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Description
The region and the town of Trenčín has a decreasing tendency in population development. Young people leave to study in larger cities. They are mainly discouraged by the low offer of interesting jobs, the lack of sophisticated leisure time activities and the lack of interest of citizens in public affairs.
The non-profit organization Voices focuses on improving the urban public space and development of civil society in Trenčín. It builds the capacity of civic organizations and expands the offer of cultural and discussion events to the public so that young people have a reason to return to the city.
According to the organization''s observations, several people of all generations are interested in engaging in decision-making, have ideas on how to actively improve the city, and have the desire to help volunteer. This fact tries to highlight the project and underline the activities it offers.
The Oflajn 2020 aims to improve cooperation between different generations and develop volunteering in Trenčín. Thanks to the six helping city quizzes, citizens will help start-up good ideas and get to know local NGOs improving the position of vulnerable groups and the environment. In quizzes, citizens have the opportunity to get to know each other and meet representatives of different organizations. The starting fee of 3 € from about 100 participants is always a donation to a selected non-profit organization - they have already supported the activities of the Srdiečko parent centre or the work of the Amazon citizens association helping cancer patients etc. At the end of each quiz, the winner receives a prize from a local manufacturer, thereby supporting local businesses.
The project aims to foster community and relationship with the city, as well as organizational and communication skills, activity, creativity and responsibility.
The project will benefit local communities, children and young people, citizens in the broader sense, local non-profit NGOs.
Summary of project results
The project was aimed at developing opportunities for cultivated leisure time and improving citizens'' interest in what is happening in the community in the city of Trenčín. At the same time, he was to help non-profit organizations find new ways to talk about their mission and work. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, an intergenerational and helping quiz was held every month in the expected quality and participation. During the activities, there were given enough space to communicate their work. The cooperation with Zero Waste Trenčín and the Bezobalis store was an extraordinary benefit, thanks to which questions were included and prices with great added value were selected (responsible relationship with the community but also with nature, climate crisis). The changes caused by the epidemiological situation turned the project implementers into benefits, they learned to work better on social networks, Trenčians studying and living abroad (England, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Taiwan, ...) took part in quizzes broadcast on the Internet in addition to their homes, and although the project was the local inspired other community organizations throughout Slovakia.
More than 250 people took part in the activities. The project implementers contributed more than EUR 1,500 to the six organizations. The questions in the quizzes supported the citizens'' relationship with the city and the cooperation of different generations. During the implementation of the project, Voices worked closely with Lentis s.r.o. and the Zero Waste Trenčín community, which are actively involved in the field of the environment. In cooperation with the city of Trenčín, the organization has achieved that non-profit organizations and civic associations have been applying for subsidies electronically since 2021, thus supporting the simplicity and transparency of the process.
An important intention was to improve the cooperation of different generations and to contribute to the development of volunteering in Trenčín. Thanks to quizzes, citizens got to know local organizations that improve the position of vulnerable groups and the environment. Feedback confirmed that participants had a healthy self-confidence, belonging and relationship with the city, and high school students from the preparatory team improved their organizational and communication skills. Positive energy has brought good to the whole community in difficult times.