Narative report Places of Diversity Idea of the project “PLACES OF DIVERSITY - Public spaces as a field of intercultural dialogue and the promotion of social values“ is to inspire those who want to see, in their communities/public spaces, the promotion of desirable social values, such as understanding, support, love, multiculturalism, respect for diversity, etc. Places od Diversity is a project jointly implemented by three NGOs dealing with public spaces: EXPEDITIO Center for Sustainable Spatial Development, Kotor, Montenegro; Leaders of Tomorrow, Amman, Jordan; Co-Plan, Tirana, Albania Duration: 11 months (August 2013 - July 2014)
In many Mediterranean cities and towns, especially in less developed democratic systems, public spaces are often commercialized - by the private sector. When planning and designing, the focus is mainly on the physical aspect of the design of public spaces, and much less on the participation of citizens in the process of their formation or messages that can be sent within them. Idea of the project "PLACES OF DIVERSITY - Public spaces as a field of intercultural dialogue and the promotion of social values" is to inspire those who want to see, in their communities/public spaces, the promotion of desirable social values, such as understanding, support, love, multiculturalism, respect for diversity, etc. Places od Diversity is a project jointly implemented by three NGOs dealing with public spaces: EXPEDITIO Center for Sustainable Spatial Development, Kotor, Montenegro; Leaders of Tomorrow, Amman, Jordan; Co-Plan, Tirana, Albania With the support of Anna Lindh Foundation
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Narative reportPlaces of DiversityIdea of the project “PLACES OF DIVERSITY - Public spaces as a field of intercultural dialogue and the promotion of social values “ is to inspire those who want to see, in their communities/public spaces, the promotion of desirable social values, such as understanding, support, love, multiculturalism, respect for diversity, etc.
Places od Diversity is a project jointly implemented by three NGOs dealing with public spaces:
EXPEDITIO Center for Sustainable Spatial Development, Kotor, Montenegro; Leaders of Tomorrow, Amman, Jordan; Co-Plan, Tirana, Albania
Duration: 11 months (August 2013 - July 2014)
Intercultural exchange / Jordan, Albania, Montenegro
“Places of Diversity” Study visit – Albania and Montenegro
27 October-1 November 2013
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Introduction
Within the project “PLACES OF DIVERSITY - Public Spaces as Field for Intercultural Dialog and
Promotion of Social Values”, funded by the Anna Lindh Foundation, a study visit to Albania and
Montenegro was organized in the period 27 October - 1 November 2013. The study visit was organized
in the towns of Albania (Tirana and Durrës) and Montenegro (Kotor, Tivat and Perast in Boka Kotorska
Bay).
The project “PLACES OF DIVERSITY - Public Spaces as Field for Intercultural Dialog and Promotion of
Social Values” officially began in August 2013 and it will last for 11 months.
Project partners Partners in the project are organizations EXPEDITIO Center for Sustainable Spatial Development, from Kotor, Montenegro; Leaders of Tomorrow, from Amman, Jordan; and Co-PLAN, from Tirana, Albania. EXPEDITIO is an NGO whose mission is to encourage sustainable spatial development in Montenegro and the SEE region through activity in the fields of sustainable architecture, cultural heritage and urban planning. EXPEDITIO was established by six students of architecture in 1997, after participation in anti-Milošević’s student protests in Belgrade. The idea to establish NGO derived from the desire to work closely with communities on various urban and rural issues. Since 2000, EXPEDITIO is based in Kotor, one of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Montenegro. Leaders of Tomorrow (LoT) is a youth-led NGO, active since 2007 in Jordan and regionally in the Middle East and North Africa. Their mission is to build a community of young Arab leaders who are educated, critical, initiative-takers, and capable of serving their local communities. LoT worked on many projects and initiatives, including EuroMed and YiA exchanges such as Diwanieh (public street debates), FOR9A.com (lifechanging opportunities for young Arabs), FADFED (public commenting), Mstkblna (prepping high school students), and Mo7aka (role-playing retreats) - that address youth challenges in the MENA. Co-PLAN was established in 1997. It has an extensive experience in regard to all aspects of governance and sustainable spatial development, urban and regional planning and development, activities at multiple scales (i.e., the neighborhood, city, regional, inter-regional, and national levels) and with a spectrum of actors such as communities, local and central government, businesses, donors, and civil society organizations. Co-PLAN has collaboration agreement with Polis University from Tirana and is acting as its applied research agent combining the practical live experience with the academic studies.
