The overall goal the ‘Spatial Justice’ project is to engage, empower and enable youth, to lead sustainable actions in the process of transformation of peripheral areas into liveable areas through sharing good practices, innovative tools, and methods. Through the consortium of 6 partners from 5 countries in Western Balkans and EU, there will be mediums and opportunities to exchange experiences and knowledge, and on a longer term, create grounds for future initiatives and collaborations. The indicated set of activities are tailored to deliver a concrete impact from the perspective of youth workers, urban advisors as well as youths from peripheral areas for the purposes of ensuring them a greater inclusion in the informal settlement upgrading process through the development of new innovative urban games.

The project aims to identify young professionals in each country that through a consistent engagement, will become key actors in their local environments, become URBAN CHANGERS. Each organization of the consortium will select 4 urban changers, who will be part of the entire process. Urban Changers from each country will be engaged in exchanging good practices from program countries in the urban design, revitalization of peripheral areas, advocacy, and participation for peripheral revitalization. The methodology used during the training events will be non-formal training method, study visit, exchange of best practices.

The main objectives are:

  • Development of high-quality profiles of urban advisors with the acquisition of capacities to engage a transversal audience of targets (young people living in peripheral areas) in a differentiated programme practice providing urban enhancement methods and the development of skills with a transversal relevance in all dimensions of life.
  • Acquisition of practical experience and measurable results in the use of urban gamification as a tool of work with young people.
  • Motivation to cooperate with the consortium in further follow-up of the project at the local or European levels.
International Training in Vienna

The journey of these Urban Changers will start by an International Training taking place in Vienna, Austria, aiming at empowering youth workers, potential urban advisors with competencies related to empowering and engaging rural youth in scaling up upgrading of peripheral areas through bottom-up process. This training includes study trips, discussion and brainstorming on vacant spaces, public space, re-use, revitalization, placemaking, etc.

During the international event, the young urban changers will provide additional inputs on the design of the gamification tool. They will be the coaches that will lead the activities in respective countries involving youth in suburban and peripheral areas. Participants from Albania will be leading the activities in sub-urban and peripheral areas in Shkoder, facilitated by GO2.

The international training will be a 3 full day program, taking place on September 6-10th, 2022 (including travelling days), which will be hosted by Wonderland – Platform for European Architecture.

More detailed information on the activities and training format, you may find in the document attached here.

Application

Urban Changers must be between 18 and 30 years old, interested in urban design and revitalization for urban, sub-urban and/or peripheral areas, regardless of their profession. Youth workers/urban advisors will be empowered with competencies related to empowering and engaging rural youth in scaling up upgrading of peripheral areas through bottom-up approach. 

Documents you need to submit for application are as follows:

  • A motivation letter where you elaborate you interest in this training and the following engagement.
  • Curriculum Vitae

You may submit your application until August 3rd, 2022, via email: ngohorizonti@t-com.me 

Costs of travel and full board for participants will be covered by New Horizon NGO.
Participants are responsible for covering the costs of necessary documents following the Covid-19 travel restrictions.

Please feel free to contact us at our email address should you have any question.

Spatial Justice is an Erasmus + Project implemented by Wonderland, Step Institute, ETMI, GO2, New Horizon, REIC. This project is co-funded by the European Union.