Volunteering is a fundamental instrument for the growth of democracy. Europe believes in its strengthening and intends, with the European Year of Volunteering, to promote the involvement and the participation of European citizens.
At the moment one hundred million of European people are active in a voluntary service and the main objective of the year is to develop this part of active citizens. In order to raise the goals the activity of all the European countries all involved and active to support the volunteering. Is very important.
This is what has come out during the international conference on “Volunteering for Democracy”, organised as part of the European Year of Volunteering 2011, jointly by ALDA and the Bydgoszcz City Hall, that was held in Bydgoszcz, Poland (8th of July).
The event, which main aim was the promotion of voluntary services and civil participation, represented the launching event of the first Polish Presidency of the European Union for Kujavy and Pomerania Region.
It was attended by 150 representatives from civil society groups and local governments from all over Europe.
Keith Whitmore, President of the Congress of the Council of Europe, participated and opened the Conference with a speech.
“What we need today – stated Mr Whitmore – is the practical partnership between local and regional authorities and the volunteer sector, and a practical framework for their cooperation. The authorities at the grassroots should support voluntary organisations, help with the training of volunteers and provide guidance in voluntary project management. They should themselves set a good example by actively participating in voluntary projects. A particular attention should be paid to involving young people and youth organisations, including setting up youth councils or assemblies at local and regional levels. Our objective should be to bring together local and regional authorities and civil society to spread expertise and good practices, raise awareness and encourage exchanges of experience – in other words, to build partnerships for the benefit of our citizens and the improvement of local democracy and self-governance”.
John Macdonald, Representative of the European Commission, Head of Task Force European Year of Volunteering, addressed the audience through a video message underlining the role of volunteering for the growth of citizen participation and democracy.
“The event of such kind – stated the Mayor of Bydgoszcz, Mr. RafałBruski– is exactly what we need locally and regionally. A phenomenon of participation is what local community sees as democracy. The visible need to promote formal and non-formal levels of these activities is both: a task for and ambition of local authorities of Bydgoszcz. I am sure this experience has shown a path and clear direction for public institutions and non-governmental organisations”.
ALDA President, Mr. Per Vinther, underlined that wherever people help and support those in need, society gains in cohesion and democracy. This is why ALDA and its members work to promote the active citizenship and the civil participation both in Member States and neighbouring countries.
The conference included formal and non-formal participation; representatives of several European Ngo’s and Institutions illustrated the experiences of their organisations and countries in the field of voluntarism.
The conference was part of a three-year VIT project (Very Important Twinning) – “Europe for Citizens” programme. The project envisages 20 international events.

Dear visitors,
Welcome to the webpage of the Association of Local Democracy Agencies, ALDA. The internet is only one, but certainly a very important, communication tool which we shall continue to develop and make available in order to inform all the people about our activities and if possible motivate them to engage in similar worthwhile activities with us or other partners. Below I have summed up the far-reaching endeavours undertaken by our Association.

Since 1999 ALDA – and some of the individual Local Democracy Agencies in our network even longer – have been actively promoting democracy and respect for human and minority rights in the countries of South Eastern Europe and of Southern Caucasus.
Some of these countries are at the threshold of the European Union, though there are a number of challenges to be tackled before that threshold can be crossed. ALDA and the Local Democracy Agencies through helping local communities create a better life for all of their inhabitants have constantly kept in mind that this effort should also be targeted to help the countries in question prepare themselves for the “demands” of EU membership.
Recently, involvement in the Civil Society Forum of the Eastern Partnership of the EU, EaP, has led ALDA to increase attention on the countries of Eastern Europe and intensify its longer term activities to help strengthen and promote the role of civil society in Belarus and Georgia as well as engage itself in the other countries of the EaP. To this one might add our ongoing cooperation with civil society organisations in EU neighbourhood countries on the southern rim of the Mediterranean.
ALDA enjoys the support of members in most of the countries of Europe, i.e. regional and local authorities, NGOs and individuals. Based on its commitment to a Europe for All, ALDA has become a dedicated partner of the EU within the programme Europe for Citizens and has together with its members been implementing many projects to promote civic participation in its various forms, including volunteering.
I wish you and interesting and inspiring read, browsing through our site.
Per VINTHER
President

Sicilian Region and ALDA promote the second meeting with the mayors in Sicily on “Active citizenship and participation for local governance in the Mediterranean” (Catania 1st of July 2011, conference hall of ESA Palace, via Beato Bernardo, 5).

Following the meeting held the 19th of April 2011 in Palermo, the Sicilian Region, the Association of Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA) and several Sicilian Municipalities, have started the elaboration of a series of planning paths for the promotion of a stable partnership in the Mediterranean.
How can local governments to become positive leaders in Sicily of a new concept of local governance in the countries of the Med, which from the bottom, try to give concrete answers to the causes of migration and the problems they bring to their communities?
One possible answer to this question will try to give tomorrow in Catania the Sicily Region, in particular the Department of Foreign Affairs in Brussels, led by Dr. Francesco Attaguile, and ALDA, Association of Local Democracy Agencies, with Director Antonella Valmorbida, who organised a second meeting with the Sicilian municipalities.