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“PLACES OF DIVERSITY” Project summary In many Mediterranean cities, especially those with less developed democracies, public spaces are often commercialized, or taken up by private capital investments. When planning public spaces the attention is usually devoted mainly to physical appearance, and much less to citizens’ participation in or the messages the space conveys to its users. Bearing this in mind, the project “PLACES OF DIVERSITY” can be an inspiration for those stakeholders who want to see social values promoted in urban spaces in their communities. Although the project will be developed for the towns in Jordan, Montenegro and Albania, the set principles will enable their application in other places. The overall aim of the project “PLACES OF DIVERSITY” is to improve intercultural dialog between youth and civil society organizations from Albania, Jordan and Montenegro, through activities that increase citizens participation in promoting social values in urban/public spaces. Specific objectives of the project are: 1. Increasing citizens awareness on intercultural dialogue and social values by using public spaces as a field to promote it 2. Improving collaboration between actors dealing with urban and social issues in Albania, Jordan and Montenegro, through joint activities in public spaces 3. Increasing participation of youth and CSOs in joint actions on re-thinking public spaces in Jordan, Montenegro and Albania The main project activities include:
1. Informing stakeholders about the activities, objectives and results of the project; 2. Organizing study visits - Amman, Tirana and Kotor - linking, networking and learning from good practices of activism in the public spaces; 3. Organizing creative workshops for young people in order to develop ideas on how to promote desirable social values in public spaces; 4. Realizing creative pilot projects in Jordan, Albania and Montenegro, with the participation of local artists, designers, youth associations, etc. 5. Creating a common web portal: How with small interventions in public spaces we can promote desirable social values?
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Study visit - ALBANIA AND MONTENEGRO
The aim of the study visit organized in Albania and Montenegro from October 27 until November 1,
2013 was to visit project partners’ countries in order to meet and network with local actors and
organizations dealing with public spaces, intercultural dialogue and social issues, exchanging
experiences with them and learning from good practices of activism in public spaces.
Participants in the study visit were six representatives of partner organizations from Albania, Jordan and
Montenegro, two from each organization.
1st day - October 27, 2013
The study visit began in Tirana where the participants arrived on October 27, 2013. This part of the
study tour was hosted by partners from Co-PLAN.
2nd day - October 28, 2013
In the morning of October 28, 2013, a public
presentation of the project and partner
organizations’ activities related to public spaces
was held at the POLIS University, beginning at
11.30. The presentation was attended by 68
students of POLIS University and 8 representatives
of project partners.
In the introduction, the partners from Co-PLAN
presented briefly the project “SPACES OF
DIVERSITY”, stating its main aims and objectives
and expressing pleasure in cooperating with
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Leaders of Tomorrow and Expeditio. They mentioned a successful cooperation that Co-PLAN and
Expeditio have had so far, especially in a recent project entitled “Revival of City Squares in Balkan
Cities”.
After that, the partners
from Leaders of
Tomorrow held a short
presentation of their
organization, giving a
couple of introductory
information about
Jordan and then
presenting their main
activities in public
spaces: FADFED and
DIWANIEH.
FADFED is a public event involving the placing of white papers in different public spaces and inviting
people to express their opinion, in writing or drawing, on various political or social issues, with the
purpose of making public spaces the places for public expression of opinion and of bridging the gap
between citizens and decision-makers. FADFED documents diverse opinions in public spaces, creating
dialogue that is shared online with” tagged” local community stakeholders on Facebook and Twitter
(#FADFED). FADFED tackles public self-censorship and offers equal opportunities to all members of
society to freely express themselves in public. Instead of controversial local issues remaining hush-hush
behind private doors, FADFED listens to the voices in the street and delivers it to the inbox and
newsfeed of local leaders.
