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Description
The Bardejov district is one of the less developed regions, from where the population still leaves in relatively large numbers for work or education. The civic association Different therefore tries to activate the people who stay here, give them space for self-realization and look for ways to influence public affairs through their activity. Offers opportunities to return here more often. So far, they are doing well, primarily, thanks to regular cultural and community activities (theatre, film, music, discussions, exhibitions, workshops, community meetings, etc.), which started in April 2017 thanks to the reconstruction of one of the five floors of the bastion.
The Different is moving from a semi-professional to a professional level, and to be able to grasp their work in the local community more conceptually, they need to strengthen the capacity and competencies of the organization. Work more on building relationships with the supporters and donors to ensure the financial sustainability of activities, improve external communication, be more open and more transparent.
The project aims to strengthen the capacities and competencies of the civic association Different in cooperation with expert and cooperating organizations. Through the reconstruction and functioning of another part of the cultural and community centre Bašta, the background for civic activities in Bardejov will expand. The project will also contribute to the creation of partnerships and networking of local active people in and around the city.
The role of the Norwegian partner, Kulturfjøset Huser, in the project is mainly to share experiences, consult, organize and coordinate mutual study visits, networking with their cooperating organizations. Cooperation will be primarily on the topics of involving and activating local communities, exchange of experiences and advice on strategies and participatory processes.
The project will be beneficial for the citizens of Bardejov, NGOs, students, etc.
Summary of project results
This project was a milestone that moved the civic association Different towards greater professionalism in their work, created space for consolidating old and creating new networks, improved internal functioning and started the reconstruction of the next floor in the Bastion, which will provide space for more activities.
As a team, they went through longer-term internal trainings (fundrasing, org. Management), which helped them clean up their running processes, make their work more efficient and transparent, and set key activities for a longer period. Closer cooperation with the civic association Truc sphérique and the Norwegian partner also contributed to this.
Thanks to this project, the organization managed to strengthen the team with another person, to get more volunteers for the Bastion, to establish closer cooperation with local schools and also with the local Roma community. Different has strengthened the networking of local non-profits and active residents of the city through open workshops. After a participation workshop, they even managed to create an informal initiative that continues to work on practical activities in this area. The project significantly contributed to the transformation of another neglected floor of the Bastion into a space where more civic and cultural activities will be possible. Significant progress in all these areas was crucial for the functioning of the Bastion. The great importance of the project is evident especially in the fact that it has managed to move from operational to more conceptual with specific long-term goals, visions and partnerships. Bašta - cultural and community center is a unique space with exceptional activities in the region and thanks to this project, its operation is more stable with expanded opportunities for civic activities.
Summary of bilateral results
The presence of a foreign partner in this project enabled mutual sharing of experience from another cultural center but with similar spaces and partly also activities, so project implementers could look into their way of working and come up with new ideas, which was ultimately very beneficial, interesting and also inspiring. For the duration of the project, mutual activities were shared, such as lighting design workshops and yoga training, on-farm courses in connection with summer flying, etc. At the same time, the project implementers and the partner organization developed presentations of their own activities, which they forwarded together and thus had the opportunity to get to know the partner''s work, while the partner on the other hand had more insight into the "premises and activities" of the civic association Different. In connection with the goal of the project, both parties try to involve the community in the cultural activities of the place (since it is located in the countryside) and thus provide it with space for self-realization. Despite the fact that they could not visit each other due to the pandemic, both centers decided to implement a partial alternative solution, in the form of film documentaries.Through these two film documentaries, they tried to remotely approach the functioning of both cultural centers (specifically, the creation and implementation of an interactive play for children and youth, which also had an educational dimension) to share this experience with the general public.