The Water’s Experts project has started, with the kick-off meeting which took place in Oporto (Portugal) on 3 and 4 September 2022. The partner Geoclube – Associação Juvenil welcomed ALDA and the other project partners to their office in Rio Tinto, municipality of Gondomar. In addition, as President of the association “Paese dell’Acqua” and leader of the consortium, Mr. Iamiceli was present at the meeting, being also an ambassador of ALDA!

On the first day, some aspects of the project have been defined, among them the main objectives of the training courses; as well as the “communication and dissemination strategy”.  The second day of the event was devoted to visiting the so-called Pavilion of Water, in Oporto, a small-scale project that aims to raise people’s attention on the issues of water scarcity and pollution of the oceans.  In addition, guided by Geoclube, the partners were able to enjoy the charms of Oporto and learn some of the city’s river characteristics, particularly in the Rio Tinto area.


Water’s Experts: raise awareness on climate change adaptation, underlining the importance and the role of water


From a general perspective, the project aims to adequate school studies to the job market needs, using training methods which are new, practical and more relevant for the work contest. On the other hand, the project’s goal is to raise awareness on climate change adaptation, underlining the importance and the role of water.

Finally, the kick-off meeting in Oporto has been a unique opportunity to coordinate with partners and set the agenda for the next steps. In the upcoming months, the partners will involve schools ready to join the project and identify students willing to take part in the training course. Meanwhile, ALDA, as the partner in charge of the project’s communication, will develop the web page and manage the social media together with partners.

***

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Within the framework of the CAP-PERI project, a comic with the title “magic guide to foster a sustainable future” was created. The latter is inspired by the project activities and follows Flora and Olmo’s adventure towards a more sustainable future. 

The two teenagers, the main characters of the comic, learn about the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and travel to the project partners’ cities – such as Vicenza, Milan, Rome, Mesagne and Palermo – every time they eat a caper. In each city they find out something new about the Policy and the various activities implemented throughout the project.


CAP-PERI comic “Magic guide to foster a sustainable future” is out now!


Thus, the idea behind the comic is to produce a creative and interesting output that shows citizens of all age groups, with a special focus on children and young people, what CAP-PERI is about, which kind of activities were held during the whole period of the project and which environmental, social and economic impact the CAP has. The comic book addresses the CAP; the Green Deal as well as the SDGs strategies; together with the healthy diets in an easy and funny way. 

Read the graphic novel and join Flora and Olmo on their journey through Italy, learning more about the CAP-PERI project!

***

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#EuSAVE: 7th and final event in Bolyarovo, Bulgaria

From the 30th of August until the 3rd of September ALDA attended the 7th and final international event of the #EUSave project – EU Citizens’ Action for Smart Historic Villages. The host of the event was the Bulgarian partner of the #EuSAVE project, the municipality of Bolyarovo, a small town in the South of Bulgaria. Delegations from Croatia, Italy, Latvia, North Macedonia, Portugal and Spain, representing 40 small rural municipalities with less than 10.000 inhabitants, participated in the event.

Following  the 6th International Event of the project, on Tuesday, August 30, the mayor of the municipality of Bolyarovo, Mr. Hristo Hristov, greeted the partners with a welcome dinner in Yambol; thus starting this last event, entitled: “International forum for the social sustainability and cultural heritage of the European rural areas”

The next day a transnational conference was held at the Chitalishte “Vazrazhdane” of Bolyarovo, where all the partners had the chance to present to the public their background, experiences and impressions of the project, that started in January 2019 and will end in December 2022. The speeches were preceded by musical performances by the local traditional dance group, and were followed by a conference on:

  • the historical heritage of Bolyarovo (PhD Stefan Bakardzhiev),
  • the promotion of cultural identity (Mr. Stancho Stavrev), and
  • the European projects for local communities in Yambol region (Ms. Tatiana Balakchieva).

“This project allows us first of all to enrich our expertise in European project development, and secondly, to show and compare our cultural traditions”
Hristo Hristov, Mayor of Bolyarovo


Within this context, Alessia Lega and Nicola Zordan from ALDA Skopje summarized ALDA’s role in the project and in the Balkan region in general. A press conference was also held in a nearby building. As the Mayor Hristov pointed out on that occasion:

“This project allows us first of all to enrich our expertise in European project development, and secondly, to show and compare our cultural traditions”

In the afternoon, the group took the opportunity to visit the town, its cultural heritage and the surrounding nature. A small artificial lake close to Malko Sharkovo village has been transformed into a destination for alternative and environmentally friendly tourism.