DIWANIEH is a debate program running since 2012. Organized in public spaces, Diwanieh offer
possibilities for young debaters to speak about sensitive social and political issues, providing at the same
time young people with the opportunity to learn debating skills. One of the ideas is also to convert
unused or neglected public spaces into debate stages.
In the final part of the presentation, Expeditio
partners presented briefly their activities aimed
at raising awareness of values of space in
general and public spaces as places where
different values could be promotes. They
presented several actions serving as examples
of more diverse usage of public spaces:
different artistic interventions, mural paintings,
social events, yoga practicing in parks, etc.,
which gathered local community.
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The presentation ended with showing a short documentary featuring the project “Revival of City
Squares in Balkan Cities”, which was implemented in 2011/12 in cooperation between Co-PLAN,
Expeditio and KOR (Coalition from Sustainable Development) from Skopje, Macedonia. The project was
aimed at contributing to the revival of city squares as viable public places that foster cultural identity
and promote diversity through enforcement of public policies and active community participation.
In the afternoon, guests from Jordan
and Montenegro were led by hosts to a
specific sightseeing tour of Tirana in
order to see different public spaces in
the city where the colleagues from Co-
PLAN conducted various artistic and
other interventions during the Tirana
Design Week, implemented as a part of
the project “PLACES OF DIVERSITY”.
3rd day - October 29, 2013
In the morning of October 29, the
project partners held a joint meeting in
order to discuss the project activities in
detail. The meeting was attended by six
representatives of project partners, two
from each organization.
At the beginning, the partners expressed
their pleasure at the project being
approved because it offers them with
the possibility to meet partners from
countries with whom they have not
cooperated so far and to network with
other organizations.
During the meeting, the following issues
were discussed:
1. Informing stakeholders about the project and its activities by posting information of partners’
websites and sending press releases to the media.
- Partners agreed on using their usual methods to disseminate information
- Partners agreed to send to Expeditio contacts of stakeholders in their countries in order to create a
mailing list for sending project information and newsletters
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2. Study visit to Albania and Montenegro
The partners agreed to circulate photographs and exchange presentations, while Expeditio, in
cooperation with other partners, should prepare a report of the study tour.
- Study visit to Jordan
According to project plan the study visit should last for 6 days.
The following has been agreed:
- The study visit should be planned for the March 2014 (13th or 20th March) in order to coincide with one
of DIWANIEH that partners from Jordan are planning to organize in the town of Aqaba in the south of
Jordan, so that the partners can attend it
- The aim of the study visit is to network with different stakeholders (NGOs, institutions, authorities)
who deal with public spaces, urban planning, etc.
- The study visit should include meetings with representatives of Faculty of Architecture/Spatial planning
to talk about role of education in context of public spaces planning and utilization; with public
authorities; with Anna Lindh network members in order to discuss possibilities for cooperation
- Partners meeting in order to discuss already realized and further activities of the project
- Partners from Montenegro and Albania should check visa procedures
- Partners from Jordan should inform other partners, during January, about final dates of the study tour,
in order to have enough time to arrange for air-tickets and make other preparations
3. Organizing creative workshops with young people in order to develop ideas on how to promote
different social values in public spaces and
4. Realizing creative pilot projects in Jordan, Albania and Montenegro
-Workshops should be organized as one-day events, intended for young people, discussing what social
values are important and meaningful for them and how they can be promoted in public spaces using
small interventions
- Several ideas created during the workshops should be then selected and developed into concrete
interventions in public spaces; Interventions can also be implemented in inner public spaces.
- Partners from Jordan showed interest for the mapping of public spaces, which was an activity
implemented by Expeditio; Expeditio should send them methodology
- Partners from Albania have already conducted this activity during September 2013
- Other partners should implements workshops in the coming period October/November/December
2013, while public spaces interventions should be finished by May 2014
5. Dissemination of project ideas – leaflets, posters, in local languages
- Leaflets and other PR material will be developed jointly by partners
- A joint website – portal of ideas for interventions in public spaces- it should be created as an open
page for putting ideas on how small interventions in urban spaces can promote social values; the
website will be created by Expeditio
- Partners from Albania suggested that instead of creating a completely new website it would be more
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useful to open separate pages within the existing websites of partners, because of its sustainability after
the end of this project;
- Project’s logo – partners concluded it would be good to have a project’s logo although it was not
originally planned; the partners can propose their ideas for the logo and it will be designed by Expeditio
In the afternoon of October 29, the partners left for Kotor, Montenegro. The next two days of the study
tour were hosted by Expeditio.