Tomorrow (Friday 1st of July 2011, 10.00) at the conference hall of ESA Palace, (via Beato Bernardo, 5) will discuss the theme “Active citizenship and participation for local governance in the Mediterranean”.
The Association of Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA), in collaboration with the Sicilian Region has achieved, among other initiatives, a project for the entrepreneurial and managerial training of citizens of the Maghreb to “capitalise” their ability to develop new activities in their country of origin or to facilitate a full integration in the host countries.
In line with the “Palermo Declaration”, signed by 50 institutions representative of 20 countries in May 2010 during the conference “United by the Mediterranean” organised by the Sicilian Region, ALDA is strongly convinced of the importance of strengthening the euro-Mediterranean partnership for the promotion of human rights and participation of all citizens in the life of local communities in which they live.

Many Sicilian municipalities have joined the meeting, which aims to promote the development of synergies between the activities of ALDA, Sicily Region and Sicilian municipalities interested in promoting local governance and participation of citizens in Europe and in the Mediterranean, sharing experiences and best practices among the actors involved. The ultimate objective of the meeting is to develop local projects, within the project guidelines and funding of the European Community, as an opportunity for stable cooperation for development and peace in the Mediterranean.

The General Assembly of Concord, that took place in Brussels on 21th-22nd of June, with around 120 participants, voted on and approved ALDA’s application to become its associate member. At the General Assembly, the Confederation also accepted three other new members: The Romanian national platform FOND, Islamic Relief Worldwide and Handicap International.

Concord is the European NGO Confederation for Relief and Development. Its 18 international networks and 26 national associations from the European Member States represent more than 1600 European NGOs vis-à-vis the European Institutions.

ALDA is looking forward to being part of Concord and participate actively in its work. ALDA is in particular interested in sharing experience with the Confederation and its members on ALDA’s work in development, such as project under the Non State Actor and Local Authorities programme. ALDA is currently running two projects under this programme, the Working Together for Development project and TANDEM in Belarus.
ALDA believes that the membership of Concord will provide ALDA with the opportunity to bring its expertise and experience in development at the local level to the benefit of Concord and its members and that the work with Concord will provide access to important expertise for ALDA’s work.
More information about Concord can be found at http://www.concordeurope.org

In the framework of the component 3 regarding the protection and inventory of architectural heritage, starting from 25th June until 2nd July, the activities will continue through a study visit to North Macedonia.
The French delegation from the The National Association of Towns and Regions of Art and History and tows with protected areas will spend several days working on cities and protected areas with The Association of historical and artistic cities of the Republic of North Macedonia.

The two partners will prepare detailed plans for cities and protected areas in the municipalities of Veles, Kumanovo, Berovo, Stip and Kratovo. French experts will go on field and observe the conditions for the protection of architectural heritage, where they will define the priorities in this domain. The first detailed plans for protected areas will serve to plan and prepare the protection of architectural heritage at local level.
This stage of the project includes meetings with institutional representatives following the visit and conference held last February in Veles.

This visit is part of the Project for Decentralised Cooperation between Lower Normandy and North Macedonia, in the component 3 – Inventory of Cultural Heritage. The project is coordinated by the Association of local democracy agencies (ALDA). For further information please consult the webpage of the Cooperation http://crbn-mk.courriers.info/

The Mayor of Niš, Mr Miloš Simonović, visited yesterday (23rd of June) the ALDA office in Brussels which is hosting the newly established Representative Office of the City of Niš.
Dr. Alexandra Lugovic who is in charge of that office will be the eyes and ears of Niš in Brussels presenting what Niš has to offer potential partners and inversely looking for opportunities and contacts from which Niš can benefit.
The Mayor and his associates were welcomed by MrPer Vinther, ALDA President, and ALDA staff and spent time in the office discussing the potential for strengthening the co-operation between Niš and ALDA as well as between the City and the Local Democracy Agency for Central and Southern Serbia, which has been hosted by Niš for a number of years.
The visit was preceded by a well-attended reception the evening before, putting the Representative Office and the City of Niš clearly on the radar screen in the EU Capital.

Closing conference and Diploma Ceremony marked the end of year and a half long project Economy & Management for NGOs in Serbia, funded by SLOVAKIAD and realised in partnership with Education Center for Non-Profit Organisation – CVNO, BanskaBystrica, Slovakia, the Faculty of Economy ”MatejBel” in Banska Bystrica and the Faculty of Economy in Nis.

The project aimed at raising the capacities of Serbian NGOs to deal with their own management and financial resources. Representatives of 10 NGOs from the southern part of Serbia took part in 6 on line courses led by the professors from the Faculty of Economy Nis: Management of NGO, Marketing of NGO, Global economy, Human resources, Finances of NGO and New trends in NGO. These on-line courses will now serve as a module for possible future accredited master’s programmes on one of the universities in Serbia.
We are also pleased to say that, through this project, LDA initiated cooperation between faculties of economy in BanskaBystrica and Nis.

