You can still apply in the call for quick response (intervention) projects. The deadline for submitting proposals is May 22, 2023 (noon) CET. This is the last call for proposals in the Active Citizens Fund – Regional Programme. Here we are giving you a hint on what types of activities you can get funding for.
The call for quick response (intervention) projects is aimed at organisations that identify a crisis situation in their communities, i.e. a sudden change in the social situation or growing problems affecting a specific target group, and have an idea for activities responding to it. The planned intervention should respond to specific, urgent problems and provide solutions which are implementable and can bring results within three to eight months.
More information about the call can be found on the Programme’s website. We also encourage you to read the list of resources, that will help you write a good proposal (the materials for the call for intervention projects are listed in the second part of this article).
Below, we suggest what current situations occurring in many places in Poland can be a good starting point for writing an intervention proposal. More hints can also be found in the second part of the Guidelines for Applicants and Project Promoters of Active Citizens – Regional Fund.
Remember, these are just examples – you can be inspired, but you can also write a proposal responding to a completely different challenge.
Area 1. Human rights protection (including gender equality issues)
- Cases of discrimination (e.g. on the basis of origin or religion) in access to support from public institutions of different groups of persons seeking refugee status in Poland – the answer may be e.g. actions monitoring and reporting such cases, providing legal support to persons experiencing discrimination.
- The phenomenon of hate speech towards various minority groups, particularly intensified e.g. due to the increased number of people with refugee experience and the appearance of fake-news (i.e. false information) about them – the answer may be e.g. educational activities, social campaigns combating disinformation.
- The implementation of the so-called Parental Directive and Work-Life Balance Directive – an opportunity e.g. for educational and information activities on new rights and obligations, aimed at both employees and employers.
Area 2. Promoting social diversity and preventing exclusion
- Appearance in local communities of people with migration and refugee experience, who need support e.g. in adapting to the Polish education system, learning the Polish language, learning how the Polish administration and public services – the answer could be e.g. support services such as the help of intercultural assistants.
- A visible and urgent need for integration of new residents and host communities – an answer could be e.g. undertakings including newcomers in community activities, such as neighbourhood meetings or common workshops, which will allow e.g. mitigating community tensions.
Area 3. Building democratic culture and civic engagement at local level (including environmental issues)
- The upcoming election campaign and elections – an opportunity for monitoring activities in terms of compliance with the law (by the media and politicians), fighting disinformation, but also pro-frequency campaigns.
- Unfolding conflicts in local communities – the answer may be, for example, to launch dialogue processes and professionally support communities in conflict resolution.
Remember!
When preparing an application, be sure that the description of the crisis situation or sudden change in the social situation is not too general and the group of recipients is not too vague or unspecific for the planned activities to bring tangible results and improvement in the situation of a specific group during the project. What matters here is a concrete response to a specific challenge at a specific time for a specific group of people.
Also, make sure that the proposal explains what the ‘extraordinary’ nature of the situation described is and why it represents some kind of disruption, change or perhaps opportunity for the group in question (no matter how difficult or complicated its situation has been so far).
Good luck!