4th day - October 30, 2013
On October 30, in the morning, a meeting was organized at Expeditio office in Kotor with
representatives of three local organizations from Boka Kotorska, “UrbaNova” from Herceg Novi, “Youth
Cultural Center of Herceg Novi / Sinestezija Festival” from Herceg Novi and “Our Action” from Kotor.
These organizations are active in promoting civil activism, working with young people on different issues
and organizing alternative artistic and cultural events in public spaces gathering to a large extent young
people. The idea of the meeting was to establish contacts, exchange ideas, share experiences and
possibly get ideas from some new activities or projects.
“UrbaNova” is a relatively new
organization from Herceg Novi organized
a few months ago. They work with
children and young people belonging to
different vulnerable groups, through
interactive performances and theatre of
the oppressed. They are interested in
networking with other youth NGOs in
order to unite resources.
“Youth Cultural Center of Herceg Novi /
Sinestezija Festival” - Sinestezija
Festival is a five-day artistic event that
has been organized for three years now
in Herceg Novi. The idea is to collect different activities into one and make Nerceg Novi “the town of
artists” again, as it used to be known in the past when many artist (writers, painters, sculptors, etc.)
resided and created in this town. Sinestezija is a themed festival that includes different events, artistic
interventions, music performances, painting and exhibitions, racing up the city stairs (Herceg Novi is,
because of its geographic features, is know as the town of 100 001 steps), all taking place in different
public spaces, many of which are usually unused of in a state of neglect. They managed to obtain a
space, given by a private owner, to create a Youth Cultural Centre. They have around 50 members and
volunteers.
NGO “Our Action”, with a slogan “Work today for a better tomorrow” was established 3 years ago with
the idea to raise citizens’ volunteerism and activism and connect with various organizations. They
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organize different actions with
volunteers and events that
include different groups of
people, clean-up actions,
scouts actions, collecting of
money for different charitable
purposes, etc. Three years ago,
they started coordinating the
organization of events
dedicated to Mother Earth
Day, with actions taking place
for whole month in different
towns in Montenegro.
In the afternoon, the partners had a sightseeing tour in the Old Town of Kotor, which is, together with
the whole inner part of the Bay of Boka Kotorska, one of the two UNESCO World Heritage sites in
Montenegro.
The day finished with a visit to the neighbouring town of Tivat where the partners had a meeting with a
newly established informal group of activists called SOVE. SOVE presented their interventions
implemented so far in public spaces in Tivat (yarn bombing in a local park - a type of graffiti or street art
that employs colourful displays of knitted or crocheted yarn or fiber rather than paint or chalk, garage
sales, story-reading sessions for children in open spaces, artistic installations, etc.). During this ideas and
experience exchanging meeting, SOVE had a chance to learn about activities of Leaders of Tomorrow
and they were very interested in the idea of FADFED and DIWANIEH activities.
5th day - October 31, 2013
On 31 October, the partners meet with the KOMPAS from Kotor, which deals with young people and has
implemented many local actions involving
young people and volunteers.
In the afternoon, the partners visited the
town of Perast, situated within the UNESCO
protected area of Kotor, which is very famous
for its historical and cultural heritage,
especially its baroque palaces and churches
and the islands of St. George and Our Lady of
the Rocks.
In the evening of 31 October, a public
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presentation was
organized in the
neighbouring village of
Kavač, in the House of
Free Thought, owned
by the local
organization ANIMA
dealing mainly with
gender issues. The
public presentation
was intended for all
interested citizens and Montenegrin members of the Anna Lindh Foundation network. The presentation
was attended by 13 participants.
During the presentation, the participants had a chance to learn more about Jordan, its history, culture,
economy, gender and other social issues, sharing also information about Montenegro and finding many
similarities between the two countries.
