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Funded by the Erasmus+ Programme, the #BeInclusive sport Awards 2022 aim to reward and give visibility to projects that have successfully promoted and fostered social inclusion through sport. The initiative aspires to disseminate innovative ideas and best practices in order to be replicated throughout Europe.

The calls, within this programme, address organisations and public authorities which developed projects aimed at including disadvantaged, marginalised or underprivileged groups. Those include individuals with difficult social, economic or educational backgrounds, people with a disability, health problems or cultural differences, etc. Moreover, projects that support gender equality or involve migrants and refugees are also welcomed.

In the light of the target group of the projects, there are three different Awards and related calls #BeInclusive: 

  1. “Breaking Barriers in Sport”, 
  2. “ Promoting Gender Equality in Sport “Be Equal”” and
  3. “Sport for Peace”.

The eligible projects are the ones developed in the EU Member States or in third countries associated with the programme. The projects will not necessarily be transnational projects nor will necessarily be EU-supported.

The deadline for submitting the applications is September 29, 2022. Don’t forget to apply and #BeInclusive

#BeInclusive — Breaking Barriers in Sport

Prize rewards sport projects that promote inclusion, dialogue and tolerance, emphasizing the benefits of understanding each other and overcoming obstacles to participation. This category would reward initiatives that support disadvantaged groups, such as ethnic minorities, people with disabilities or vulnerable young people, to meet social challenges.

Read more about the call and submit your application here.

#BeInclusive — Promoting Gender Equality in Sport “Be Equal”

Prize rewards projects promoting the empowerment and participation of women and girls in sport. This category would celebrate role models who make gender equality a reality by setting an inspiring example.

Read more about the “ call and submit your application here.

#BeInclusive — Sport for Peace

Prize rewards projects using sport as a vehicle to promote peace and European values. This category would particularly target initiatives promoting the inclusion of refugees.

Read more about the call and submit your application here.

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For other calls for proposal please check the dedicated section

[Image copyright: BeInclusive 2022]

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On 19-20 August 2022, Vienna, the capital of Austria, welcomed for the second time the Experts’ Jury of the  “European Capital of Democracy” (ECoD). The latter is an initiative willing to build a network of  cities working for the increment of citizens’ participation. Recently inaugurated, the ECoD champions, every year, a city in Europe representative of democracy, and democratic local innovation.

From a general standpoint, democracy sets the basis to grow, for example, a more equal and just society, to foster freedoms, while safeguarding the planet not only in Europe but all over the world. Therefore, it should never be taken for granted; on the contrary, it should constantly be nourished.

Specifically for this very first edition, already 22 cities from 11 different countries joined, and the Experts’ Jury will now have the hard task to start scrutinizing the candidates. 

Yet, citizens can also have their say! If you are passionate about Europe, democracy, and you want to take part in the initiative, do not miss the opportunity to be among the citizens’ jury.

Time to stand up and join the citizens’ jury

If “peace”, “equity” or “fair pay and prices” are causes you embrace, apply to be a member of the citizens’ jury, and be the protagonist together with other people. Selected among the 3-5 shortlisted candidate cities, previously chosen by the Expert’s one, the citizens will pick the first European Capital of Democracy, which will be announced in September 2023!

ALDA, together with its Secretary General and Chairwoman of the ECoD Experts’ Jury — Ms. Valmorbida — is very much glad to further support democracy through this initiative.

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Within the project «Milan Sport United», PlayMore! — leader of the initiative —  together with ALDA are glad to announce the open call for the participation in the training workshop “sport, inclusion and volunteering”.

Aiming to encourage integration and social inclusion of refugees in the Metropolitan City of Milan through different activities, the project focuses on sport as a medium through which communication avenues can be opened between people, no matter their social status and background. 

🚶If you are:

  • A volunteer or collaborator of voluntary associations, NGOs, cooperatives or foundations active in the field of sport or social promotion;
  • Passionate about integration through sport of refugees, migrants and people at risk of social exclusion; 
  • An organisation that promotes or intends to activate inclusive sports activities;
  • Speaking English.

This workshop on «sport, inclusion and volunteering”

is for you

Together with a multicultural team of 20 people, including 6 members of European sports or social promotion associations, 8 local sportsmen and women and 6 local refugees, you will be able to:

  • participate in recreational activities of PlayMore!
  • share your experience and compare it with that of your peers
  • contribute to the identification of effective models and practices

🚶When and Where?