On Thursday, September 1, the partners visited the National Archeological Museum “Kabile” and “Vila Yambol”, a company that produces one of the best quality wines of Bulgaria. Then, the group moved to the cultural center “Bezistena”, one of the oldest buildings in town and surely the most representative of Yambol, and to the History Museum. A transnational coordination meeting took place in the late evening too.

Finally, the partners had the opportunity to visit Sozopol, an ancient city on the Black Sea, where they could appreciate the richness of its history and the beauty of its coastline. An intercultural dinner was organized in the tiny Stefan Karadzhovo village, during which traditional Bulgarian music was played and folk dances were performed.

The most important outcome of the project was the creation of a network of European smart historic villages that could bring together experiences and issues of different townships all over Europe.

Indeed, it is of paramount importance for these municipalities to have a discussion space where they can share best practices and address similar problems. Through this project became clear that there is a link between cultural heritage and tradition, and that the preservation of the former defends the latter. Moreover, these kind of exchange always make participants aware of the EU’s extraordinary cultural diversity.

***

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

Delegations joining the event:

Lokalna akcjiska grupa Zagorje-Sutla, Croatia

Unione dei Comuni della Grecia Salentina, Italy

Dagda local municipality, Latvia

Municipality of Berovo, North Macedonia

Comunidade Intermunicipal do Alto Alentejo, Portugal

Concello de Vimianzo, Spain (project leader)

***

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On September 1st and 2nd, ALDA participated in the 41st National Seminar of Ventotene, a 5-day long event which took place, from August 28th until September 2nd 2022, in the Centro Polivalente “Terracini”, located in the island of Ventotene. 

Titled “Federalism in Europe and in the world: from the Monetary Union to the United States of Europe”, the National Seminar was organised by the Institute of Federalist Studies “Altiero Spinelli” in collaboration with the Municipality of Ventotene and with the contribution of the Lazio region. It was carried out contemporary to the 38th International Seminar of Ventotene, which took place in the same location. 

ALDA participated in the conclusive session of the National Seminar, which mainly focused on the just ended Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) and on its next steps. Along with Stefano Castagnoli, President of the European Federalist Movement, Alessandro Capriccioli, President of the Commission of European Affairs and of the regional Council of Lazio region and several other speakers, Giulia Albertoni, Cofunding Manager at ALDA, presented to the participants the Association and its role within the CoFoE and into the Civil Society Convention on the Future of Europe (CSOCoFoE)


ALDA, together with the European Federalist Movement, was in Ventotene to build the Europe of the future


We need to reduce the gap between the citizens and the institutions, because citizens participation is on decline. We cannot talk about the European citizens without involving them, we need to develop a bottom-up approach to increase their participation. This is what the revolutionary experiment of the CoFoE was about, and this is what ALDA strongly believes in”. 

With these words, Giulia Albertoni presented to the participants the multiple activities that ALDA implemented within the framework of the CoFoE and the important role that the Association undertook in the CSOCoFoE, where ALDA Secretary General Ms. Antonella Valmordida, coordinated the democracy cluster. 

The end of the seminar was characterized by a reflection on the following steps to take and on the creation of a “participative European democracy”, as defined by Stefano Castagnoli. 

With the sentence “We are not dreamers” printed on the back of their shirts, more than 90 young people belonging to Youth European Federalist (JEF), coming from all Italy, actively participated to the seminar and listened to these emotional speeches and inspirational words on the construction of a free, united and federalist Europe, in a place where, more than 80 years ago a revolutionary document on a Free and United Europe was discussed.

***

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Starting in 2006, the Norman and North Macedonian territories have developed their cooperation through different projects, partnerships, initiatives and activities. To ensure the sustainability of the partnerships, the Norman and North Macedonian actors have been used different programmes, among which the Normandy for Peace programme is one of the most notable.

Since its inception, the Normandy for Peace programme has sought to create new channels of cooperation on behalf of the Normandy Region. The partnerships proposed by this programme cover many areas, such as youth, media, culture and new technologies. The partnerships labelled under the Normandy for Peace programme are part of the international strategy of the Normandy region and the sharing of Normandy expertise.

In 2016, it is through the “Eastern Front” project that the programme is exported to Northern Macedonia, in order to raise awareness again through its own heritage.

After more than 5 years of activities implemented in different periods, by many partners and in different axes, a capitalisation publication was created.