6th day – November 1, 2013
Departure of participants.
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APPENDICES
PROGRAMME OF THE STUDY VISIT
Sunday, October 27, 2013 | TIRANA, Albania Arrival of the participants
Monday, October 28, 2013 | TIRANA, Albania
In the morning:
11.30-12.30: Public presentation at the Polis University
In the afternoon:
15.00-18.00: Sightseeing the places of Co-PLAN's inteventions during the Tirana Design Week
Tuesday, October 29, 2013 | TIRANA, Albania | KOTOR, Montenegro
In the morning:
10.00-12.30: Partners meeting at the Co-PLAN's office
In the afternoon: 15.00-22.00: Visiting Durres and Travelling from Tirana to Kotor Wednesday, October 30, 2013 | KOTOR, Montenegro
In the morning:
10.00-13.30: Stakeholders meeting at Expeditio office
In the afternoon: 16.00-17.00: Sightseeing tour of Kotor 18.00-20.00: Stakeholders meeting in Tivat Thursday, October 31, 2013 | KOTOR, Montenegro
In the morning:
09.30-11.30: Stakeholders meeting in Kotor
12.00-16.00: Sightseeing tour of Perast
In the evening:
19.00-21.30: Publuc presentation in Kavač (the House of Free Thought)
Friday, November 1, 2013 | KOTOR, Montenegro
Departure of participants
Report written by
Vesna Leković, project coordinator at Expeditio
REPORT
“Places of Diversity” Study visit to Jordan
11‐16 March 2014
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Introduction
Within the project “PLACES OF DIVERSITY ‐ Public Spaces as Field for Intercultural Dialog and
Promotion of Social Values”, funded by the Anna Lindh Foundation, a study visit to Jordan was
organized in the period 11‐16 March 2014. This was second of two study visits planned by the project.
The first one was organized in Albania and Montenegro on 27 October‐1 November 2013.
The study visit to Jordan was hosted by the partner organization Leaders of Tomorrow (LoT), from
Amman, Jordan. The study visit included meetings with NGO stakeholders in the cities of Amman and
Wadi Mousa, visits to LoTs intervention sites in Amman and its vicinity, as well as partners’ meetings.
The project “PLACES OF DIVERSITY ‐ Public Spaces as Field for Intercultural Dialog and Promotion of
Social Values” officially began in August 2013 and it will last for 11 months.
Project partners Partners in the project are organizations EXPEDITIO Center for Sustainable Spatial Development, from Kotor, Montenegro; Leaders of Tomorrow, from Amman, Jordan; and Co‐PLAN, from Tirana, Albania. EXPEDITIO is an NGO whose mission is to encourage sustainable spatial development in Montenegro and the SEE region through activity in the fields of sustainable architecture, cultural heritage and urban planning. EXPEDITIO was established by six students of architecture in 1997, after participation in anti‐Milošević’s student protests in Belgrade. The idea to establish NGO derived from the desire to work closely with communities on various urban and rural issues. Since 2000, EXPEDITIO is based in Kotor, one of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Montenegro. Leaders of Tomorrow (LoT) is a youth‐led NGO, active since 2007 in Jordan and regionally in the Middle East and North Africa. Their mission is to build a community of young Arab leaders who are educated, critical, initiative‐takers, and capable of serving their local communities. LoT worked on many projects and initiatives, including EuroMed and YiA exchanges such as Diwanieh (public street debates), FOR9A.com (lifechanging opportunities for young Arabs), FADFED (public commenting), Mstkblna (prepping high school students), and Mo7aka (role‐playing retreats) ‐ that address youth challenges in the MENA. Co‐PLAN was established in 1997. It has an extensive experience in regard to all aspects of governance and sustainable spatial development, urban and regional planning and development, activities at multiple scales (i.e., the neighborhood, city, regional, inter‐regional, and national levels) and with a spectrum of actors such as communities, local and central government, businesses, donors, and civil society organizations. Co‐PLAN has collaboration agreement with Polis University from Tirana and is acting as its applied research agent combining the practical live experience with the academic studies.
