Our Activities

During the CoNet Final Conference on 31st March 2011 in Berlin 100 participants from the 11 CoNet partner cities and associated Managing Authorities presented and exchanged results of the network. Lead Expert Prof. Dr. Rotraut Weeber elaborated the seven core tasks improving disadvantaged neighbourhoods outlined in CoNet's Guide to Social Cohesion that was presented at the Final Conference.

From 26 to 28 January 2011 CoNet partners from Alba Iulia, Liverpool, Sofia, Vaulx-en-Velin and Zabrze came to Apeldoorn to have a closer look at Apeldoorn's masterplan for the Zuid neighbourhood.

On 13th and 14th January 2011 the  CoNet Local Support Group in Sofia discussed final steps towards the Local Action Plan. Sofia's Deputy Mayor Mrs. Atanasova, the Deputy Mayor of the District of Krasna Poliana Mr. Voshovski and CoNet lead expert Prof. Dr. Rotraut Weeber were among the participants. The Local Action Plan will include actions to improve the situation in the Fakulteta neighbourhood, one of the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods of the Bulgarian capitel.

The CoNet meeting in Palermo focused on the Ballaro neighbourhood. In the Local Action Plan draft produced by Palermo's Local Support Group a new form of cooperation between the municipality and the associations working in Ballaro is proposed. The CoNet partners gave a feedback on the draft and highlighted the shared responsibility of the Municipality and associations for the Ballaro neighbourhood.

On 22 and 23 April 2010 CoNet partners came to Apeldoorn to learn about school, youth work and approaches to prevent exclusion in different fields. Most projects visited are part of Apeldoorn's "Zuid Vooruit" (South Ahead) programme and investment strategy that will improve conditions in the South neighbourhood between 2009 and 2015.

The CoNet meeting in Sofia on 25 and 26 February 2010 had two main topics. Concepts of inclusion were discussed on the first day and social enterprises were discussed on the second day.

The last CoNet network meeting in Zabrze on 3 and 4 December focused on area based and target group based approaches to strengthening social cohesion. Among the projects presented by Zabrze's Local Support Group was the "Local Activivity Programme" which addresses 30 families with mutiple difficulties in the Biskupice neighbourhood of Zabrze. Training and group activities help the target group to regain access to the labour market.

The meeting ended with a capitalisation session looking back at the 2009 CoNet activities.

The CoNet meeting in Gijón on 23 and 24 September discussed cooperation between the municipality and NGO. Looking at services and support for immigrants in Gijón the participants learned about Gijóns approach. 

The CoNet meeting on 27 and 28 May 2010 in Alba Iulia focused on participation. Participants used the "Future Workshop" method developed by Robert Jungk to elaborate ideas and strategies for the "New World" neighbourhood a disadvanteged part of Alba Iulia with 1900 inhabitants. Two parallel groups one in Romanian, one in English both saw the need to involve representatives for the neighbourhood in future decisions and developments. While the visitors strongly focused on approaches to education as a tool for change, the Romanian group also highlighted security aspects. Results were exchanged with the help of interpreters.

Participants profited from the Alba Iulia city days, an annual cultural event that took place from 28 to 30 May 2010 with life music, historic ceremonies and performances.