Within the project “Support to Further Implementation of Local Administration Reform in Turkey Project (LAR Phase II)”, ALDA’s Cooperation Office of Brindisi involved Brindisi Municipality as member of a partnership among European towns.

In the same framework, on 15 and 16 June 2011, Brindisi Municipality will host a delegation of Turkish Municipalities to implement an exchange of best relationships / business practices and to open the way to possible commercial and industrial relations with the Turkish territory.
ALDA and Brindisi Municipality are operating partners of the project LAR Phase II “Support to Further Implementation of Local Administration Reform in Turkey” (http://www.lar.org.tr/), which is sponsored by UNDP-Turkey. It has the general aim of ensuring an effective, transparent, inclusive and participatory role of Local Government in Turkey (within the strategic decisions brought forward by the European Union, and specifically through a full implementation of the new legislation adopted in Turkey during 2003 – 2005).

On June 15-2011 at Palazzo Guerrieri, starting at 09.00 after the Mayor Domenico Mennitti’s greetings to the delegation of Turkish Municipalities, a number of thematic meetings that will address the following topics will be performed:

1. Local economic development: concerning ports and management of the shipyards, fisheries, promotion of trade, urban regeneration and employment, environmental protection, economic transformation of towns across their transition phase from agriculture to third sector.
2. Culture and Tourism: promotion of tourism, festivals’ organisation, renovation of historical and cultural sites, youth activities;
3. Social projects: women’s employment, child care, citizen’s participation, cultural and educational initiatives;
4. Municipal Capacity Building: e-municipality, exchange of visits between municipal staffs, organisation of training programs (for fire brigades, for environmental services and waste collection, for sewage, for urban planning, for public transports, for municipal police, for local planners, for GIS’s technologies);
5. EU funds and Project Management;
6. Practices of urban regeneration.

On June 15-2011 at Chamber of Commerce of Brindisi, starting at 15.00, a meeting with local entrepreneurs will be organised. Sponsored by ALDA and the local International Cooperation Department, this meeting aims to show Brindisi’s production/business sectors and excellences to the Turkish operators. The companies will be allowed to show their products and/or productions.

Participation in the workshop is free of charge and open to all entrepreneurs from Brindisi district.
June 16-2011 will begin at 9:00 and will be entirely dedicated to visiting some important/strategic public offices such as the Port Authority, the police headquarters and the Fire Department’s barracks.

For more information contact ALDA International Cooperation Department (via Guerrieri 7 – brindisi@aldaintranet.org | Tel: 0831/229423 – Fax: 0831/229222) or visit Brindisi Municipality’s website (http://www.comune.brindisi.it/web/comunicati-stampa/165-comunicati-stampa/308-progetto-lar-ii-il-15- and-the-16th-June-at-the-town-of-a-toast-delegation-of-representatives-of-institutional-turkey-will meet-the-business-locali.html ), or visit the websites of the participating Turkish municipalities: KARADENIZ EREGLI http://www.kdzeregli.bel.tr and ZONGULDAK http://www.zonguldak.com

All citizens are invited to attend.

The General Assembly 2011 of ALDA will take place in Bydgoszcz (Poland) on the 9th of July 2011.
“This meeting is essential to the life of our organisation and to discuss our future plans” stated Mrs Antonella Valmorbida, Director of ALDA.
During the Assembly will be revise and discuss the vision of ALDA’s Members on the role and objectives of the Association for the year 2020, in the future European perspective.
“We are very happy stated Mr Per Vinther, ALDA President- to accept the invitation of the City of Bydgoszcz, active member of the Association and in the Governing Board, to host the event. It gives us a special motivation since we are also matching the event with the launch of the Polish Presidency of the European Union”.
The general assembly will be preceded, the 8th of July, by an international conference on “Volunteering for Democracy” to be attended by about 150 representatives from civil society groups and local governments from all over Europe.

Members of ALDA and other experts and activists will identify the best practices and the methodologies to increase the democratic standards of our communities, also through the active involvement of volunteers. The issue is included in the Annual Priority of the European Union and of the Programme Europe for Citizens, thanks to which the Association of the Local Democracy is organising the event. The event will include formal and non-formal participation, with the possibility to express a plan for the future engagement of civil society in Europe in the field of voluntarism. Several projects will be presented as best practices and analysed as possible facilitators of democratic and participative processes. The polish civil society will be closely associated to the event.

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Useful material:

Bydgoszcz Conference-Programme PL
ALDA rapport trésorier 2011 FR
ALDA Programme 2011
ALDA Minutes General Assembly 2010 FR
ALDA Minutes General assembly 2010 EN
ALDA Moral Report 2010
ALDA Accounts 2010