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“PLACES OF DIVERSITY” Project summary In many Mediterranean cities, especially those with less developed democracies, public spaces are often commercialized, or taken up by private capital investments. When planning public spaces the attention is usually devoted mainly to physical appearance, and much less to citizens’ participation in or the messages the space conveys to its users. Bearing this in mind, the project “PLACES OF DIVERSITY” can be an inspiration for those stakeholders who want to see social values promoted in urban spaces in their communities. Although the project will be developed for the towns in Jordan, Montenegro and Albania, the set principles will enable their application in other places. The overall aim of the project “PLACES OF DIVERSITY” is to improve intercultural dialog between youth and civil society organizations from Albania, Jordan and Montenegro, through activities that increase citizens participation in promoting social values in urban/public spaces. Specific objectives of the project are: 1. Increasing citizens awareness on intercultural dialogue and social values by using public spaces as a field to promote it 2. Improving collaboration between actors dealing with urban and social issues in Albania, Jordan and Montenegro, through joint activities in public spaces 3. Increasing participation of youth and CSOs in joint actions on re‐thinking public spaces in Jordan, Montenegro and Albania The main project activities include:
1. Informing stakeholders about the activities, objectives and results of the project; 2. Organizing study visits ‐ Amman, Tirana and Kotor ‐ linking, networking and learning from good practices of activism in the public spaces; 3. Organizing creative workshops for young people in order to develop ideas on how to promote desirable social values in public spaces; 4. Realizing creative pilot projects in Jordan, Albania and Montenegro, with the participation of local artists, designers, youth associations, etc. 5. Creating a common web portal: How with small interventions in public spaces we can promote desirable social values?
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Study visit – JORDAN
The aim of the study visit to Jordan was to meet and network with local actors and organizations dealing
with public spaces, intercultural dialogue and social issues, in order to exchange ideas on creative ways
in which public spaces places can be improved to the benefit of both local community and visitors and
on how different social values can be promoted in them.
Through site visits and meetings with local organizations and activists the partners had a chance to learn
about challenges regarding public spaces in Jordan, as well as to exchange knowledge on different
perspectives that focus on utilizing unused or abandoned public spaces in Jordan and other partners’
countries.
Furthermore, the partners had a chance to meet with the members of Jordanian ALF network, and
through public presentations and informal exchange, to share ideas of different activities and
interventions in public spaces, ranging from small‐scale to larger ones that can improve the life of local
residents and promote different social values.
The study visit also presented an opportunity for the partners to share the knowledge and experiences
gained during the project implementation, as well as to discuss and plan the implementation of the
remaining project activities.
First Day ‐ 11/3/2014, Amman
The arrival of project partners from Albania and Montenegro to Amman late in the evening.
Second Day – 12/3/2014, Amman
The second day in Amman included many activities. The first knot of the rope was an office visit to
Leaders of Tomorrow headquarters in Mecca Street Amman. This was an introductory session to further
discuss the planned agenda of the study visit’s group activities. Some planned activities were replaced
with others due to unexpected bad weather conditions.
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The group first visited the Amman Citadel (Jabal
al Qalaa) which is considered one of the most
important monuments in Amman, being one of
the world’s oldest continuously inhabited
places. It is also considered as a very important
public place since it allows people and tourists
to get engaged with its historical ambience.
Amman Citadel offers marvelous views of the
surroundings, connecting east and west Amman
together.
Jordanian citizens residing in the area of Jabal al
Qalaa consider Amman citadel as a crucial
element in their surroundings, as it provides a
space for them to engage in social get together
events either within its boundaries or on its
outskirts.
The second knot was the Amman Downtown, which is the hub area of Amman, considered a connection
node of public transportation, logistics and central economical trade place for the Amman residents. The
site visit included a visit to one of the oldest houses in Downtown which is considered one of the very
popular public spaces for everyone. The owner provides this space out for artists, photographers and
historians to portray their work and showcase. The group also visited two set of stairs, which gave a
brief idea on the upcoming project intervention LoT is working on. LoT representatives provided a brief
insight about the stairs condition and how they might look after the intervention.
