Up to Us
V4 for Active Communities
Social movements have been and continue to be closely connected with democratic political systems. Thus, all countries in Central-Eastern European region may face multiple challenges in social activism even after decades after the fall of socialist regimes. Post-socialist countries, including Eastern Partnership and Western Balkan countries, have almost no culture of social movements – there are good examples but most of them remain within the framework of legal institutions. With this project, we aim to contribute to the development of the culture of social activism and grassroots initiatives in CEE through educating and supporting young people in their own ambitions.
We believe that CEE region needs an organic development similar to the West in democratic frameworks. We can support this process; contribute to its development but not lead. With this project, we aim to provide easy accessible and understandable information about civic social movements specifically for young people to boost social activism in Central Eastern Europe. It has been 30 years since the change of regime; a generation has grown up that no longer has memories of the socialist era.
In the centre of our project is a so-called Thinkaton event. Hackaton is a combination of words hack and marathon; it is an efficient and also popular way to discover new ideas in the business sector. In the third sector, regarding social challenges, the term of Thinkaton is equivalent. After a few days of preparation, 32 young people from V4 countries participate a 24 hours long competition and start amusingly on the path of social activism while their entrepreneurial skills will also develop.
Partners
Expert meeting in Kosice, Slovakia
Online Guide about community activitsm
Thinkaton event in Szentendre, Hungary
Deliverable
Online guide about social activism for young people
Online guide about social activism for young people aiming at inform them about social movement possibilities, planning and management of grassroots initiatives.
Most of the social movements in CEE countries are initiated by institutions, in particular NGOs. Funding is a crucial point of social activism in the region. The guide will provide easy to use information and tips how to start and maintain social movements, including fundraising, involving locals and raise visibility.
Events
V4 for Active Communities Experts' meeting
Date: December-January 2020
Venue: online
Participats: youth workers from Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia
Aim of the event: to exchange experiences and ideas regarding CEE social movements and plan the further outputs and activities of the project.
Up to Us Thinkaton
Date: 26-30 August 2021
Participants: 8-8 young people and 1-1 youth worker from Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia.
Aim of the event: After a few days of preparation, 32 young people from V4 countries participate a 24 hours long competition and start amusingly on the path of social activism while their entrepreneurial skills will also develop.
Download the Infokit here.
The project is co-financed by the Governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.