The THE RIGHT TO THE CITY: FOSTERING URBAN CITIZENSHIP IN EAST-CENTRAL EUROPE is a long-term project promoted by Artemisszió Foundation, Budapest, Hungary to encourage dialogue among urban human rights activists in the East-Central European region about the “right to the city” in the context of our capital cities.
In our framework, based on the work of French sociologist Henry Lefebvre and British geographer David Harvey, the right to the city means a right of collective access to the city as a living space as well as a right to participate in the creation of the city. (For more on the concept of the right to the city, see “Resources”).
At the core of the project is a 12-day youth forum with the participation of 20 young urban activists from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia in March, 2010.
The overall aim of the youth forum is to help youth activists become critically aware of the social forces shaping the city and the everyday experiences of its residents at both the local and global scale. In addition, it aims to provide an opportunity for participants to share and reflect on their experiences as activists as well as explore possibilities for further action and engagement.
At the forum participants will be encouraged to explore the following questions: How can we construct a city based on social justice? What is social justice? How can we better exercise our right to the city? What are the barriers that keep many groups and individuals from exercising their right to the city? Whose rights and whose city?
The methods of the youth forum are based on non-formal education, experiential learning and participatory action research. Activities will place emphasis on participatory processes of exploration and reflection, the co-construction of knowledge as well as experiential, informal and non-formal learning activities. Besides, the exchange will offer young urban activists tools to make concrete improvements in their own lives and their more immediate and wider communities.
In addition to these non-formal elements, the exchange will feature guest speakers from all the four participating countries.
Finally, the project aims to disseminate the ideas and practices produced during the youth forum at a larger scale. To this end, a public panel discussion and an exhibition will be organized during the forum featuring the work of forum participants. A CD-Rom and an informational booklet will also be produced about the outcomes of the forum in Czech, English, Hungarian, Polish and Slovak to be distributed among activists and young people in the participating countries.
This project is supported by the Youth in Action Program, the Visegrad Fund and the city of Budapest.
The participants of the project introduce themselves - the Hungarian participants:
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Betti
I am energetic, friendly, a bit my soul is like gipsy. I am very interested in urban society, communities and Street Art… After all we will meet and we will see!:)
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Matyi
Hey mates, My names is Matyi, I'm 22. I graduated at the Eötvös University a few weeks ago. So I'm pretty fresh and enthusiastic as well. I'm interested in the world's huge cities. In the Project (The Right to The City) I'm helping from the side of creative architecture. Beside these things I'm learning to drive an airplane and coaching a Hungarian National University sport team as an acrobatics trainer. Briefly this is it. Take it easy;
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Zsuzsi
I come from Budapest, and am a passionate city dweller: I couldn’t imagine living elsewhere, than in an urban environment. I study international relations and photography, and I am a member of the College for Social Theory, a grassroots student organization engaged in critical social sciences. My involvement in urban social movements goes from an everyday attitude of taking back the city by, for example, bicycling and going to neighborhood forums; through guerilla actions for an inclusive urban space; and through participation in the first steps of a squat-to-be, up to committed work in two important initiatives of urban social justice. These movements are: a grassroots organization fighting homelessness, which involves homeless and non-homeless activists; and a photovoice project initiated with young roma people in one of the most deprived neighborhoods of the city.
I hope that this meeting will help all of us in (re)constructing cities that are of human scale, are based on participation and local action, are diverse and inclusive, dynamic and free.
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Mariann
This is Mariann Tóth, a fanatic urbanist. She has been living in Budapest for seven years and taking part in several non-profit organizations and alternative art groups. She was working as a press manager and event organizer. Now she wants to share experiences and broaden her prospective in the right to the city. In her opinion the creative usage of public spaces could motivate the people to take care of their environment more and could be the first step for a living city. Current project: http://7ker.blog.hu/
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Dina
A born but critical Budapest dweller. Likes the city for it being creative, dynamic and colourful although would rather see it less grey and more green and inclusive. Interested mainly in the cultures (sub.. and any kind) mingling in the city, in the spaces offered by the city (and the way we use /misuse them), and in the city as space for arts.