Reviving, reshaping, restructuring staircases is one of the interventions LoT is working on within the
project. The idea behind this activity of public spaces reviving it is to revive abandoned and tucked in,
polluted stairs in Amman. Stairs in Jabal Qalaa and the Downtown areas play a major role in commuting.
They have central connecting locations within neighborhood, connecting different areas and mountains
together.
Given that stairs make a very important element in Amman surroundings, taking good care of them and
putting an effort by architects, designers and urban planners is a must. It is the desire of LoT to help
sustain and beautify the stairs, put up their history in order to make neighborhood residents and users
interact and help preserving them.
The second day site visit created a profound base and gave out a clear and basic idea for the project
partners of Jordanian social, economical, historical and political situation, which clearly states that
people live in a costly economy, and that they suffer from different social constraints on behavior.
Nevertheless, the country boasts an extremely interesting diversity of people, backgrounds and cultural
heritage, formulated during its history and through influences of several dynasties.
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Third day – 13/3/2014, Wadi Mousa/Petra
On the third day of the study visit, the group departed for the south of Jordan, towards the great city of
Petra, a historical and archaeological city situated in the southern Jordanian governorate of Ma'an. The
city is famous for its rock‐cut architecture and water conduit system. Another name for Petra is the Rose
City due to the color of the stone out of which it has been carved. On December 6, 1985, Petra was
designated a World Heritage Site.
Initially the plan was for the partners to participate at a diwanieh, which LoT had planned to hold in
Wadi Mousa on 13 March 2014. The idea was for the partners to attend a diwanieh, i.e. a public debate,
as an important example of civic activism providing possibilities for young people to discuss sensitive
social and political issues. However, due to forecast rainy weather the diwainieh had to be postponed
for the following week.
Nevertheless, the partners had the chance to meet up with Mohammad Hilalat and a team of young
activists from different institutions in Wadi Mousa, who are, among other things, interested in
improving public spaces and space revival in their city. They presented their yearly plans and activities
aimed at improving the situation in different spheres of the community’s life, ranging from clean‐up
actions, street activism, planting trees and greening city areas. The partners from Albania and
Montenegro shared their examples of some activities in public spaces targeted at improving them in
different aspects. The group together brainstormed on an idea of the Wadi Mousa activists, by which
they want to set up a small park in the city but are encountered by different obstacles, including those
of ownership and available finances. One of the ideas was that tourists can help supporting the Area by
making an arrangement by which 1 Jordanian dinar of each tourist’s airplane ticket or admission fee to
Perta is dedicated for the planting of a three in the park.
The meeting provided very useful in terms of the exchange of ideas and mutual encouragement to
continue in efforts to contribute to improving the life in our communities, as it had been proved that
even small‐scale actions can mean a great difference for the local people.
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Fourth day – 14/3/2014, way back from Wadi Mousa to Amman
A stop on the way back from Wadi Mousa to Amman was used by partners to have a meeting in order to
summarize what activities have been realized within the project so far, what activities still need to be
done and to share experiences of the project realization so far.
The following activities have been realized:
1.1. Informing stakeholders in all partner's countries about the beginning of a project
The partners used different methods, including printed and broadcast media, mailing lists, social
platforms, their organizations’ websites, etc. to inform a wide range of stakeholders (general public,
youth associations, NGOs, universities, professionals, cultural stakeholders, media representatives, etc. )
about the project, its aims and planned activities.
2. Intercultural exchange / Study visit to Albania and Montenegro
The Study visit was organized in the period 27 October‐1 November 2013, and it included the towns of
Tirana and Durrës in Albania and Kotor, Tivat and Perast in Montenegro.
The Study visit included intercultural exchange between the partners, public presentations of project
partners and their activities related to public spaces, visits to sites of public interventions, meetings with
organizations promoting civic activism, working with young people or organizing artistic events in public
spaces, etc.
