Description
The project is designed to support existing Seniors Councils and promote new ones. Existing Councils will be evaluated and best practices and recommendations for new Councils will be identified. We will develop a support package for local government institutions which intend to form such bodies in their communities. We will focus on how Councils can influence local decisions and stand for the interests of senior citizens and make local governments and community members more aware of the importance of creating a public space which encourages active ageing. In three communities where Councils exist already, we will support the process of involving seniors in consulting specific investment projects in the public space and we will develop urban planning rules to ensure active ageing. There will be approximately 40 Seniors Councils that will benefit directly (meetings and support, consulting local projects); indirectly, the project will cover approximately 100 Seniors Councils and local governments.
Summary of project results
"The project emerged as a result of a desk-research needs assessment. According to 2010 polls (CBOS), nearly half of respondents under 34 did not vote. Students were the least active group among voters. This findings are mirrored by the 2011 Youth report, which states that ""If you do not use your voting right immediately after you become eligible it will be very hard to persuade you to change the habit in the future"". The 'How Does My Community Work' project aimed at improving voter turnout in local elections, promoting local government awareness among youth and encouraging young people to follow and evaluate local government developments. Approximately, 830 young people were trained to become active and informed voters in local elections (they learned about the election process, voting rules etc.) About 700 learned how to search for information about local government, how to make informed judgements, how to diagnose local problems and look for solutions. Fifteen simulated local elections and 15 city games were organised to allow youth to diagnose local issues and learn about institutions that were expected to provide solutions. About 100 young people monitored local elections and policy of the newly elected local governments. About 215 people organised 14 project-related events including an Oxford debate and civic education workshops. The key beneficiaries of the project were young people who acquired voting rights in 2014 and were recruited by 15 secondary schools, the Polish project partners. The project invited foreign partners including a public organisation from Norway, Sveio Kommune. A representative of the organisation visited Siedlce to present local government operations in Norway. Also, Sveio Kommune hosted a group of Polish local co-ordinators and shared its civic education experience. Other foreign partners were a local government in Estonia and a non-governmental organisation from Cyprus. Representatives of these organisations visited Poland to share local government experience in their countries. The organisation in Cyprus hosted a study tour to showcase local experience in civic education."
Summary of bilateral results