LLP Grundtvig learning partnership project ACT! Active & Responsible Citizen= Flourishing Future Society 3rd project partner meeting 6-9 February 2013, Dublin

Presentation on the feedback of the civic actions in Bulgaria Partner organisation: KU TU Ltd. Civic actions carried out: 1. With a Street Dance, Give Your Health a Chance 2. Preserve the environment, it’s your source of life 3. Improving the healthcare system in Bulgaria , Dublin 2

With a Street Dance, Give Your Health a Chance Date and time: 7 October 2012; 15:00 h Number of participants: about 20 active; about 100 passive Place of a civic action: Independence square, Sofia , Dublin 3

With a Street Dance, Give Your Health a Chance Brief summary The civic action was inspired by the good practice selected from Bulgaria – “Sofia Breathes”. The goal was to make people lead a healthier way of life, with more exercises, outdoor activities, pleasant social exercises, without cigarettes and alcohol. The civic action was organised on a public place in Sofia with the help of professional and semi-professional Latin dancers. They danced on the street and invited people passing by to join them. Target groups: General public – working people, pupils and students, senior citizens, etc.; from children to elderly people , Dublin 4

With a Street Dance, Give Your Health a Chance: Methods The civic action could be classified as “Image Theatre” because the participants used their bodies to express themselves and show emotions while dancing. Image Theatre techniques are non-verbal Participants use their own bodies or ‘sculpt’ the bodies of others , Dublin 5

With a Street Dance, Give Your Health a Chance: Evidence , Dublin 6

With a Street Dance, Give Your Health a Chance: Feedback from the participants’ point of view Were the objectives of the civic action achieved? Yes, it focused the attention of the wide public on a chosen topic through entertaining outdoor activities for about 2 hours What was the most successful area of the execution of the civic action? Using dancing as a means for expressing a civic position Fun, entertaining, attractive Very appropriate choice of time (Sunday afternoon) and place (public square) What problems were faced during the civic action? More information in advance to be provided A quick dance course to be organised in the beginning so more people could participate , Dublin 7

With a Street Dance, Give Your Health a Chance: Feedback from the audience’s point of view What aspects attracted to participate in the civic action? Untraditional outdoor activities Attractiveness of the chosen method Appropriate choice of day and place What were the best aspects of the civic action? Easy to attract people’s attention Fun, entertaining What aspects of the civic action could be improved? How? Wider promotional campaign with specific information on the goals of the event Follow-up activities – regular events; open dance classes; public campaign on the importance of the issue and alternatives for resolving it What is the impact of the civic action? Showed people an entertaining way to spend their free time Dancing is fun Interest in signing up for dance classes , Dublin 8

With a Street Dance, Give Your Health a Chance: Reflections on the feedback Organizers’ reflections on the feedback collected: Hard to collect feedback Questionnaires did not work well; Feedback collected mainly through quick face-to-face interviews and observations A high number of people were involved (some took active part, some were only spectators); More people than initially expected which caused a slight problem The civic action had a positive impact on all; Most frequently expressed opinions were entertaining, attractive, untraditional way to deal with a problem of common importance Raised the question of sedentary and obesity as an increasing problem in Bulgaria Focused the attention of the society on alternatives how people could overcome this in their busy everyday activities 2 people signed up for dance classes Conclusions made by the organizers based on the above-mentioned reflections, e.g. proposed changes: Such civic action is well accepted by the wide public which means it could be an effective way to engage people with social problems More precise planning is required – more information to be provided in advance; clearer focus on the goals; probably to be organised in cooperation with local communities and public authorities In order to increase the impact follow-up activities have to be carried out, including involving specialised organisations, dance schools, authorities Public informational campaigns on the chosen topic to be implemented , Dublin 9

Preserve the environment, it’s your source of life Date and time: 13 October 2012; 11:00 h Number of participants: 40 people, 18 active Place of a civic action: outdoor space, forest, Malka Zhelyazna , Dublin 10

Preserve the environment, it’s your source of life: Brief summary The civic action is based on the idea “Park” developed during the partner meeting in Rotterdam by the project trainees The goal is to make people care about the environment, clean up the green spaces in their local communities and lead a life with more outdoor activities. The civic action was implemented with the contribution of representatives of the community of Malka Zhelyazna, a small village in Stara Planina, Bulgaria. The participants were presented with the project idea and distributed with promotional materials and recognition materials of the project (hats). A few of the local representatives were asked to draw maps of the local forest where treasure chests were hidden. The participants had to find them and in the process of searching to clean up the garbage left in the forest by tourists and passers-by. The chests contained notes saying “This is your forest, care for it”. “Preserve the environment, it’s your source of life” and so on. So the treasure to be found was the forest itself , Dublin 11