3.1. Organizing local workshops/focus groups/events to share and collect ideas for promotion of social values in urban space Workshops with young people/students were held by all the partners in the period September 2013‐January 2014. The workshops, which attracted a great interest and enthusiasm of young people, were aimed at examining what social values they hold important and encouraging them to think of creative ways in which these values could be promoted in public spaces. During the workshops, different ideas were developed for small creative interventions in public spaces, some of which were later on realized in public spaces. 3.3. Realizing small creative interventions in various urban spaces engaging youth, artists, graphic designers, architects.... This activity followed workshops with young people, which served to develop ideas for the concrete creative interventions in public spaces. Partners from Co‐PLAN implemented their public interventions in Tirana during September 2013. The interventions entitled “Urban provo[ac]tions” included five actions aimed to affect the public consciousness on urban issues, attracting the attention of the citizens toward some of the problematic aspects of the contemporary city. The tool used to do so, as also noticeable from the title of the event, was a combination of provocation and activism.
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Partners from LoT realized one of their interventions in Zarqaa, Russeifah, with a group of young volunteers, who made an effort to embellish their surroundings, coming up with the idea to paint educational and inspirational murals on school walls. The activities to be realized in the coming period: 3.2. Identifying/mapping territories that will be used as grounds for promotion of social values in urban spaces This activity will include the identification of public spaces that are already used or have the potential to be used as public spaces and become grounds for different social activities/events, promoting of different values, enriching thus the life of local residents and visitors. The activity will be conducted in the period April ‐June 2014. 3.3. Realizing small creative interventions in various urban spaces engaging youth, artists, graphic designers, architects.... Partners from Expeditio will realize all of their interventions and partners from LoT their remaining interventions in the period April‐June 2014. 4.1. Producing PR material A promotional leaflet in the form of notepad was printed in 600 copies and distributed to partners. 4.2. Joint web portal of ideas: “How small interventions in urban spaces can promote social values?” The web portal will be realized during April 2014. When the web portal is set up all the partners will regularly update it with information, ideas and good practice examples.
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Fifth Day – 15/3/2014, Amman/ Zarqa
The fifth day included a visit to Zarqaa, Russeifah in the vicinity of Amman, where the partners from LoT
realized one of their project interventions, in cooperation with a group of young volunteers gathered
around a local youth centre. These young people put an effort to beautify their surroundings and came
up with the idea to paint educational and inspirational murals on the school walls using quotes and
drawings, such as: “Jordan first”, “Water makes Everything Alive”, “Neighborhood cleanliness, is our
Cleanliness”. During the site visit the partners were accompanied by a representative of volunteers and
the local centre who spoke about centre’s activities and showed them a neglected nursery school yard
which they intend to develop so that it can be used by children. The partners also had a chance to visit
the centre, meet its leaders and learn more about their activities, which, in addition to conducting
voluntary actions, include the hosting of workshops and lectures about important topics directly related
to environmental awareness and recycling.
The partners were particularly impressed by the dedication of young people they met. Their enthusiasm
and willingness to change things for the better proves that among ordinary people and community there
lies tremendous potential to improve things.
In the afternoon a meeting with the Jordanian Anna Lindh network was held in Amman at the Royal
Institute for Inter‐Faith Studies.
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The meeting was attended by 24 participants, representative of project partners and members of Anna
Lindh network, who used this opportunity to establish contacts and share their experiences and ideas.
The meeting also included public presentations of the activities of Expeditio and Co‐PLAN related to
interventions in public spaces.
Sixth Day – 16/3/2014
Departure of participants.
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PROGRAMME OF THE STUDY VISIT
Developing ideas and implementing creative interventions in urban spaces
Creating and updating a joint web portal of ideas: “How small interventions in urban spaces can promote social values ?”
Idea of the website “PLACES OF DIVERSITY“ is to inspire all of you who want to make change in your neighborhoods by implementing creative, short-term, low-cost community driven actions. Through these activities you can send messages about:
• Social/cultural values e.g. understanding, support, love, multiculturalism, respect for diversity, gender equality, social inclusion, healthy lifestyle …
• Environmental issues e.g. cleaner environment, energy saving, recycling, reducing pollution, climate change raising awareness, biodiversity, air/water quality …
• Economic development e.g. job creation, working conditions, economic growth…• Something else that inspires you e.g. activism, playful city....
Website is translated in English, Montenegrin, Albaninan and Arabic. Visit http://www.placesofdiversity.org/