Partnerships and start-ups representatives who had run projects under the 6th round of the “PAFF Local Partnerships” Program met at the workshop sessions to share experiences, evaluate projects, enhance the partnerships and raise funds for further actions serving local common good. The sessions were held in three venues – Chrzanów (Małopolskie Province), Bysław (Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province) and Krotoszyn (Wielkopolskie Province) in September and October.
Each workshop started with presentation of the results of the project implemented by the hosts. In Chrzanów the participants walked the Fablok trail and visited the exhibition presenting the first locomotive factory in Poland at the local museum. In Bysław they visited the beach at Bysławskie lake – it was rearranged and thanks to cultural events held there is now full of life. In Krotoszyn they visited D-O-M square near the municipal library, which plays the role of the meeting place for residents. Also the rest of the workshop participants had the opportunity to present their partnership projects implemented in their local communities.
During the first workshop session Unit for Social Innovation and Research “Shipyard” experts Damian Jaworek and Maciej Onyszkiewicz discussed issues of social project evaluation, and encouraged partnerships to plan their own evaluation activities. Working in small groups the workshop participants developed the theory of change and the research questions, which will be useful in assessing whether the initiatives they are implementing are the best ones.
Next, Common Good Lab instructors, leaders of partnerships established under the program: Paweł Werbowy of Dębica Business Club Association, Dorota Lenarczyk of W.A.R.K.A. Association, and Bożena Pełdiak of Border Social and Cultural Association shared their experience and suggestions on how to strengthen partnership stability and continuity of activities. They also motivated participants to develop plans for the coming months and for the future cooperation.
The last workshop session, conducted by the Academy for the Development of Philanthropy in Poland expert Tomasz Schimanek, was on fundraising. The participants discussed their plans regarding who and how to approach to raise funds for their initiatives, and then the workshop coach presented them other modern and effective ways of raising funds and thus securing the continuation of their activities.
Local workshops under the “PAFF Local Partnerships” Program are held cyclically once a year. Their objective is to support continuity of partnerships established under the program and their initiatives serving the common good and stimulate local activity. In the present 6th round, 7 new partnerships and 3 start-ups acting for the common good were established in 12 municipalities. Over all 6 rounds a total of 45 partnerships involving 630 partners were set up at the area of 93 municipalities.