Preserve the environment, it’s your source of life: Methods The civic action could be considered “Invisible Theatre” because the activities address an issue of shared importance and concern for a local community and are implemented in a public space , Dublin 12

Preserve the environment, it’s your source of life: Evidence , Dublin 13

Preserve the environment, it’s your source of life: Feedback from the participants’ point of view Were the objectives of the civic action achieved? Yes, small communities are more willing to take part in civic actions with immediate effect on their quality of life What was the most successful area of the execution of the civic action? Organised among people that already know each other The element of “competition” Taking care of the environment while having fun What problems were faced during the civic action? None , Dublin 14

Preserve the environment, it’s your source of life: Feedback from the audience’s point of view What aspects attracted to participate in the civic action? Attractiveness of the chosen method Importance of the cause What were the best aspects of the civic action? Fun, entertaining Benefits to a local community What aspects of the civic action could be improved? How? None What is the impact of the civic action? Promotion of the importance of the cause Potential for continuation of the activities , Dublin 15

Preserve the environment, it’s your source of life: Reflections on the feedback Organizers’ reflections on the feedback collected: Feedback collected through questionnaires and interviews Not many people participated (about 140 people live in Malka Zhelyazna) It became clear that such activities within small communities have a strong impact potential, they are easy to be organised and bring a clear message to people The civic action was evaluated as attractive, unusual and focused on un important topic Conclusions made by the organizers based on the above-mentioned reflections, e.g. proposed changes: Such civic action is well accepted by people from small communities which means it could be an effective way to engage people with social problems To be organised within small groups of people, neigbourhoods, etc. The cooperation of the local community is crucial , Dublin 16

Improving the healthcare system in Bulgaria Date and time: 14 October 2012; 13:00 h Number of participants: 21 Place of a civic action: Panichishte , Dublin 17

Improving the healthcare system in Bulgaria: Brief summary The civic action took the form of a discussion on the gaps in the Bulgarian healthcare system. Young people in an active working age were gathered to share their experience, identify the weaknesses and give recommendations for improving the healthcare system in Bulgaria. Each of the participants was asked to put down in one sentence a suggestion s/he has for making the healthcare better and more accessible. Then every participant was photographed with their recommendation and all suggestions were compiled in a list which was handed out to the Ministry of Healthcare in Bulgaria. One of the goals was to provoke a discussion among young people who are paying health insurances and get their perspective on the benefits they receive in return and what motivation they have to continue doing it. The discussion was carried out in the presence of a representative of the Ministry of Healthcare , Dublin 18

Improving the healthcare system in Bulgaria: Evidence , Dublin 19

Improving the healthcare system in Bulgaria: Feedback from the participants’ point of view Were the objectives of the civic action achieved? Yes, it was a good forum for exchange of experience and ideas and for expressing a civil position on the matter What was the most successful area of the execution of the civic action? The profile of the people which took part in the discussion The presence of a representative of the policy-makers, competent on healthcare issues and with sufficient information in the field What problems were faced during the civic action? None , Dublin 20

Improving the healthcare system in Bulgaria: Feedback from the audience’s point of view What aspects attracted to participate in the civic action? Importance of the issue in question Lack of enough public forums for expressing a position from the point of view of the citizens Interesting presentation of the event and its goals What were the best aspects of the civic action? The discussion Opportunity to share an opinion What aspects of the civic action could be improved? How? Continuation should follow Make such a discussion within a larger public forum Provoke public debate with the participation of citizens What is the impact of the civic action? Exchange of ideas Providing the results of the discussion to policy-makers Potential for continuation of the activities , Dublin 21

Improving the healthcare system in Bulgaria: Reflections on the feedback Organizers’ reflections on the feedback collected: Feedback collected through questionnaires and interviews Young people are eager to take part in civic discussions on issues of common importance but are not provided with this opportunity enough Discussions are not enough; public awareness should be raised and follow- up activities should take place The civic action was evaluated as interesting, entertaining and focused on un important topic Conclusions made by the organizers based on the above-mentioned reflections, e.g. proposed changes: The civic action was initially planned to take a different form but the intensive discussion prevailed Public dimension of such a civic discussion is needed The involvement of civic organisations and official authorities could be of big importance , Dublin 22

Promotional channels used Channels and methods used to advertise the civic actions: Distributed promotional materials (leaflets) Through the associated partners in Bulgaria Through KU TU’s informational channels and associates Recognition materials – hats with project logo Through the participants and the trainees , Dublin 23