More information
Description
In our project we want to develop civic participation in the city of Nowa Sól. Therefore, we will invite residents as well as representatives of local authorities and the NGOs to participate in trainings and public consultations on the development of local public policies. The project addresses the need of engaging residents in social processes after many years of prioritizing economy and entrepreneurship in the city. We will conduct trainings for officials, councillors, residents and community activists as well as six consultation processes. The consultations will be dedicated to the activities of the Social Activity Centre, cooperation of the city with NGOs, the Social Activity Programme and the rules of NGOs participation in the Nowa Sól Council for Public Benefit Activity. Together with the Nowa Sól Volunteer Centre, we will conduct trainings for volunteers and carry out an event: Volunteer Days. Another event implemented within the project will be the Nowa Sól Forums of NGO. As a result of the project, city officials and local authorities will develop the skills needed to independently conduct public consultations. Residents will learn how to actively participate in decision-making processes and in creating local public policies and normative acts. NGO representatives will be involved in the creation of the Nowa Sól Council for Public Benefit Activity. They will develop a long-term programme of cooperation between the city and NGOs as well as the rules of public consultations. They will also develop the competencies of involvement in decision-making processes, skills in advocacy, management and cooperation with volunteers.
Summary of project results
The main goal of the project was to strengthen civic participation in Nowa Sól by including, among others: 250 residents and NGO representatives to participate in at least 6 consultation processes for creating and developing local public policies and decision-making processes regarding social issues, in particular related to the Social Activity Center (CAS) created by the city.
The implemented activities were needed for civic and social revival in Nowa Sól. At the time of commencement of activities, CAS was a new place to which, among others, headquarters of several non-governmental organizations operating in Nowa Sól. The challenge was to revitalize this place, attract residents and involve them in social activities and consultation processes that had so far been scattered in Nowa Sól.
Residents, volunteers and representatives of Nowa Sól non-governmental organizations benefited from the implementation of the project.
As part of the project, two cycles of public consultations were carried out and an inter-sectoral working group on public participation was created. 7 participatory processes were carried out, including: regarding the creation of the Youth City Council in Nowa Sól, the Social Activity Program for CAS, and cooperation programs between the city of Nowa Sól and NGOs. In total, over 1,400 people took part in the participatory processes.
128 hours of training/workshops were carried out for volunteers, residents and representatives of local NGOs, including: civic education, volunteering or conducting social activities.
Two Nowa Sól Non-Governmental Organizations Forums were held (in 2022 and 2023) and two Volunteer Days (in 2022 and 2023).
The most lasting results of the project include:
1. Participatory development of a statute and establishment of the Youth City Council in Nowa Sól.
MRM was appointed for a two-year term of office and will operate at least for this period, i.e. April 2025.
The current involvement of young councilors and the partner''s involvement in MRM''s activities allows us to believe that MRM will continue its activities at least in the next term.
2. Participatory development of the Social Activity Program for the Social Activity Center in Nowa Sól.
It is true that the document was adopted by order of the President of Nowa Sól - which theoretically allows it to be changed or repealed at almost any time, but the formula of participatory creation of the document should guarantee that it will function in Nowa Sól for the next few years.
3. Strategic workshops concern: Strategy for Solving Social Problems of the city of Nowa Sól with a time horizon until 2027 - this document seems to be even more permanent, although as part of the project its creation was only supported by the organization of workshops. However, it will remain a mandatory document in Nowa Sól until at least 2027.
4. Nowa Sól Volunteer Center - a network of support and cooperation with volunteers, although its functioning is not formally secured, the center - volunteer network is included in the current Nowa Sól Development Strategy and the Social Activity Program for CAS. Therefore, abandoning this activity in the near future does not seem realistic.
It is highly probable that the partner will continue activities in the area of organizing Nowa Sól NGO Forums as well as training and workshops for NGOs and residents in the field of social activity and civic education.