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Description
The aim of the project is to increase residents'' social participation in Chełmińskie Przedmieście, which is a neighbourhood in the City of Toruń, and to (re)construct their local identity. In the course of our activities, we have diagnosed a low level of public engagement of this local community and, as a result, weakening or disappearance of the residents'' local identity. We are implementing the project in partnership with the Chełmińskie Przedmieście District Council and the Sustainable Development Laboratory (NGO). As part of the project, we are developing a case study preceded by research and workshops for residents and the participants of the Chełmińskie Przedmieście District Council. These activities will make it possible, on the one hand, to reach the local community with information about the history of the district, its problems and ways of solving them and, on the other, to gather and supplement the information we have about the problem at hand. The working method developed for one of the city''s thirteen districts can be applied to other districts. The case study will be used to develop recommendations and a proposal for public consultation on the functioning of district councils in the City of Toruń. The Chełmińskie Przedmieście District Council will submit a proposal to the Mayor of Toruń using the materials collected and elaborated during the project.
Summary of project results
The main goal of the project was to increase the level of social activity and take actions to (re)build the local identity of residents in one of the largest districts of Toruń - Chełmińskie Przedmieście, inhabited by over 45,000 inhabitants.
As part of the project, we tried to respond to the problem of low activity of residents of Chełmińskie Przedmieście by learning its causes and diagnosing the needs of residents, and together with the residents, developing solutions that will help us respond to the current situation. The activities undertaken in the project were conducted around the search for the local identity of residents and factors (triggers) that may increase their activity within the district of residence.
How we achieved this goal:
• We have prepared historical, geographical and social studies regarding the district
• We conducted a diagnosis in the form of an online survey and the so-called poll in a circle (300 participants)
• We conducted workshops for 60 residents, which were a source of ideas for revitalizing and strengthening the district
We conducted workshops for members of district councils, councilors and officials, collecting the problems and strengths of district councils and addressing the greatest challenges to the city authorities - in order to improve the visibility and efficiency of district councils. Based on the collected material, we have developed specific recommendations in the form of proposals for tools, programs, principles and systemic changes regarding the functioning of district councils in the field of:
• cooperation and communication with the Toruń City Hall,
• solutions supporting the visibility of district council activities and communication between councils and residents,
• organizational and substantive strengthening of district councils and cooperation between councils.
We submitted the developed solutions as a justification for the request for public consultations regarding the principles and scope of activities of district councils and forwarded them to the Mayor of Toruń. Consultations are scheduled to take place in 2024.
The project results were:
1. Diagnosing the needs and potentials of over 300 residents of the Chełmińskie district in terms of their involvement in activities for the district.
2. Implementation of 4 neighborhood workshops for residents of the Chełmińskie district, representatives of the Chełmińskie RO and neighboring district councils - for over 60 residents.
3. Implementation of 2-day workshops for representatives of the Chełmińskie District Council and neighboring district councils, city councilors and representatives of the Toruń City Hall for over 20 people.
4. Increased awareness of residents regarding the boundaries of the district of residence, local cultural and historical potentials, activities of the Chełmińskie Regional Development Center.
5. Creating a database of residents'' ideas for small initiatives that can improve the quality of life in the district