“Local government is all of us” is the motto of the Masz Głos initiative, which has been operating since 2002 and has already involved nearly two and a half thousand participants from across Poland. During each edition, several hundred informal groups, non-governmental organizations and institutions (schools, libraries, community centers, etc.) undertake initiatives aimed at improving their immediate surroundings and the living conditions of the local community. Dialogue and cooperation with local government authorities play a key role in these efforts.
The previous edition of the initiative also involved several dozen groups and organizations from Lower Silesian Voivodeship. Among them was the Znajdź Cel Foundation, which organized, among other things, a debate at a primary school in Pęgów attended by the Mayor of Oborniki Śląskie and 30 students. In Wołów County, the local online portal Nasze Sprawy conducted an information campaign among residents about the need for transparency in public finances, while in Jelenia Góra the Zespół Aktywności Społecznej became involved in efforts to improve the procedure for the city’s participatory budget.
“The idea behind the Masz Głos initiative is to strengthen cooperation between the local community and local government authorities, so this edition will have a special character due to the upcoming elections. Their outcome will determine not only the direction of local policy over the next five years in a given municipality or county, but also who will be a partner for grassroots initiatives during that time. Therefore, during the first weeks of the new edition, we will encourage participants to prepare their municipalities for the upcoming elections,” says Joanna Załuska of the Batory Foundation.
Preparing a municipality primarily means raising residents’ awareness of the importance of elections and encouraging them to go to the polls. It also involves checking whether local institutions are fulfilling their obligations and whether candidates are complying with the law while campaigning. Stimulating local public debate is also important—organizing discussions among people seeking mandates as councilors and as mayors, town mayors or city presidents, and asking them about their positions on issues important to residents.
The Masz Głos initiative is organized by the Stefan Batory Foundation, while local support in Lower Silesian Voivodeship is provided by the Bona Fides Civic Activity Association. In all activities—both those related to elections and other initiatives—participants can count on the assistance of experienced coordinators. In addition to support from experts, participation in Masz Głos also provides an opportunity to attend free training sessions, use a wide range of educational materials on local civic participation, and receive a microgrant for activities. Participation in the initiative also makes it possible to meet and exchange experiences with people involved in local activities in other parts of the country.
Moreover, those most successful in implementing their ideas may win the “Super Samorząd” award, which the organizers grant for exemplary examples of cooperation between the local community and local government authorities. On 25 May this year, during a ceremonial gala at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, one of the awards was received by the Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Doliny Białej Lądeckiej “Kruszynka” from Stary Gierałtów in the Stronie Śląskie municipality, which demonstrated how useful the residents’ legislative initiative can be. Thanks to this method, the community decided what the main square in the village would be called.
Recruitment for the Masz Głos initiative is open until 23 September. Participation is free of charge. To join the initiative, register at www.maszglos.pl. During the recruitment period, you can also attend open training sessions devoted to civic participation at the local level. The training session in Lower Silesian Voivodeship will take place on 14 September in Wrocław and will focus on using social participation tools to change one’s immediate surroundings.
Contact
Grzegorz Wójkowski
tel. 502 984 057
email: grzegorz@bonafides.pl