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Tessza
I am a long-time city lover, a cyclist and an activist for housing rights. I love all the cities I have lived in – all for different reasons. Lisbon is the most beautiful. New York is the most exciting. Hartford is the most controversial. And Budapest is my favorite. And it is exactly because this city is so important to me that I want it to be a home for all of its residents, not only the most privileged ones.
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The participants of the project introduce themselves - the Slovakian participants:
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Maroš
My name is Maroš Demovič. I´m 21 years old and I live in Bratislava – the capital city of Slovakia. At present I´m studying at Economic University in Vienna. One of my interests happens to be travelling and discovering new information about foreign countries, historical as well as geographical. Since the year 2005 I got used to be active in international volunteering. It was great experience for me to lead an international group of people in Slovakia or in Germany. I am keenly interested in acquiring more theoretical knowledge and practical skills in this area. My friends consider me to be friendly, skilful, independent and self-reliant. In my free time I like to play the piano and I also learn to play guitar. As for other activities, sport is of equal importance to me. I like jogging, cycling, skiing and football as it´s a team game – it needs communication among the players. I believe that the whole life is great challenge and it depends just on us how brave we are to undertake this challenge :) …
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Michal
My name is Michal (misenka) I come from Prievidza, a town from central Slovakia. I graduated civil engineering in Bratislava and stayed to live in the city. I travel, photograph and appear in space…
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Peter
I am a walker. I prefer cities to nature, coffee houses to woods, culture to animality. I read: people, places and ... why not, books. I am a PhD. philosophy student: sometimes teaching, but always learning.
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Lucia
My name is Lucia and I come from Slovakia. I am 23 and I currently study Arts Management at Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. I spent 3 years in Bratislava studying at VSMU and working in various organizations. Since 2007 I was part of a team called young4ba for 3 years. I cooperated within three editions of this program, which was led by Community Foundation Bratislava. I worked a lot with children and teenagers as a camp leader in summer camps and I also joined projects in Slovakia, Poland and Norway as a volunteer. As a future arts manager I am very much interested in organizing cultural events such as festivals, international exchanges and informal educational meetings. To me personally, Right to the city means a chance to meet people who are active (and want to make the people around to be active) in their city, share the experience, knowledge and get new ones as well.
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Kamila
My name is Kamila Kovacikova, I am from Slovakia and I am 22 years old. I live, study and work in the capital, Bratislava. In June I finished bachelor in the field of study Theatre management and now I am continuing with the studies in the field of study Masmedia communication. I am flexible, talkative and responsible and able to adapt in different environments. I am very into travelling and getting to know new people and because of that I would like to live abroad for a while.
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The participants of the project introduce themselves - the Czech participants:
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Vitek
Vít(ek)(Vítku) Masare is a volunteer collaborant in the Auto*Mat civic association that is aimed to promote biking as the best alternative for the individual transport within the city of Prague. He shares the idea that bikers bring much more life to the downtown than people passing through in their cars. As a tour guide for individual visitors of Prague he follows carefully the slow but existing development of services aimed on local and regular clients rather than on short-time profit from foreign visitors who aren't supposed to come again. His favourite public space is the not yet fully rediscovered river Vltava. No fear,no limits - Let's move!;)
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Jitka
Born in Czech Republic 08/1987 - attending high school in Kolin - leaving for the USA in 2003 for a year - graduating from high school - beginning the studies at Czech Technical University (CTU) in Prague, Faculty of architecture 09/2006 - working in some architectural studios - volunteering in Germany, India - travelling - learning languages - graduating at CTU as Bachelor of Architecture 03/2010 - attending the "Right to the city" workshop in Budapest.
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Roman
I am a postgraduate student in human geography at the Charles University in Prague. I focus on urban geography, housing policy, social and environmental justice in my research and teaching activities. I am also involved in various students´ activities in my university. In my free time I enjoy sports, hiking, traveling, theater or music. For me, Right to the City is a crutial topic where questions of justice and problems of everyday life meets.