From Thursday 15th to Saturday 17th of September at the PlayMore! Sport centre in via della Moscova, 26, Milan, Italy.  

🚶How to participate:

If you are interested you can send an email  by 28 August 2022 to  Elena and  Rita attaching the completed and signed participation application with the CV by providing the information requested. 

***
Call International volunteers 

Participation Application 

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Awarded with the European Union’s Operating Grant of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV), ALDA promotes the participation of citizens and local communities to the Union Values. In line with the Programme’s priorities and objectives, many of ALDA’s projects and initiatives are inspired by the CERV’s four pillars, and are implemented in cooperation with a large network of members and partners all over Europe and its Neighbourhood. More in specific, the four pillars are: 

  1. Equality, Rights and Gender Equality 
  2. Citizens’ engagement and participation 
  3. Fight all types of violence
  4. Protect and promote Union values

More concretely, within the ‘Citizens’ engagement and participation’ pillar, ALDA joined the Award Ceremony of the “Let’s become European Citizens” by European Federalist Movement (EFM), which took place on 30th June 2022 in Verona, Italy. 

The contest, promoted by the EFM, involved a number of students from the Veneto region and aimed at promoting a closer approach of young people to the European Union’s policies and issues. Through initiatives such as this one, ALDA can tackle these issues with a bottom-up approach, relying on the support of sponsors and partners sharing the same values.

Benefitting from 20 years of experience when it comes to citizen engagement and mobilisation, ALDA strongly believes in and supports the active participation of youngsters in the European processes, and thus raising awareness on the benefits of European citizenship from a younger age. 

ALDA strongly believes in and supports the active participation of youngsters in the European processes

The DESIRE Project, for example, aims at stimulating youngsters’ critical thinking and raising consciousness on the EU and its core values and advantages. This is particularly compelling in an historical moment where the Union is fighting against euro-scepticism and internal divisions. Starting from the younger generations to achieve a higher objective, ALDA can stimulate growth and development of the democratic realities citizens are living in with the direct participation of civil society, in order to foster active participation in the European process.

These are just two of the many projects ALDA is involved in: the activities supported by the Operating Grant’s programme are diverse and entail various partners. 

Overall, ALDA’s actions for the promotion of democracy and citizens participation in Europe are effective and contribute both in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the Agenda 2030, and in proactively supporting the attainment of the CERV Programme’s objectives and principles.

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In mid July 2022, Vinnytsia experienced a tremendous missile attack that killed 21 people, including 3 children. This is yet another brutal attack to a nation that has been suffering relentlessly since February 2022. It goes without saying that ALDA expressed its solidarity to everyone living in Ukraine. In a tweet, Antonella Valmorbida, Secretary-General of ALDA, re-stated ALDA’s position towards the war against Ukraine, underlining ALDA’s continuous support to the Ukrainian population and reiterating the willingness to establish a new Local Democracy Agency in Vinnytsia.

Since the beginning of the crisis, ALDA has been constantly working to provide concrete help to Ukraine and its people

Since the beginning of the crisis, ALDA has been constantly working to provide concrete help to Ukraine, operating together with the Ukrainian Local Democracy Agencies in Dnipro and Mariupol. In its commitment to reinforce the Local Democracy Agencies, in June 2022, ALDA invited the community of Local Authorities and Civil Society Organisations to the Conference entitled “Supporting the Local Democracy Agencies in Ukraine”, which took place in Brussels. The conference was aimed at giving a reliable update on the situation on the ground in Ukraine, as well as on the activities that ALDA carried out and to provide support to civilians and people in need. The conference was a great success, and it emphasised the will for future initiatives, cooperation and potential opening of the Local Democracy Agencies in Odessa and Vinnytsia.

Since the beginning of the war, ALDA has always shown a strong bond with Ukraine. As declared in its “Statement on the Russian exclusion from the Council of Europe” and in its “Statement on Ukraine-Russia” ALDA firmly condemns the war against Ukraine and it will never stop supporting the country and its people, and to ask the European Union to have an even more engaged role to end the military invasion and start a peace process. 

