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Description
In our project we want to increase the inhabitants’ social participation in Stare Jabłonki – a village in the Ostróda Municipality, in the area of management of public space by introducing grassroot management of the village common room. We will implement a Common Room Participatory Budgeting and launch a new space that will be designed and arranged by inhabitants. We will appoint a Social Life Animator and a Coach who will engage residents in social activities and consultations. As a result of the project, 30 residents of Stare Jablonki will engage in grassroots management of the village common room and in participatory processes conducted in the village. 5 local leaders will have a better knowledge on the process of social consultations at the village level. We will implement a new information channel in the municipality, and improve communication between local leaders, NGOs, the municipal government and residents. The people who will benefit from the project directly are a group of 30 residents of Stare Jablonki. We do not introduce any requirements or restrictions concerning the target groups. We invite children and youth, adults and seniors, anyone regardless of their religion, belief, skin color, level of disability or other characteristics. Indirect beneficiaries will be inhabitants of the village, as well as inhabitants of the Ostróda County and Warmia-Mazury Province (about 300 people) who will receive information about the project and want to use its results in their communities. The project will be carried out for 12 months in cooperation with the partner - local government of the Ostróda Municipality.
Summary of project results
The main problem that the project was supposed to solve was the low level of social participation of residents in shaping public space and social life in the village of Stare Jabłonki.
The reason for this state of affairs was the apparent participation in the distribution of the village fund, the low level of involvement of residents in village planning, empty recreation areas and many others. The project was intended to contribute to solving the above problems. The challenge was to engage residents in activities and involve them in social and public participation. Making them want to influence the actions taken in their local environment: speaking out, indicating directions of actions taken in the village, getting involved in the life of the local community.
Project activities:
1. Old school in a new version - activation of a village community center managed bottom-up in a participatory way. Village leaders were involved in the activities, creating an informal local partnership. The common room was given two functions: Civic and Educational - as part of the activity, residents learned how to participate. The learning tool was the Community Center Participatory Budget. Boxes/urns were placed in the shops in the village and in the community center, into which residents placed cards describing their ideas for activities. Examples of ideas entered into the ballot boxes: yoga, board games, community center nights, FIFA tournament, culinary and creative classes, special events e.g. St. Andrew''s Day, St. Nicholas Day, Christmas meeting, outdoor events e.g. Apple Festival, competitions, competitions, etc. A Social Life Animator worked in the community center , who was responsible for, among others, for implementing initiatives.
2. Spatial Planning Made Easy - the area next to the village community center, approximately 1,500 m2, was developed in a participatory manner with the involvement of children, youth, adults and seniors. It was a place behind the building - a large open space. Smart village workshops were held, public consultations were held on the area, how it was to be developed, and the space was arranged.
3. Rural SMS Information - Pilot - the BLISKO communication system was implemented. A free phone application that informed the inhabitants of the village and surrounding areas about the activities undertaken as part of the project, actions carried out in the village and many others. In addition, campaigns were carried out to popularize the application with prizes.
Project results:
- Increased involvement of 30 residents of Stare Jabłonki in the grass-roots management of the village community center; these are people who are members of an informal local partnership responsible for the participatory management of the village community center.
- Increased involvement of 35 residents in participatory processes conducted in the countryside; people participating in social consultations regarding the arrangement of public space around the village community center.
- Increased knowledge of 7 people - village leaders in the field of social consultations at the lowest level; people participating in workshops.
- Improving communication between local leaders, NGOs and local government units with residents by implementing a new information channel; implementation of the BLISKO system and application in Stare Jabłonki.
- Involvement of over 70 residents in project activities.
- 11 events were carried out as part of the Community Center Budget, plus cyclical meetings.
- 380 hours of coach support were provided.