Entitled “Capitalisation of the activities carried out in North Macedonia and Normandy in the framework of the Normandy for Peace Programme” the publication aims to highlight the richness of the activities carried out in both territories in the sense of sustainable development and deepening of the cooperation between Normandy and North Macedonia.

The publication is available HERE in two languages, English and French.

Before the CAP-PERI project came to its end, five videos for each of the cities involved in the project were developed. The videos accurately describe the main activities of CAP-PERI in an interesting and engaging way. 

The video of Milan starts with the presentation of the workshop “CAP-PERI on the implications of agriculture”, which involved the High School students of “IIS Caterina da Siena”. It includes an explanation of  the various educational paths to raise awareness on the  Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the different study tours to discover biodiversity. Moreover, it contains conferences with experts from the agricultural field as well as the EMOTICON exhibition at Orti di via Padova. 

Palermo’s video displays the workshop titled  “Bioethical agriculture. Cultivating with respect for people and biodiversity”, which saw as speakers Professor Antonio Camparetti and Dr. Carlo Greco, who talked about biomass, biowaste, bioenergy and biofertilizers. The video also shows the event that took place at Villa Filippina as well as other activities like the realisation of the podcast with the students of the “Einstein” High School of Palermo, the workshop with the students at Orti delle Fate and the Augmented Reality workshop. 


The CAP-PERI project videos accurately describe the main activities of the project in an interesting and engaging way.


The promotional video made by Mesagne starts with the partner’s second meeting, followed by the presentation of the CAP-PERI project to the High School students of “IISS Epifanio Ferdinando”. Subsequently, it shows the presentation made by Lucio Colizzi on the project ORTINSIEME as well as the visit of the “IISS Epifanio Ferdinando ” students to Gorgofredo and Galone Masserie. The video ends with the Augmented Reality workshop carried out with primary school students. 

The video of Rome starts displaying the very first partners’ meeting in Vicenza, followed by the second meeting in Mesagne and the third one in Palermo, the workshop on CAP, a research survey on CAP topics and a second research survey called “Impronta carbonica”. It continues showing various visits to Rome Urban Gardens and to the Garbatella recycling center, the Poetry Slam workshop with Lorenzo Marangoni, the workshop on Food Education with children and teenagers, the one on Augmented Reality, the virtual tour of Rome Urban Gardens during the TNOC Festival, and it ends with the EMOTICON Exhibition. 

Lastly, Vicenza’s video shows the study visit to the Carpaneda site, followed by the workshops on the implication of agriculture introduced by the sociologist Valentina Anzoise, organised together with the “GH Quadri” High School students. It also displays the TNOC Festival and a territorial exploration of Monteviale.

One of the achievements of the CAP-PERI project consisted in the creation of five different, innovative and creative outputs. 

An important element to take into consideration concerned the variety of creative and artistic languages to involve, so that each local workshop could explore a different creative dimension and develop various potentialities, thus resulting in 5 outputs different from one another. Each workshop was divided into 8 or more sessions (of 2 or more hours each), plus a final session for the presentation of the creative output.

The co-creative workshop in Palermo was conducted by Nunzia Lo Presti. It involved 23 students of the class 3° D of the local Scientific High School “Einstein”, and the creative output was a CAPPERI PODCAST.

The workshop in Milan was undertaken by Isabella Bordoni, involving 19 students from the local High School “IIS Santa Caterina da Siena” and resulted in “MICRO-GIARDINI”: a module environment of biodiversity, cohabitation and sociality. A physical, real environment, arising from processes of an artistic-formative nature, experience, affectivity, expression, recovery and self-construction.


The CAP-PERI project resulted in the creation of five different and creative outputs!


Giancarlos Stellini conducted the co-creative workshop in Mesagne, involving 20 students from the local High School “IISS Epifanio Ferdinando”. This workshop led to the creation of the participatory video OCRA. The video is about the importance of respecting the earth and it presents different activities that were conducted, within the CAP-PERI project, on this topic. 

In Vicenza, Paola Rossi carried out the co-creative workshop engaging 21 students of class 4° BSC of the local High School “G.B. Quadri”, which resulted in SILENT CAPPERI. The aim of the workshop was to create a collective dramaturgical audio-narration, for a site-specific audio-itinerary, to be experienced with headphones while walking in the rural area of Carpaneda, which the students discovered during the experiential workshops with Valentina Anzoise, and which embodied a great number of important topics related to agriculture and sustainability

Finally, In Rome, the co-creative workshop was undertaken by Lorenzo Maragoni, engaging 48 students from two different classes of the local High School “IIS Leonardo Da Vinci”, and the creative output consisted in a Poetry Slam Live Performance. The students were introduced to the creation of poems related to the project and publicly presented the output in front of other students and school staff. 