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Earlier this summer, at the end of July, the Secretary General of ALDA – Antonella Valmorbida — delivered the second module of training on «participative deliberative democracy» in Sousse for participants from the cities of Kairouan and Mahdia in Tunisia. Following a prior module delivered in October 2021, this latest training saw the participation of elected officials of the municipal councils of Kairouan and Mahdia, the technical staff of both municipalities, and local civil society actors.

Conceived within the project AUTREMENT, which aims at supporting on capacity building by providing municipalities of Tunisian cities with training in local governance; the program focused on delivering tools for organizing citizen events taking as case studies both the Strasbourg’s «Marché de Noel» and Vicenza’s «Festival Biblico».

Fostering citizen engagement through participative deliberative democracy

Furthermore, Ms. Valmorbida illustrated different options on how to foster a safe environment for dialogue and exchange between local civil society actors and elected officials. Through exercises on «participative deliberative democracy», Q&A sessions, and debates, local civil society actors raised a series of proposals and challenges they normally face in their activism while collaborating with local authorities. Similarly, elected officials managed to answer queries and provide more insights into the procedures which regulate their actions.

Hence, based on concrete and local example, the training ended with a road map on the steps which should be taken in the future to develop events such as the «The Mouled Festival». The latter normally takes place during the holidays, and it is dedicated to the celebration of the Prophet of Islam, Mohamed. Thus, this festival in Kairouan is an opportunity for small entrepreneurs and creatives to showcase the city’s cultural heritage and promote the region’s economic development.

Overall, the module tackled many pending issues related to “The Mouled Festival” while stressing the positive impact of project AUTREMENT so far. Hence, as illustrated during the training on «participative deliberative democracy», key and crucial actors should boost moments of sharing, and exchange for the best of local communities in Tunisia.

***

The AUTREMENT project addresses the challenges of sustainable urban mobility and planning in the Tunisian cities of Kairouan and Mahdia. To do so, the project also focuses on promoting the two towns by building the capacities of municipalities and civil society actors in terms of event organization and dialogue with citizens.

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ALDA, with the support of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme of the European Union, has just launched a one-of-its-kind training opportunity for ALDA members only, to get to know more about European projects promoting citizens participation and engagement, and to learn how to get the right information about European fundings.

The call gives ALDA members the chance to get a 2-day free training course on citizens’ participation and EU fundings, anywhere in Europe.

Indeed, the training course aims at providing participants with the necessary information and tools to make the first steps in the field of Citizens’ participation, European Project Development & European funds, in relation with the current programming period 2021-2027.

Book your 2-day free training course on citizens’ participation and EU fundings,anywhere in Europe!

Through attending the course, participants will:

  • learn more information about key priorities of the EU and how to develop them at the local level, including the localisation of the SDGs
  • get to know citizens’ participation principles, methods and tools
  • get to know the EU programmes
  • learn how to develop a project proposal, and implement a project

Participants will then receive a certificate of attendance awarded by ALDA, strategic partner of the European Commission and of the Council of Europe.

The training will have to take place by the end of December 2022.

Read the info pack HERE to get detailed information about the course’s programme and organisational requirements.

Please note that the training will have to take place by the end of December 2022.

If you are interested, please register HERE until 26th August 2022.

Courses will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.

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ALDA has been invited to take part in the Festival Théâtres Nomades and we could not be more excited! The event will take place from August 18 to 21, 2022 in Brussels at Bois de la Cambre and it is dedicated to street arts and theatre. Nonetheless, it is also an eclectic moment open to NGOs and associations that will share their missions and projects in a recreational way. 

This original free event offers to spectators a program of shows adapted to all audiences. It takes place every summer for 4 days and it is organised by the Compagnie des Nouveaux Disparus. Each year, thanks to its sustainable approach and varied program, it gathers a large audience from Brussels and other parts of Belgium with diverse socio-cultural backgrounds.

ALDA will be present at Festival Théâtres Nomades with a stand dedicated to the projects Climate of Change and PART-Y

ALDA has been invited by Anna Lindh Foundation, within which the Association represents a key actor for networking activities. From a general perspective, ALDA colleagues will be present with a stand dedicated to the projects Climate of Change and PART-Y. The first one focuses on finding sustainable solutions while spurring for policy change to preserve the planet for future generations, as well as to share the responsibility for the protection of the Earth fairly. In the framework of the festival, ALDA aims to help the signature collection of the petition “End Climate Change, Start Climate of Change” . 

