Światowid Association of Wielkopolskie province was a host of the regional meeting of Act Locally Centers, the fourth in the series of a dozen of such events. The meeting was attended by representatives of six organizations operating in the region. They were both ALCs that have cooperated with the program for years, namely: Stowarzyszenie Społeczno-Kulturalne Granica (Frontier Social and Cultural Association) of Lubawka, Dolnośląskie province and the Foundation for Collegium Polonicum of Słubice, Lubuskie province, and ALCs that joined the network in 2015, that is: LGD Kraina Szlaków Turystycznych (Local Activity Group Land of Hiking Trails) of Sulęcin, Lubuskie province, Stowarzyszenie Solidarni w Partnerstwie (Solidary in Partnership Association) of Konin, Wielkopolskie province and LGD KOLD of Lwówek, Wielkopolskie province.

One of the main subjects discussed during the meeting was raising money for the ALC’s own contribution under the “Act Locally” Program. The fundraising methods were also discussed in a broader context, in relation to various initiatives carried out by NGOs. A part of the meeting was devoted to sharing experience related to implementation of this-year’s edition of the program and to the application generator service.

“Such meetings on the local level are very needed and important for ALCs because they give people active in such organizations opportunity to meet and inspire each other. Discussion on issues important for organizations operating in the same region often can lead to joint actions, and organizations that already know each other have the opportunity to develop new areas of cooperation,” emphasizes Justyna Matusiak, a guest of the meeting, the “Act Locally” Program Coordinator at the Academy for the Development of Philanthropy in Poland (the Program Manager).

The regional meetings are held annually as part of the “Act Locally” Program. They are organized in various regions of Poland and serve networking and integration of Act Locally Centers, development of ever closer cooperation, experience sharing, and – what is the most important – working out common initiatives at the regional level such as promotional campaigns, fundraising or cooperation with partners. To date, such regional meetings under the 9th edition of the “Act Locally” Program have already been held in Białobrzegi, Ustrzyki Dolne and Debrzno.

The objective of the “Act Locally” Program, launched in 2000, is to assist and encourage local communities in villages and small towns by lending support to civil initiatives that foster developmental aspirations, improve the quality of life and contribute to building social capital. Through the network of 67 Act Locally Centers operating in the area of almost 620 communes, initiatives responding to the residents’ needs are subsidized through the local grant competitions whose beneficiaries are NGOs and informal groups of citizens. Until now, almost 800 such projects have been implemented.