Together with the Community Organizer from the Municipal Family Support Center in Poznań, we created a needs assessment for the Dębiec neighborhood, located on the outskirts of the city. We also drew on our previous experiences with the residents of this part of the city. In this community, there was a need for stronger integration, increased activity, and a sense of agency within their environment. The area faced stereotypes and the risk of exclusion due to its location, limited access to cultural and educational offerings, and relatively low socioeconomic status of its residents. We also noticed emerging conflicts within the community.

To address these issues, we developed and supported the activities of two existing places in Dębiec – a neighborhood house and a community garden. We organized a series of cultural, educational, gardening, and integration-oriented meetings in these spaces, such as art workshops, theatrical performances, neighborhood dinners, and culinary gatherings. We consulted with the residents regarding the meeting offerings and encouraged them to pursue their own ideas for activities.

These places and our activities facilitated self-organization and integration within the local community, including the establishment of a lasting network of contacts, neighborhood cooperation, and the creation of a shared meeting space. In total, we conducted 130 meetings and 4 concerts. The residents became more active, and their sense of self-worth increased.
Thanks to the numerous meetings and concerts, residents had the opportunity and space for integration, self-organization within the local community, and simply greater activity during their free time. And because the topics of the meetings were diverse, everyone could find something for themselves and, in the process, strengthen their skills.