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Description
According to our survey (150 respondents) and observations on environmental protection, there is a lack of initiatives in the Wojkowice municipality which would engage residents in pro-ecological activities. There is also a need for more intensive and better organised intergenerational cooperation and integration of older people leading to more conscious prevention of water, land and air pollution. However, analysis based on documentary and interviews showed that up to 60% of residents are very poorly involved in solving social problems. Our experience so far has shown that intergenerational projects release energy and strengthen the motivation of people 60+ to work for the benefit of others. They open space for intergenerational cooperation and allow to break stereotypes. Therefore, as part of the project we will recruit and train volunteers of different ages on knowledge and tools to implement grassroots initiatives. A team will be formed to carry out activities aimed at raising citizens'' awareness of why and how we should protect natural resources. They will take part in an off-site workshops where they will learn about good practices in caring for biodiversity, and then implement the chosen solution in our municipality. The participants will develop their leadership skills and conduct campaigns: "Wojkowice Eco Alert for Earth" for environmental protection and "Let''s make a meadow!" for biodiversity protection. We will invite the local community and authorities to take part in the action. The meadow in Wojkowice will be a place of pro-environmental activities also after the end of the project. We will prepare a List of Local Ecological Hazards. The project is implemented in partnership with the Wojkowice Municipality and the "New Opportunities" Foundation for Competence Development.
Summary of project results
The project "Let''s plant a meadow" drew the attention of the inhabitants of the local environment - the post-industrial zone - to our individual and personal ability to influence the state of the environment. The inhabitants of Wojkowice raised the issue of the importance of protecting the local ecosystem for the sake of human health, life and interpersonal relationships. The project showed that in fact we all decide about the quality of life, and this quality depends on the state of the nature surrounding us and the potential of civic actions to preserve it. The implementation of activities was accompanied by an understanding of the importance of threats and a sense of civic responsibility for the place where we are. We showed the impact of small choices on problems on a macro scale (including throwing away garbage, saving water). The WOJKOWICKI EKO ALERT campaign proved the residents'' great interest in the problem of environmental threats. The event around which the residents'' activity would focus was the establishment of a meadow - a place for ecological education.
We completed the planned activities as part of the project. We conducted: an event promoting the project - a press conference. A conference promoting social participation and volunteering was held. We conducted workshops for volunteers - developing personal and civic competences. Their result was the strengthening of participants'' social skills and design thinking. The next step was the stationary and field workshops "Ekoaktywni". Topics: air pollution, noise, management of waste accumulated in landfills and minimization of waste generation (composters), disposal of hazardous waste, water management (water and sewage management), protection of the climate and natural values - lawns or meadows?, ecological crops. A List of Local Ecological Threats/Problems was created. An ecological field training was held - good ecological practices.
We carried out an information and educational campaign: How should it be? We work together - Wojkowicki Eco Alert for the Earth. Activities were carried out throughout the city, including: intergenerational and field workshops, and an Ecological Bicycle Rally. Blue day – water. Red day - waste. White Day - air. Yellow day - renewable energy sources. Green Day - the world of plants. The highlight of the Earth Week was the joint establishment of a meadow in Wojkowice - in consultation with the Municipal Office in Wojkowice.
Benefits of participation for the target group - Residents of Wojkowice: including: children and youth, seniors, local formal and informal leaders: increasing understanding of the importance of civic activity in the area of ecology, as well as gaining the ability to influence local policy in this area,
Products:
1. Conference promoting participation - volunteering/workshops/project promotion,
2. Development workshops for volunteers
3. Ecological field workshops, List of Local ecological problems
4. Transfer of good practices in the field of environmental protection and ecology: 1 field training, film - good ecological practices.
5. Social educational campaign Wojkowicki Eko Alert - intergenerational, information campaign "I am eco".
The project involved members of the local community in social and civic activities to protect the natural environment. It contributed to new volunteers working in intergenerational teams taking specific pro-ecological actions. The level of social integration of various environments has increased. By equipping volunteers with new skills and knowledge in the field of ecology, the number of residents of our region who have their own opinions about our personal impact on the natural environment has increased.