Concerning the second initiative, the objective of promoting the PART-Y project during the event is to trigger the participation in civic life of young people (13-20 years) by fostering their inclusion in the policies decision-making process. 

Overall, the festival appears to be a unique opportunity for ALDA to raise awareness and promote its mission through these projects. Do not miss the opportunity to join, enjoying art and exhibitions in a wonderful bucolic setting in Brussels.

[Picture from Festival Theatres Nomades]

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The family theatre review Il Giardino di Alice, organised by the Vicenza-based company “exvUoto teatro” with the support of the Municipality of Vicenza, returns to Vicenza. This year the review will be divided into 10 appointments: the usual 6 Sundays at the Giardini Salvi in the morning at 9.45 a.m. will be united under the title of «Storie da Mangiare» (Stories to Eat) and, from this year, 4 free events will be held in neighbourhood playgrounds outside the city centre under the title of «Storie di fuoco di acqua di terra e di vento» (Stories of fire water earth and wind).

«We want to bring our proposal of community theatre also to the neighbourhoods, to involve the population that with more difficulty could reach the centre,» say Tommaso Franchin and Andrea Dellai of exvUoto teatro, organisers of the review.

Il Giardino di Alice: «to involve the population that with more difficulty could reach the centre»

We believe that theatre can really change places and the perception of them, and this can only be done with the support of the entire community,’ they continue. For this reason, the festival uses a well-established public-private partnership formula, and numerous companies have decided to get involved alongside the company in its realisation. Each partner has been involved in the creation of the playful workshops on the theme of food sustainability that follow the shows. Cereal Docks, Centro Ortodontico Vicentino and Birrificio Ofelia will thus take care of the creation of engaging workshops for children, but also for their parents. ALDA Europe will co-curate the 18 August event at the playground in Via Roma.

This year there is also a wonderful novelty: thanks to the support of the Culture Department and the Historic Parks Office, the Loggia Valmarana will be open to the public for the first time in years, welcoming spectators after the shows or in the event of rain.

«It is a real pleasure to open the garden and the Loggia Valmarana to families,» says the Vicenza Culture Councillor Simona Siotto, «a place that was created to host moments of culture and that is preparing to welcome spectators and to be a possible stage for the theatrical performances of the review. I also stress that teaching our children the importance of food sustainability is a fundamental educational activity, especially in this period of great climate change in which we are called upon to adopt environmentally friendly behaviour from an early age’.

ALDA is very much glad to be among the main partners of «Il Giardino di Alice» local event, engaging families, kids, citizens, authorities and everyone in Vicenza!

Upcoming events:

  1. Sunday 7 August 9:45 a.m. — Giardini Salvi — THE THREE LITTLE PIGS OF PIAN DEL PORCO — Rocking Theatre — Workshop by centro ortodontico vicentino
  2. Thursday 18 August at 18:00 — Via Roma playground — STORIES OF EARTH with Andrea Dellai and Tommaso Franchin
  3. Sunday 21 August 9:45 a.m. — Giardini Salvi — GRANDMOTHER! LIVE — TASTE STORIES — Theatre 19 — Workshop by craft brewery ofelia
  4. Saturday 27 August at 18:00 — Via Giuriato playground — San Pio X — STORIES OF WIND with Martina Pittarello and Gabriele Grotto

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Call for proposal, networking 

16 Projects were selected for the Food Wave Call for proposals directed to Municipalities and Cities! 

The Food Wave — Empowering Urban Youth for Climate Action is a project co-funded by the European Commission under the Development Education and Awareness Raising Programme and promoted by the Municipality of Milan together with 29 partners across 17 countries. It aims to create awareness of sustainable ways to consume and produce food for climate change mitigation. 

The Food Wave Call for Proposals is coordinated by ALDA with the collaboration of the project partners and in synergy with the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP) and aims to involve smaller youth organizations and local authorities in realizing actions promoting climate-friendly food consumption behaviors. It will fund the selected proposals up to 3.750 Euro, directly involving young people – between 15 and 35 years old – in nine EU countries. 

The main themes that the funded proposals will address are: sustainable diets to reduce the impact on the planet and protect human rights, fight against food waste, sustainable food education and knowledge sharing/dissemination, local alternative food systems, local producer and territorial market, fight against climate change and equal access to healthy, sustainable and fair food. 

