As a partnership of two NGO organizations working towards activization and integration of other organizations working in Bytom (Śląskie Voivodeship), we have noticed a problem of low civic involvement of the citizens of our city. We were often witnesses to conflicts between the citizens and the local authorities. The problems stemmed from the lack of knowledge about available ways and means of taking initiative, as well as the lack knowledge on the scope and realities of work of our municipality as a unit of the local government.
As part of our project, we faced these challenges by organizing a series of workshops dedicated to competences at the disposal of the city with a particular focus on areas prone for citizens’ involvement.
Twenty citizens of all ages took part in the workshops, during which they designed urban spaces, prepared filings for public information, took part in a simulated city council session, met the councilmen, and went for an educational walk around their neighborhoods. With the help of the experts, participants designed an urban game for the people of Bytom. It was published in a format that enables schools to conduct it as well. It is a combination of a detective mystery mixed with local government mechanisms. The game organized at the end of our project drew in 80 participants.
After the workshops, two of the participants designed projects for the Bytom’s participatory budget and were qualified for the vote. They were ultimately chosen and projects received financing. We have also conducted evaluation tests at the beginning and at the end of the project. The results show that the participants increased their knowledge of local government operations. Additionally, some of the participants formed an informal group that is preparing to employ the local initiative.