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Description
The project addresses a current local issue in the Krosno Odrzanskie Municipality: the neglected debate on the Oder River between residents, local authorities and institutions. In 2021, two major investments began in the municipality: the construction of flood barriers and the raising of a historic 115-year-old bridge over the Oder River. Both pose a threat to the environment and the urban landscape (e.g. more than 1,000 trees have already been cut down in connection with the investments). The principles of public participation were also not respected. This is why, in our project we will launch a unique meeting place on the 515 kilometer of the Oder River. Residents will be invited to discuss current local issues there, in a friendly atmosphere, at a round table by the river and over a shared meal. We will focus on investments and events concerning the Odra River and encourage residents to actively participate in decisions that affect it. Topics for discussion will be submitted in advance, using the #tematrzeka form on our website. We will conduct 15 debates and develop a summing-up report. Based on the report, we will submit comments and recommendations for local policies in Krosno Odrzańskie. In the project we also deal with environmental education. Together with experts and educators we will develop three scenarios of outdoor classes for local schools students under the title #515bluehoursatschool, dedicated to the protection of the river and its ecosystems. We will conduct two unconventional social campaigns and create the world''s first river scent. We will invite residents and partners, including renowned glass designer Agnieszka Bar, to the process of design. The river scent will be presented on World Earth Day 2022, on April 22. The project will end with a joint celebration of World River Day on September 29, 2022.
Summary of project results
Initially, the project assumed activities strictly related to education about river ecosystems (we still know too little about rivers and therefore we do not protect them or take part in guarding activities) and the promotion of the common good that is the river, but the course of the project implementation was disturbed by two very unexpected events. events - the outbreak of war in Ukraine and then, in August 2022 - contamination of the Odra River on a scale so large that we had to stop the project. In the new circumstances and thanks to the possibility of changes in the project, we responded to two important challenges: during the river contamination, the creation of the SMO group, i.e. Social Monitoring of the Oder, which, with appropriate equipment, started searching for pipes that could have influenced the pollution of the Oder and its catchment area. This activity involved volunteers, and local and foreign media came to report on the river monitoring activities. The second important result was the creation of a place by the river (Pijalnia 515 Ziół) - where anyone interested, including people from Ukraine - could come, drink a free infusion, learn to harvest plants with us, dry them and process them.
To sum up, the project responded to the key problems that were current at that time - the disaster on the Odra River and the war in Ukraine.
-we conducted 1 information campaign entitled "I SEE A RIVER"
-we conducted 1 educational campaign
-we conducted 1 series of debates
-we have established 1 guard initiative - Social Monitoring of the Odra River, which is still developing
-we purchased and equipped 6 volunteers with a set of clothing to monitor the river
-we conducted 3 monitoring walks in a group with volunteers
-9 debates took place on 515 km of the Odra River (8 breakfast meetings, 1 debate with the participation of experts broadcast online)
-3 collection walks were carried out
-2 concerts
-we conducted 1 workshop on composing herbal mixtures
-we conducted 1 "water laboratory" workshop
- for 15 days we ran the 515 Herbs Pump Room with free infusions for residents (the pump room was open on selected weekends from May to July), run by volunteers (3 people)
-we gave teachers 3 lesson plans in the field
-we have developed 15 educational boards
The project introduced a new quality of river watchdog activities (the main recipients were volunteers).
The created place (Pijalnia Ziół) became a place for local youth to meet and initiate events on their own. Since then, young people have been regularly organizing musical events - Jam Sessions - on the association''s plot.
The completed project was a springboard for our organization in terms of building its image as a professional organization, strongly associated with the Odra River and activities for its protection. We ended it with a proposal to introduce three changes to local policy, including one related to building social awareness of the need to protect rivers through education, and we consistently implemented this task in the next project entitled AGAINST THE CURRENT by creating an educational sound and nature platform.
Reaching students and schools with the #515bluehoursatschool program verified our strategic goals and brought new knowledge about how to cooperate with schools - today we know how we can become an even more attractive partner for them.
Professional equipment purchased as part of the grant (meter, camera) - gives us real opportunities to expand the volunteer base and develop guard services for rivers and other water bodies - we can use the meter to test various waters, including those in residents'' wells.