The main activities that the municipalities will implement include, among others, communication, promotion of good practices, cooking workshops, thematic visits, flash mobs, awareness-raising public events, initiatives in schools, art contests, and initiatives against food waste.

16 Projects were selected for the Food Wave Call for proposals directed to Municipalities and Cities!

This year, the Food Wave call for proposals took place in two rounds: 

The first one was held in March and saw the selection of ten projects in five EU countries (Belgium, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary and The Netherlands), particularly related to sustainable diets, food waste, sustainable food education and equal opportunities for access to healthy and fair food. 

The second one was held in June and saw the selection of six projects in six EU countries (Italy, France, Greece, Hungary, Portugal and Spain), mainly focused on promoting sustainable practices, local alternative food systems, and knowledge sharing.

The activities carried out by the municipalities will involve a large number of stakeholders – from Universities and local schools to associations and local CSOs, effectively mobilizing and engaging more than 8.000 young people in their local communities.

Through the territorial actions promoted by the selected applicants, the project is contributing to the SDGs localization and the implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda, with a specific focus on fighting hunger (SDG 2), contributing to economic growth and decent work opportunities (SDG 8), promoting responsible consumption and production patterns (SDG 12), building sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) and contributing to the climate action starting from the territorial level (SDG 13). 

The Cities chosen for the first wave of this year’s call are: 

NameCountry and territory where the project would be implemented
City of SchaerbeekBelgium – Schaerbeek
City of TrentoItaly – Trento
City of PurmerendNetherlands – Purmerend
Municipality of 7th District of BudapestHungary – Budapest area
City of SzobHungary – Szob
City of BenediktSlovenia – Benedikt
City of RazkrižjeSlovenia – Razkrižje
City of EtterbeekBelgium – Etterbeek
City of KungotaSlovenia – Kungota
City of HajdinaSlovenia – Hajdina

The Cities chosen for the second wave of this year’s call are:

City of VimianzoSpain – Vimianzo
City of Óbuda-Békásmegyer, Budapest District IIIHungary – Budapest area
City of PollicaItaly – Pollica
City of CampolidePortugal – Campolide
City of Palaio FaliroGreece – Palaio Faliro
City of Ploeuc L’HermitageFrance – Ploeuc L’Hermitage

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On 22nd of August ALDA held the 3rd #ALDATalk dedicated to exchange ideas on Urban Migration.

Thank to the expertise of some Members and speakers, this third webinar has been the perfect occasion to further develop knowledge on the strict bond which stands among migration and urbanism: Hence, as already testified by the experience of EPIC -European Platform of Integrating Cities — Project, these two aspects do have lot in common and a holistic approach need to be pursue in order to boost integration.

More in concrete, among the keynote speakers, joining the event:

  • Ms Burcuhan ŞENER, Migration Policy Center Director from Marmara Municipalities Union (MMU), presented the current migration context in Turkey and specifically in Istanbul and Marmara Region.
  • Ms. Cloé Saint-Nom, Coordinator of the Rights and Justice Unit and Cristina Idone Befecadu shared their best practices in the migration and integration policies and projects based on examples of work of CESIE on the inclusion of migrant women survivors of trafficking

Third ALDATalk: on Urban Migration!

Thus, benefitting from their insights and comments, the audience had the opportunity to learn from the best practices presented; while having the chance to reflect on what should be done in the future to improve the migration and integration policies.

Finally, ALDA would like to thank the members who participated, and looks forward the upcoming Talk!

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Discover the various and innovative activities on «Schuman Declaration» done by the DESIRE project partners in Italy, Bulgaria, Portugal, Serbia, North Macedonia, Belgium, Slovenia and Croatia!

After many events, meetings, the publication of the e-book and many other activities, DESIRE partners are now sharing another key documents, which collects together a great number of information on the different initiatives implemented within the project.

Willing to know more on «European Remembrance» for example?  Check it here as strand one of the project!