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Alena
I am student of Public and social policy from Prague. I like travelling, cats and I am quite well experienced in volunteering. I am coming to Budapest to meet new people and to see how others assert their right to the city.
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Ondrej
I was born in October 2nd, 1986, in the Czech Republic in the town of České Budějovice. I´m 23 years old. During my study on highschool I got a practice in cultural and art center Bazilika o.p.s . I worked there in arts information office and than as an assistant in projects - theatre and music shows and festivals, arts worshops. After graduation on highschool I started to study at Economic University in Prague at Business faculty in a program of The Arts Management. I´m going to finish bachelor degree next academic year. I have founded student organization at the University – Arts Management academic club. My aim in this work is to get students in touch of real arts management and offer them a contact with important person in this industry. This club organizes conferenciones, workshops and arts events and co-operates with other universities and other students clubs. My first main job except a school is a music manager and dramaturg in Arts factory/Cultural center KC Zahrada (KC Zahrada is modern organization which offers a place for artists and provides a cultural and art opportunities for people in Prague, the capital of Czech Republic.) and my second main job is an event assistant in Arts Institute in Ministry of Culture Czech Republic. I realy like the arts at all. In my free time I play in student theatre.
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Radka
I come from Olomouc and live in Brno, Czech republic. I´m studying social sciences and volunteering and partly working in an NGO focused on environmental problems and human rights. I´m joining a local Food not Bombs group and discovering coffee culture, spaces, places, aestethics and networks of my town. I´m fan of Critical Mass initiative, alternative economical systems and all projects which are trying to support neighbourhood relationships and responsibility for local environment.
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The participants of the project introduce themselves - the Slovakian participants:
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Anna
My name is Ania. I’m a student of both Spatial Economy and Hungarian Language. And that is why I love Budapest so much. Concerning to my studies I’m interested in land management, especially in Warsaw, where I live. In future I’d like to create city space taking into consideration inhabitants’ needs. But I would work as a diplomat as well. I have many different plans. In my free time I love reading (recently Neil Gaiman’s books especially), dancing and doing crazy things with a little help from my friends;)
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Adam
I am 21 and I study Sociology at Warsaw University. My main hobby is traveling, especially by bicycle. For 5 years I visited with my brother most countries my Balkans region. In Warsaw I’m member of Independent Students’ Union, which organizes many events such as debates, film displays and competitions for students at Warsaw University. Additionally I’m keen biker and I participate in Warsaw Critical Mass, bikers’ manifestation. Social activity plays vital role in my life.
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Kornelia
My name is Kornelia. I’m Polish student. I study Social Policy and I‘m in the course of writing my master's thesis about European Anti-Poverty Network.I'm interesting in social problems and politics, and activities of the European Union in these areas. During my studies I was a volunteer in various state institutions and NGOs. Currently I'm working on a project concerning immigrants in Warsaw. I love the French culture, a good book and my friends.
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Małgorzata
Hello everybody! My name is Gosia. At present I’m doing BA in Ukraine Studies at the University of Warsaw. I’m a volunteer in organization which is active in the field of human rights, democracy and promotion of cultural diversity. I love frantic city lifestyle, being active, trying new things – city gives so many great possibilities! I’m very fond of sport. I like jogging, skiing, indoor climbing. Also I work at summer camps as a horse riding instructor. I really enjoy travelling and meeting new people. I find “Right to the City” a great opportunity to get to know active people from diverse backgrounds and wonder how to make our cities better places to live. See you soon:)
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Łukasz
I have graduated MA Programme in European Studies at University of Warsaw. I'm particularly interested in Central-European politics. Furthermore, I'm dealing with the problems of women discrimination, minorities and human rights situation in this part of Europe. My idea for increasing involvement of urban dwellers is promotion of active volunteering. Possibility of taking part in this project may enrich my knowledge, as well as inspire me for the implementation of new activities in Warsaw.
