabitants regarding the activity of non-governmental organisations in the Legionowski district (Mazowieckie province). We have also noticed that there is no local information platform for exchanging information on their activities and possible forms of social activity. Observations and research conducted by us in 2019 show that over half of the respondents were unable to point to any locally active non-governmental organisation, and ca. 70% claimed they had not been using services of any local NGOs in recent years. We can also see that the pandemic has had major impact on limiting activities in local communities – meetings, workshops, and festivals. According to the 2020 report of the Klon/Jawor Association, called ‘NGOs vs the pandemic’, numerous non-governmental organisations were forced to suspend their business operations. We will address these problems by establishing a portal and the Legionowski district NGO base, allowing these organisations to present their regional activities to local communities. We will also provide inhabitants with instructions how to join in. The portal will encourage them to take advantage of the NGO offer, but also to get engaged in local initiatives. We will organise a cycle of activities promoting both the portal and non-governmental organisations – we will prepare reportages and campaigns devoted to social enterprises and particular organisations, promotional materials, and a newsletter. We will organise a competition for local initiatives and will support the winning ones with a fundraiser. We will create a virtual flea market for NGOs, so that they can publish announcements regarding their needs or readiness to support others. We will engage informal partners, including local authorities, schools or other NGOs in the project.
Summary of project results
NGOs in Poland are numerous and very active in all fields, but their activities are not always sufficiently visible and recognised by the general public. The Covid19 pandemic, which severely limited the activity of organisations, has further exacerbated this condition. When planning the project, we wanted to familiarise the residents of Legionowo poviat (Mazowieckie voivodeship) with the activities of non-governmental organisations, showing their positive impact on the quality of life in Legionowo and its immediate surroundings. We assumed that broad information about social activity in the district among its residents would help create a lasting platform for cooperation between non-governmental organisations and district residents. We involved local authorities in the activities, so that they too could become better acquainted with the organisations and initiatives operating in their area.
We carried out a number of diverse activities demonstrating the activity and impact of non-governmental organisations in Legionowo poviat. We conducted numerous actions promoting social activity and informing about the activities of local NGOs and informal initiatives. We promoted the civic sector at local outdoor events and in the media. The main product and source of information on social activity for the district''s residents was the portal www.dziejesie-legionowski.pl launched as part of the project and the Facebook fanpage Dzieje Się! Legionowo poviat (2,000 followers), where up-to-date information on the activities of local organisations, articles on issues related to non-governmental organisations are posted, and there is also a database of organisations. We held a competition entitled "We appreciate, so we support", in which 1,900 people voted for the best neighbourhood initiatives in their opinion.
The project has carried out all the planned activities and achieved the results we had hoped for. The most lasting and tangible product of the project is, of course, the portal, but this is not the only success of the project. We have managed to promote a number of organisations and initiatives, and to get information about the activities of local organisations to a large group of residents who previously lacked such a source of information. The evaluation research showed that thanks to the project, 60% of the respondents found civic organisations from Legionowo poviat as more recognisable, and thanks to the content posted on the portal, 80% of them were more aware of the activities and initiatives offered to them by local organisations.
50% of our portal readers declared that, thanks to our activities, they know better where and how they can get involved in their local community. We have also established promising partnerships with new organisations and local government. Our activities have increased public awareness of possible forms of involvement to engage in social participation and community activism.