Discover the various and innovative activities done by the DESIRE project partners

About the DESIRE project

DEclaration of Schuman: Initiative for Revitalizing Europe (DESIRE) is a Europe for Citizens funded project. The project aims to raise people and especially youth’s awareness on the historical importance and the meaning of the Declaration of Schuman for the EU. The objective is to actively involve youth in approaching history in a proactive way. Through the co-creation of artistic tools, as videos, theatre, games, audio narratives, partners will accompany groups of youth citizens in re-discovering history and in debating on EU values as intercultural dialogue, peace and solidarity. The consortium is leading by Comune di Lavarone (Italy) and composed by Fondazione Belvedere-Gschwent (Italy), Union of bulgarian black sea local authorities (Bulgaria), Municipio de Valongo (Portugal), Danube 1245 (Serbia), Zdruzenie Institut za razvoj na zaednicata (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia), Administration Communale de Grez-Doiceau (Belgium), The Boter Institute (Slovenia), Kulturni centar Osijek (Croatia), ALDA (France).

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This month, ALDA was invited by Istanbul Metropolis and the Istanbul Planning Agency to the Launch event of the Istanbul Vision 2050 Plan release and opening of the IPA Campus.

Istanbul 2050 is the new strategic and policy plan envisioned by the city of Istanbul for the year 2050 to be more sustainable, inclusive and resilient. It is the result of a participatory, interdisciplinary, and scientific process of more than 2 years carried out in cooperation with the citizens and various local, national and international stakeholders.

Building on the various international instruments, trends and approaches in terms of sustainable development and adapted to the priority issues, objectives, and potential problems of Istanbul, the plan focuses on 7 main pillars which are:

  1. Climate and Environment,
  2. Transformative and Resilient Economy,
  3. Accessible and Fair Urban Amenities for All,
  4. Vibrant and Sensible Spaces Assuring Good Living for All,
  5. Effective and Inclusive Mobility,
  6. Integrated and Smart Infrastructure Systems, and
  7. Equal and Free Society.

ALDA was invited by Istanbul Metropolis to the Launch event of the Istanbul Vision 2050 Plan

This event was therefore a milestone, being the first occasion to present the plan to the citizens and the international community, introduced by all the actors who have worked on it and by the Mayor of Istanbul, M. Ekrem İmamoğlu. Held on the 5th and 6th July in the newly inaugurated Istanbul Planning Agency Florya Campus, the event brought together hundreds of national and international experts, numerous workshops, conferences, activities and side events and gathered a considerable number of participants.

Our colleague Ms. Apolline Bonfils, project officer of the Middle East and Africa department, intervened in the panel “A discussion on The Role of the Cities in Sustainable Development Agenda Beyond 2030” during the first day of the inauguration which aimed to identify the challenges and opportunities of international sustainability frameworks for cities. The evening and the second day were dedicated to the presentation and screening of the Istanbul Vision 2050 Plan from different perspectives.

This framework drawn up by Istanbul provides a valuable and concrete example for other cities of how to adapt to the current challenges of globalisation through effective policies at local level. ALDA is grateful to the Metropolis for having made it part of the reflections on this plan, and sends its encouragement to all the Istanbul stakeholders involved in its development and implementation.

Learn more about the Istanbul Vision 2050 Plan

***

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It has started! With much enthusiasm ALDA team welcomed, in Villa Angaran, the selected Lighting Europe Democracy (LED) volunteers, who will join the Association for the next upcoming months.

Starting from Monday 11 July 2022, nine young freshly degreed students have been attending two-weeks in depth training tackling most of the different activities, and thus meeting several ALDA colleagues.

From a general perspective, this year project, developed together the Municipality of Cremona within the Italian “Universal Civil Service” Programme , focuses on promoting peace among people, and cooperation. Hence, the volunteers will follow how the general target of the project is translated into daily actions within ALDA.

Villa Angaran is now hosting in-depth trainings for this year Civil Service volunteers

With this is mind, the trainings that are now taking place in the peaceful and beautiful surrounding of Villa Angaran in Bassano del Grappa (Italy), allow participants to find out more on:

  • Participatory processes
  • How to develop a project
  • How to communicate and disseminate
  • The logistic side on organising projects’ meetings
  • The financial management

Divided into small working groups LED volunteers actively took part in the trainings, by drafting – for example – a communication plan, or an event budget.

Activities will continue for another week, then LED participants will reach ALDA offices in Brussels, Strasbourg and Skopje. ALDA team wishes all the best, waiting for upcoming news and updates!

***
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On the 4th and 5th of July, CAMELOT partners gathered in Gdansk (Poland) for the Steering committee and the international conference at the European Solidarity Centre (ESC).