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Andrej
I am 23 years old student of last year of environmental engineering. I am involved in work of few local NGO's concerning cultural, social and environmental issues. I was streetworker, working with 'street children' from my district and now I am running youth club for them. One of my interests is parkour, which I am practicing since 2004.
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Introduction of the partners implementing the project - 1/4.:
Artemisszió Foundation – Budapest
http://www.artemisszio.hu/index.php?lang=en
The Artemisszió Foundation has been operating since 1998 as a non-profit organization of public interest. The founders were young anthropologists who wanted to apply their theoretical knowledge and the results of their scientific research to foster social and personal development and open-minded thinking. The Artemisszió Foundation is aiming to achieve its objectives through the research, promotion and use of the theory and practice of intercultural communication.
The goals of the Artemisszió Foundation are:
• to encourage continuous dialogue and interaction between culturally, ethnically and socially diverse groups and to foster their mutual understanding,
• to support the social integration of socially and culturally disadvantaged groups,
• to strengthen scientific and cultural relations internationally
• to develop and disseminate intercultural training courses, educational materials and methods
The mission of the Foundation is to provide an opportunity for the widest possible section of society to take part in activities that develop competencies that strengthen relations among people, improve communication and conflict-resolution skills, and contribute to the development of tolerance, mutual understanding and cooperation. For us it is a priority to include socially disadvantaged groups - the unemployed, people living in rural areas, the Roma and immigrants - to increase their equal opportunities and to fight social exclusion.
Introction of the partners implementing the project - 2/4.:
FIYE Poland – Warsaw
http://fiye.pl
FIYE Poland is a vibrant Polish non-governmental and non-profit organization. Ever since it was established in 1989, FIYE has been active in the field of voluntary service and particularly committed to international youth exchange programs. Throughout the years, FIYE has developed and successfully carried out a considerable number of volunteer projects with special regard to short-term summer projects and workcamps, and long-term programs lasting 6-12 months.
Each year about 200 foreign volunteers participate in FIYE's summer workcamps. Thanks to our successful co-operation with other organizations active in the field of volunteering, FIYE also has the pleasure of annually sending about 200 Polish youth abroad to take part in similar projects. In addition to workcamps, FIYE annually hosts around 12 young people for long-term programs.
Introduction of the partners implementing the project - 3/4.:
INEX Slovakia – Bratislava
http://www.inex.sk
INEX Slovakia is a youth non profit making organization that is aiming to associate young people no matter their nationality, political or religious orientation are. Activities that INEX organizes are focused on youth mobility, volunteer projects and informal education. Moreover, INEX offers volunteering possibilities to Slovak youngsters abroad and to young people from abroad in Slovakia. Main aim of volunteering activities is to provide help to the local community or to any project necessary (social, environmental, renovation, cultural etc.). Young volunteers can spend their free time valuably, can meet other people coming from different cultures, learn from each others and enjoy their lives differently.
Introduction of the partners implementing the project - 4/4.
Multicultural Center, Czech Republic – Prague
http://www.mkc.cz/en/home.html
The Multicultural Center Prague is a non-profit organization interested in issues related to the coexistence of different cultures in the Czech Republic and abroad.
The Multicultural Center Prague wishes to:
• Show that multicultural coexistence is possible and enriching for all;
• Promote tolerant society, open to differences and making the most of cultural variety within the Czech Republic and beyond its borders while promoting the values of social integration and cohesion;
• Advocate intercultural dialogue and learning among diverse cultures within and outside of the EU by engaging in a wide range of activities including cultural and educational events, public debates, publishing, research and collaboration with other organizations and individuals at home and abroad.
Since our founding in 1999, we have been busy working on new educational, cultural and information initiatives. We organize workshops, courses, international seminars, debates, film screenings and book readings for children, students, teachers, librarians and just about everybody else. Additionally, we also run websites devoted to issues such as migration or multicultural librarianship. We have a well-stocked public library designed for those with an interest in multicultural issues.
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