Since 2006, together with the School of Leaders Association, we have been organizing nationwide Your Vote, Your Choice action aimed at initiating and promoting cooperation between residents and local authorities in solving local problems and to reinforce a sense of joint responsibility for the election promises and decisions made on the election day. Each year we invite non-governmental organizations and informal groups from all over Poland offering them help and support in implementing project serving improved public participation, building dialogue between community members and their representatives in local government and integrating local communities around solving their community problems. The action is open to any organization or informal group as well as libraries, schools, and other institutions which register at the portal www.maszglos.pl and make a commitment to implement a set of tasks aimed at mobilizing civic participation. All registered participants are offered substantive support, which includes a cycle of workshops, individual consultations and expert advice, instruction and promotional materials as well as information and experience sharing through the project’s website.
All participants are offered substantive support, which includes a cycle of workshops, individual consultations and expert advice, instruction and promotional materials as well as information and experience sharing through the project’s website. We also facilitate contacts with local authorities and media, help the participants in promotion activities, provide consultation on the scope of local authorities’ powers and legal regulations. Our partners provide mentoring on how to conduct activities, engage residents and encourage local authorities to cooperation.
Participants who are most effective in facilitating cooperation of residents and local authorities compete for the Super Local Government award.