Below you can read some of these amazing poems (in Italian)!

***

Tra trent’anni il mare sarà arrivato dove adesso mi trovo io? 

Quelli di Tolfa diranno ‘andiamo al mare a Maccarese?” 

Quelle di Fregene invece, ah no loro non ci saranno più 

E vedranno in lontananza il mare che sta quaggiù. 

Qui dove adesso è pieno di verde e di gente 

Ci sarà forse un nuovo ambiente?

Manifesti sulla plastica, raccolta differenziata

Ma questa è la via giusta o quella sbagliata? 

Non sprecare l’acqua, spegni la luce!

Queste sono le cose continuamente ripetute 

Ci avete asfissiato con la storia sull’ambiente,

Volete intervenire o parlare per sempre?

(Lucretia, Giovanni, Martina e Giuliana)

***

Quando mi fermo vedo tante avversità,

ma nonostante tutto voglio pensare che 

Tra le tecnologie e le scienze in evoluzione 

molti sogni si realizzeranno.

La società capirà sempre più 

quanto è prezioso il pianeta terra

E il concreto bisogno che ha di curarlo al meglio 

Delle nostre forze e conoscenze,

Affinché possa regalarci ancora per secoli

Preziosi doni come l’acqua, l’aria e il sole.

E soprattutto speriamo di abbassare di qualche grado le temperature

Attraverso l’ecologia rinnovabile.

Credo che tutti meritiamo un pianeta sano,

Con le risorse meravigliose che da sempre abbiamo ricevuto.

Noi tutti siamo parte del pianeta terra, 

per questo è il nostro preciso dovere 

curarlo al meglio delle nostre possibilità.

Così vedo il nostro futuro

(Ylenia)

***

Io so terreno

E sembra vero anche l’arcobaleno.

Piano piano tutto sta finendo

E noi non ce ne stiamo accorgendo

Perché diciamo sticazzi 

se una pianta o un animale sta morendo.

Non abbiamo più tempo per salvare la terra

E frantumare l’effetto serra.

La speranza è la nostra ultima salvezza

Quindi fate attenzione quando comprate la monnezza.

Mi raccomando prudenza

Se non vuoi avere un futuro basato sulla sopravvivenza

In cui tuo figlio potrebbe non farcela

O morire di morte precoce,

quindi alziamo la voce

perché questo mondo non può fare questa fine atroce.

(Yuri, Nicolò)

***

On August 19 and 20, 2022 in Brussels at Bois de la Cambre, ALDA took part in the Festival Théâtres Nomades and it was a big success

Mainly dedicated to street arts and theater, the Festival “Théâtres Nomades”  was also an eclectic moment open to NGOs and associations to share their work and projects in an interactive way. Invited by Compagnie des Nouveaux Disparus, Head of the Belgium Branch of the Anna Lindh Foundation, ALDA had a stand to promote its values and initiatives such as as the project: Climate of Change

The participation in the festival was a great opportunity to exchange with a broad range of audiences, including youngsters and climate activists in a festive atmosphere. It gave us the chance to present the commitment of ALDA to safeguarding the environment and to raising awareness about climate change.


ALDA took part in the Festival Théâtres Nomades to raise awareness on environment


The Climate of Change project underlines the link between climate change and migration, advocating for a more specific protection scheme for climate migrants. It also fosters the importance of involvement and participation of young people in policy making since they will face the worst effects of the climate crisis. If you haven’t done it yet we invite you to sign the petition which aims to put the topic on the political agenda and ask for actions from EU institutions.

Thanks to ALDA’s interactive questionnaire on European processes and values, colleagues from the Brussels office stimulated the public’s curiosity and engaged an interesting debate about climate change and the European Union. The approval and support of the people was clear and evident since many signatures were finally collected

The festival was a great chance to show the engagement of ALDA for the environmental cause underlining the solutions it is trying to promote with its projects. Furthermore, it was also an important moment of interaction with people and supporters of ALDA’s work and mission.

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.

***
For other calls for proposal please check the dedicated section

[Image copyright: BeInclusive 2022]

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.

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 

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.

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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