Description
The project addresses the need to consolidate the efforts of 31 community centres in Smolyan Mnicipality in a common organization to cooperate more efficiently with the local authorities. The project aims at setting up an association of community centres to allow NGOs and local authorities to share responsibilities. First, the needs, problems and capacity of 28 local communities and community centres will be studied. Second, the findings will be shared with the stakeholders. Next, 30 community centre heads will attend 2 three-day seminars on advocacy, civic engagement, communication with the local authorities, fundraising. Third, a public advocacy campaign will be held. Fourth, the association of community centres will be set up. Finally, 30 community centre heads will attend a 2-day seminar on strategic planning. The project will benefit the local communities and authorities in Smolyan Municilaity. The partner will help with its expertise for the training and advocacy activities.
Summary of project results
Different level of organizational development, competence of community centre leaders, civil society culture of village communities in the mountainous border region of Smolyan Municipality are an obstacle to creating a good environment for contemporary local self-governance with participation of the stakeholders. Therefore, the main goal of the project was to consolidate community centres in Smolyan Municipality to create conditions for real dialogue with the local authorities in favour of citizen participation of people from small localities. The planned project outcome, in particular, was the development of a new organizational structure in Smolyan Municipality that might enable community centres, NGOs and local authorities to share responsibilities, resources and efforts to provoke and support civil society initiatives in the town of Smolyan and the local villages to solve particular local issues with the participation and resources of local communities. For that purpose a number of training sessions and working meetings with community centre heads were held. The initiatives helped community centre heads not only improve their knowledge and practical skills related to civil society participation but also change their attitude towards the role and mission of community centres in local communities, their responsibilities as organization and community leaders, the need of consolidation with the other community centres to meet better the needs of the inhabitants of small localities. The project ended up with the foundation of an association of community centres. Institutionalization will help member organizations keep and further develop the established cooperation as well as further improve the experience of community centres from small populated areas with civil society initiatives.
Summary of bilateral results