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Description
The Braniewo district (Warmińsko-Mazurskie province) is facing problems with the functioning and the development of non-governmental organisations (NGOs). According to the 2016 study exploring the condition of the civic sector in the Warmińsko-Mazurskie province, the Braniewski district is among regions providing its NGOs with the lowest funding, while Braniewo is one of the communes with the smallest number of NGOs in the entire province. So far, we have been actively supporting the Senior Council (which we have helped to appoint) and the Rural Homemakers’ Club, but we can see high demand for the continuation of these initiatives to stimulate and support civic activity in the region. Hence, we will organise in our commune a cycle of workshops on the initiation and development of rural homemakers’ clubs. We will train current and future members in acquiring funds, implementing grants, and engaging local community. We will offer them arts&crafts classes and advisory support. We will organise a competition for local initiatives and will implement 3 winning ideas. We will organise similar meetings devoted to village leader boards and senior councils – we will run educational workshops on how to manage and develop them, and on how to obtain funding. We will also ensure individual consultations and advice. We will invite elders for socialising meetings at the Senior Volunteering Club, at which we will engage in 2 initiatives together. For young people living in our district, we will organise a cycle of workshops developing leadership skills and knowledge on social activity – we will teach them how to diagnose needs, initiate grassroot social initiatives, raise funds, create and implement projects. With our support, they will plan and engage in three initiatives for the local community. Finally, we will organise a convention for young activists from the entire province, so that they can take part in discussion panels, exchange experience and knowledge.
Summary of project results
Braniewo County (Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship) has struggled and continues to struggle with problems in the operation and development of NGOs. According to a survey of the state of the civic sector conducted in 2016, Braniewo County is one of the regions that provide the least resources to foundations, associations and other organisations, and Braniewo Municipality is one of the areas with the smallest number of NGOs in the voivodeship
Braniewo County struggles with high level of unemployment, which has a significant impact on the quality of life of its residents and the overall economic situation. An ageing population requires measures to ensure that seniors are actively involved in social life and that they are supported in a variety of activities. In addition, economic emigration has resulted in population loss and the lack of continuation of many social traditions and forms. The low level of civic participation is also a challenge for the development of local communities.
So far, we have actively supported the Council of Senior Citizens (which we helped to set up) and the Rural Housewives'' Circles, but we saw a great need to continue these activities to awaken and support civic participation in the region.
We undertook a variety of activities as part of the project:
• we initiated the development of 2 new rural housewives’ circles and strengthened the activities of already existing ones - we conducted educational, handicraft and artistic workshops, competitions and festivals to integrate their members and promote their activities. In addition, we provided advisory assistance on various formal issues related to the establishment and running of rural housewives’ circles;
• we initiated and supported village leaders - through information and integration meetings and specialist advice for village leaders and members of village councils, we succeeded in creating an informal forum for village leaders in the municipality of Braniewo, providing a platform for cooperation between villages;
• we organised educational and counselling workshops and integration meetings for senior citizens to support them in their active participation in society;
• we conducted a Youth Leadership School, which included information and integration meetings and workshops to develop leadership and managerial skills for young people.
• We also organised youth volunteering initiatives and a youth leaders'' rally;
• We also held a competition for local initiatives and implemented the three best ideas.
In addition, we produced a publication disseminating the good practices developed under the project and organised conferences to open and conclude the project, where we presented the results achieved.
Through meetings, workshops and volunteering initiatives, 15 young people gained experience and skills in leadership and social activism, and through the Youth Leaders Rally we contributed to the integration and exchange of experiences between young leaders from different backgrounds. Our activities aimed at senior citizens in turn contributed to the integration of this group. In addition, as a result of our project, we supported 8 villages and 6 more signed a declaration to join the informal forum of village heads of Braniewo municipality. In addition, through the villages'' development strategies, we have taken measures to improve living conditions in the villages.
As a result of participating in the project, a total of almost 100 people have gained new knowledge and competences in the field of public participation, and 200 people have become more socially active. This resulted in a stronger sense of empowerment and civic engagement in the community.