Student in a laboratory. Civic laboratory

A group of students from the Spatial Economy field of study, actively engaged in the Student Science Circle for Spatial Planning PUZZLE, together with facilitators of a ”Planning for Real” method carried out social consultancies within the scope of Civic Laboratories. The workshop meetings were to support local communities in the process of changing the image of Wrocław housing estates and help in preparation of applications for this year’s edition of the Wrocław Civic Budget (WCB). Małgorzata Świąder and Aleksandra Rabiega volunteered in works regarding the Borek housing estate and Witold Osak was our representative in Szczepin.

At the beginning, problem areas were defined in the region of housing estates and so-called local actors were named, who were people who could have a significant influence on spatial shaping and problem solving.

During the second stage, our students together with facilitators run workshops with children in primary schools. During the classes models of previously selected problem areas were created. Using the models, participants or the third stage of Civic Laboratories identified the needs and problems of particular housing estates regarding certain places and objects. Lack of lighting in one of the streets, the problem of dog excrement in a park or a dangerous crossing – such example elements were identified in their environment. Certainly there were a lot more cards – 180. However, classifying the problems into categories such as: recreation, safety, social activity, etc. allowed for quick understanding of residents’ reactions. The more people located problems on the models of the housing estates the easier it was to identify their intensity and define which of them are truly essential for residents.

During the last stage, the residents jointly discussed the identified problems and Project proposals, which should be carried out in their areas. The significance of each problem and the hierarchy of projects to carry out were defined. It was a last meeting for the residents. The volunteers and facilitators created a report based on the outcomes of the meetings with residents, which is to be a base for creating applications for the civic budget.

The discussion during the meetings was so fruitful that the SSC of Spatial Planning PUZZLE decided not only to assist local residents in defining their needs but also took up to prepare a part of the applications themselves.

Małgorzata Świąder, Jan Kazak