On the first day, the meeting was structured as a roundtable where all the partners shared their experience on urban and metropolitan EU cohesion policies, mainly by talking about the actions undertaken to tackle climate change and its consequences. 

The following day, CAMELOT partners joined the 3rd Pomeranian Climate Solidarity Forum in the ESC. The forum was  devoted to energy transition, environmental issues, renewable energy sources and adaptation to climate change. The forum began by talking of the current war in Ukraine and its implication in the energy sector.

In Gdansk to experience on urban and metropolitan EU cohesion policies

In the introduction, the Secretary General of ALDA, Ms. Antonella Valmorbida, took part in the panel discussion alongside the Mayor of Gdansk, Ms. Aleksandra Dulkiewicz. Valmorbida talked about the role of Local Democracy Agencies in Ukraine and the importance of European solidarity to the country, then she explained how ALDA and its network are bringing EU funded projects to Ukraine and how to keep fostering the alliance. The forum continued with 3 debates on:

  • winter energy, 
  • climate change in metropolitan areas (in which the CAMELOT project described its outcome) and 
  • climate impact on agriculture.

Overall, the meeting was a successful moment of mutual exchange among partners on how to localise at metropolitan level the cohesion policy.

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From the 12th to the 18th of June 2022, a delegation of high level officials from national and Local Authorities (LAs) from Türkiye, participated in the cross-border study visit on local governance-related issues in Austria and Croatia.

Organized by ALDA +  and UNDP Türkiye, and  within the framework of LAR III Project, this third study visit enabled the participants to deepen their knowledge on local administration capacity of the two-above mentioned EU Member States; benefiting from several meetings with Austrian and Croatian high level representatives from Ministries, Regional and Local Authorities.

The visit began from Vienna. During the first day, the delegation was granted audience with the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Service and Sport. The day after they were welcomed in the beautiful venue of the City of Vienna before moving to Graz.

Within LAR III project, the delegation from Türkiye visited Austria and Croatia institutions

There, for instance, the Turkish delegation had the opportunity to meet representatives of the City of Graz and of the Province of Styria. The latter shared examples of both best practices, and experience in the field of performance management; as well as Austrian lobbying activities in Brussels, while offering a guided tour through the streets of  the medieval old town.

Moreover, to end on a high note, Pula hosted the final meetings with Croatian LAs. Hence, the Director of the Regional Coordinator of the Istrian County for European Programs and Funds and a representative of the Istrian Development Agency welcomed the LAR III Turkish delegation, providing good knowledge and tools on participatory local governance.

Finally, participants traveled to Zagreb where they exchanged experiences with representatives from the Ministry of Justice and Administration, the City of Zagreb and while meeting the President of Croatian-Turkish Friendship Association and visiting the exhibition for 30 years of Cooperation between Türkiye and Croatia.

Overall, it was a in-depth, very useful week and intense … but surely an enriching experience!

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REAL DEAL is a recently-launched research project, funded by the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme, that aims at reshaping the active participation of citizens and stakeholders around the European Green Deal (EGD).

Building on recent experiences of pan-European deliberation processes, such as the Conference on the Future of Europe, the REAL DEAL’s main research objective is to analyse, test and validate innovative citizens’ participation and deliberation tools, formats and processes in the context of the green and just transition. 

The research partners have started to lay out the conceptual foundations for a future protocol for deliberative decision-making at European and country-level in the context of the European Green Deal. This will be followed by a test and validation of innovative deliberative formats and tools across 13 countries and at EU level, including digital, hybrid and physical events and processes.

Sign up here and join the #RealDealEu community!

In parallel, the REAL DEAL partners have started to identify and mobilise a pan-European network of stakeholders, with more than 500 organisations working in the areas of deliberative democracy and climate action across Europe. The first meeting of this stakeholder network took place during the “Civil Society Forum for Sustainability: Shaping the European Green Deal”, starting on June 9th in Brussels (Belgium).

The project has a dedicated transdisciplinary approach, a co-lead in the project coordination, and a co-creation of the whole work from the beginning and throughout: from the proposal to refining the research questions, the work in the work packages and task up to the internal review, all is done in joint work between researchers and civil society organisations. From a citizen outreach perspective, the REAL DEAL is set to engage with citizens and other stakeholders by building a community of Europeans who promote participation and deliberation in the green and just transition. The digital hub where citizens can get involved and take action is: www.realdeal.eu.

