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Roads beyond the horizon | Civic Europe
Community development

Roads beyond the horizon

We are creating the ways to support active organizations with the potential to improve their environment along with local communities through volunteering in the region of Banská Bystrica.

Creators

Who is behind this?

Lucia Rossová

Centrum dobrovoľníctva, n.o. / Volunteer centre

http://www.centrumdobrovolnictva.sk

Slovakia

Who is joining forces?

Platform of volunteer centres and organizations (PDCO)

http://www.dobrovolnickecentra.sk

Slovakia


Idea

Idea pitch

We will create a functional network of Infopoints - organizations, which helps to further bridge local activists and emphasize examples of good practice. Together we will establish a vision of volunteering in our region. Volunteering = a tool that naturally connects people from different communities, thus helping to develop tolerance and eliminate prejudices. We will create a strategic plan for the next 3 years and support the coordinators through education, consultation and supervision.

Where will your project idea take place?

Banská Bystrica Region - 9 cities - including the involvement of at least two of the underdeveloped

What is the specific societal challenge faced by this region?

Banská Bystrica Region is specific for the high proportion of rural areas with tricky infrastructure. There is a problem with high unemployment and high outflow of young people as a result of little development opportunities. 5 of 13 districts are among the least developed districts in Slovakia. Many inhabitants of the Roma minority live in the south part, at the same time this region is the "birthplace" of extremism in Slovakia. There are few visible opportunities and locals are passively accepting rather than actively engaging in them. However, in several municipalities you can find an active NGO, that seeks to help in various areas (social, enenvironmental, children and youth). Systematic support of these organizations will help kick-start participatory processes in local communities.

Who are you doing it for?

The NGOs involved in the Infopoint network have different focus - ecology, handicapped people, intervention, children and youth. Different areas of work also bring diversity of opinion and the possibility of a more comprehensive approach in creating a strategic plan of volunteering for the entire region. Thanks to this, we are able to involve and connect different target groups. Our goal is to create an active, supportive network of NGOs. From our experience, we know that it is important to optimize expectations, set realistic goals, provide various tools and methods of activation. We will provide such support to organizations in cooperation with PDCO and in the implementation of specific activities (eg networking, intergenerational workshops or direct volunteer activities).

How do you plan to get there?

We´ll address selected NGOs active in volunteering from 9 districts of the BB region.
With the coordinators of the NGOs, we´ll clarify expectations and create a common vision of volunteering in the BB region, which we´ll elaborate into a strategic plan and setting the activities and tasks of individual Infopoints.
The activities will also include pre-defined tasks - networking activities at the local level (local activists, schools, municipalities and communities).
We´ll prepare tailor-made workshops and supervisions for coordinators and employees of NGOs.
We´ll support propagation of examples of good practice by participating in the Heart on the Palm and also by media promotion.
We´ll evaluate the project activities with the Infopoints and set up indicators for the next year.

What are the expected results?

- Organizations in the home districts will be perceived as leaders in civic activities by the general public,local authorities will recognize them as partners, and awareness of volunteering will increase at the local and regional level.
- The vision of volunteering in the Banska Bystrica region will be accepted by the office as a basis for future cooperation.
- Mutually prepared strategic plan will succeed in fulfilling the minimum of 75% goals
- A local networking meeting with the above-mentioned partners will be held in each district.
- Local organizations from each Infopoint area will participate in Volunteer Week.
- Infopoints will identify with this concept, in the mutual evaluation they will acknowledge the benefits of being a local Infopoint.

How does your idea strengthen active citizenship at a local and community level?

The Infopoint network will consist of 9 NGOs from a different districts in the BB region. Each Infopoint supports local partnerships - networking local activists, organizations, institutions and local gov. These NGOs are often trendsetters, especially in terms of activities, initiatives and opinions. Their potential lies in involving different communities in particular activities. Our vision is to pull people out of passivity into activity - they themselves are the change and don´t wait for it "from above". To achieve this, we´ll provide support (education, supervision, mentoring) and involve them in our current campaigns - Volunteer Week and “The heart on the palm”. Rewarding active volunteers is an important tool for working with volunteers as well as spreading the idea of volunteering.

Why is this idea important to you?

We have long been dedicated to the development of volunteering and the quality of work with volunteers in our organization. We have also created quality standards for working with volunteers, we organize various educational activities and workshops. Experience shows that local organizations are tackling similar problems and needs, such as how to work with people´s motivation and encourage higher participation. Volunteering activities often complement the lack of services in towns and villages. With some organizations we started working more systematically and passing on our many years of know-how to them. This is where we see the meaning of our work.

€ 43592,-

Total budget

€ 31440,-

Funding requested from Civic Europe

Major expenses

Personal costs and payments - 18600 EUR
Lectors - 280 EUR
Office expenses - 3400 EUR
Work meetings, trainings - 450 EUR
Travel costs - 500 EUR
PR and propagation activities (campaign, web, posters, video, etc.) - 5000 EUR
Refreshment - 300 EUR
Other costs (supervision) - 210 EUR
Support for Infopoints - 2700 EUR

What do you need from the Civic Europe community?

We´ll be happy for any suggestion, advice or feedback that will improve our idea. Thank you

Team

Centrum dobrovoľníctva

Idea created on May 26, 2020
Last edit on May 26, 2020

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