496 projects implemented by nearly 8,000 people, with a total funding amount of PLN 2.1 million. These impressive figures are the results of the Mazowsze Lokalnie (Local Mazowsze) Fund, a three-year project that concluded on November 7th. The 2016 Social Detonator was an opportunity to summarize the implementation of activities supporting grassroots initiatives and the development of youth NGOs in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship. The meeting was attended by representatives of the government administration, representatives of the project operator, its ambassadors, local leaders, and project implementers. Jacek Ostrowski, Board Member of the Cooperation Fund Foundation, the project leader, welcomed everyone. Andżelika Wardęga, Director of the Department of Social Economy and Public Benefit at the Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Policy, also spoke, emphasizing the important role the Civic Initiatives Fund plays in fostering social change.
The results of the funded activities were presented by the program’s beneficiaries: the RAPAKIWI Association, whose members described how they used the giant stones in Wólka Kamienna (the largest of which weighs 100 tons!) to integrate residents and educate children. A representative of the Breastfeeding Promotion Foundation presented the results of the “Every Drop Counts” information campaign encouraging breastfeeding. A representative of the Historical Association of Northern Mazovia, which, thanks to funding from the FIO-Mazowsze Lokalnie (Foundation for the Promotion of Breastfeeding Locally), also spoke about the results of her project.
Among the attractions prepared especially for the event was an expert panel entitled: “Grant = Detonation? Were local potentials successfully activated and maintained/developed?” Local activists – two representatives of the Ambassadors and a local leader – were invited to the discussion. They shared their experiences with implementing projects and highlighted the changes that have occurred in their communities thanks to the program’s funding. The audience also confirmed that the FIO-Mazowsze Lokalnie (Foundation for the Promotion of Breastfeeding Locally) has helped to activate local communities.
Awards were presented during the Detonator to the winners of the “Tell us about your project 2016” competition. Daniel Prędkopowicz, program coordinator, expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in the implementation of the FIO – Mazowsze Lokalnie (Foundation for Locally Mazovia), a game show.
The final event of the meeting was the FIO-LIADA (Foundation for Locally Mazovia), a quiz show where participants tested their knowledge of the three-year program. The “Local Activity Map,” a project guide, helped players answer questions. The conference concluded with a lunch prepared by the “Rodzinna” Social Cooperative in Radom.
*FIO – Mazowsze Lokalnie (Foundation for Locally Mazovia), a regional support program for local communities and young non-governmental organizations, aimed at increasing citizen engagement in public life. It was aimed primarily at small local communities, but also at small communities in large cities with limited access to material resources, knowledge, and innovation. Three competitions were held between June 2014 and November 2016, offering micro-grants ranging from PLN 1,500 to PLN 5,000. Informal groups and non-governmental organizations from the Masovian Voivodeship, operating for no longer than 18 months, were eligible for support. The FIO – Mazowsze Lokalnie (Local Mazowsze) was operated by a consortium of three Masovian organizations: the Cooperation Fund Foundation, the Europa i My Association, and the BORIS Association.