To meet the ambitious objectives for its research and citizen outreach activities, REAL DEAL brings together 16 (sixteen) partners, including researchers of deliberative democracy  and Europe’s largest civil society organisations (CSOs). 

The project is jointly coordinated by the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS), a research organisation, and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), a civil society organisation. 

The REAL DEAL research project involves: 

  • Researchers and practitioners of deliberative democracy from a wide range of fields, including sustainability studies, participatory democracy, environmental rights and the law of public participation, ethics and responsible innovation, gender studies and ecofeminism, psychology, geography, urban planning.
  • Europe’s largest civil society networks advocating on the environment, climate, sustainable development, women’s rights, local and European democracy and youth environmental organization

ALDA is looking for the implementation of this project, while promoting active participation within the green transition! 

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From the 28th of June until the 1st of July 2022 the partners of the #EuSAVE project held the 6th international event in Concello de Vimianzo, Spain. The meeting was organised by the latter who is also the leader of the project. The title of the meeting was “Designing new and innovative joint development strategies for EU smart and sustainable historic villages”. The project includes partners from Italy, Croatia, Portugal, North Macedonia, Latvia and Bulgaria: 

On the first day the partners were invited to a Welcome Dinner, to which also the Mayoress of Concello de Vimianzo Mónica Rodríguez Ordóñez joined. 

The morning of the second day, the 29th of June 2022, was dedicated to the 6th transnational coordination meeting which took place at the house of culture in Vimianzo. 

In the afternoon the group immersed themselves in the cultural and natural heritage of the Death Coast by visiting the church of Saint James of Cereixo, the fulling mills of O Mosquetín as well as the coastal towns Fisterra and Muxía. The outdoor lunch was accompanied by a musical performance of the well-known galician singer Inma Macías. The association Partido de Corcubión which consists of galician immigrants living in Argentina joined some of the activities during the international event

«Designing new and innovative joint development strategies for EU smart and sustainable historic villages» at the centre of EuSAVE meeting in Concello de Vimianzo

On the 30th of June some partners strolled through the village market of Vimianzo in the morning.after The Transnational Info Day took place in the house of culture during the whole afternoon. The Mayoress of Vimianzo Mónica Rodríguez Ordóñez officially started with welcoming words followed by presentations of each partner country about the project, its results, a virtual itinerary through each territory and lessons learned. On behalf of ALDA, Alessia Marzotto and Ingrid Nazarenus held a presentation about, ALDA’s  role in the the #EuSAVE project

The Transnational Info Day continued with a presentation about the cultural heritage of Vimianzo held by the cultural heritage specialist Manuel Rias Santos. After a medieval banquet in the Castle of Vimianzo and a spontaneous music performance from the association Partido de Corcubión, the Transnational Info Day went on with a presentation about “The Way of St. James in Galicia and the Death Coast” by the journalist and historian Antón Pombo. 

Further presentations were held about the “Initiatives to enhance the value of the cultural heritage on the Death Coast” by the Vice President of the Galician Tourism Cluster Jesús Picallo, the “Importance of the heritage in the rural tourism” by the president of FEGATUR Francisco Xabier Alumíña Chorén and the “Initiatives to enhance the value of the cultural heritage on the Ribeira Sacra“ by the Manager of the Ribeira Sacra Tourism Consortium Alexandra Seara Sobrino.

During the thematic breakfast on the last day of the International meeting, the 1st of July 2022, the project partners learned more about the typical Galician finger food “Pinchos Irmandiños” from Carlos Gómez. After that, the partners met in the house of culture. The Municipality of Bolyarovo presented “Joint Strategies for smart and sustainable historical villages in the EU”, after which Cecilia Meledandri and Silvia Piccoli from ALDA talked about “The New Multi-annual Financial Framework 2021-2027 and the Next Generation EU. Tailor-made processes with different duration”. 

After a coffee break, the Transnational workshop proceeded with a presentation of the Municipality of Vimianzo about the “Sustainability and Transfer Plan of the #EuSAVE network” and a workshop about proposals for the continuity and sustainability of the #EuSAVE network. The International event of the project concluded with a farewell dinner with costumes and a concert in the village of Vimianzo. 

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More information about the #EuSAVE project can be found on the Website as well as on the Facebook and Instagram pages of the project:

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