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17 Goals to Transform Our World

In 2015, the United Nations celebrated the seventieth anniversary of its founding. To the representatives of its member states, gathered at the Sustainable Development Summit in New York, this moment seemed appropriate for the adoption of a new plan for world development by 2030. Global sustainable development goals were developed at that time, with 169 tasks to be accomplished. At the same time, all member states were invited to take action to implement these projects.

In analysing the activities carried out by municipal units, the City of Katowice has taken up this UN challenge.

The sustainable development goals are set out in 17 points, affecting both economic, social and environmental aspects. They are also a continuation of the Millennium Development Goals, especially in areas that were not achieved at the time.

The objectives are extremely ambitious and challenging. They were prepared on the basis of the results of earlier public consultations, which involved many actors around the world whose voices revolved around the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable people. Last but not least, the goals were developed in accordance with international law and are based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, international human rights treaties, and other strategic documents.

In the words of those who signed the agenda with their own name, it is “a charter of rights for the people and planet in the 21st century”.

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End poverty in all its forms everywhere

End poverty in all its forms everywhere

Since 2000, global poverty rates have fallen by more than half. Despite this fact, one in ten people living in the developing region and their families live below the international poverty line of US$1.90 a day, and millions more living on a great deal less. Significant progress has been made in many countries in East and Southeast Asia, but up to 42% of sub-Saharan Africa's population still lives below the poverty line.

Poverty is more than a lack of income and the necessities of life.  Poverty is hunger, malnutrition, limited access to education and basic services, social discrimination, exclusion and lack of participation in a decision-making process. Economic growth must be inclusive, provide work opportunities and promote equality.

Social protection systems need to be implemented to mitigate the effects of natural disasters and help countries that are vulnerable to them. These systems can support the economy in countries exposed to natural disasters and end extreme poverty in the poorest regions.

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Running day-care centres for children and young people

In Katowice, there are 28 day-care centres run by municipal units and non-governmental organisations, subsidised from the budget of the City of Katowice. Their main aim is to support families experiencing difficulties by providing care and education for children. Children attending such institutions often come from families that are poor, broken, incomplete, inept or at risk of social pathology. The facilities, in the form of day-care centers and youth clubs, provide the people under their care with, among others, two meals a day, assistance in learning and organisation of leisure time through interest groups, trips and cultural events. The scheduled activities help many children to avoid the phenomenon of the so-called inheritance of poverty and learned helplessness. Moreover, during winter and summer holidays, the centres organise leisure activities for children and teenagers.

The day-care centres run by NGOs provide 532 seats, whereas those run by the Municipal Social Welfare Centre (MOPS) provide 175 seats. The amount of subsidies allocated to day-care facilities in 2022 is PLN 4,065,843.00, while the annual cost of running and maintaining day-care facilities of Katowice MOPS is PLN 2,511,743.17.

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Community Centres and Local Activity Programmes

In many districts of our city, local activity centres have been established, run by city units or NGOs supported by the City of Katowice. These include: Community Centres in Nikiszowiec, Bogucice, Śródmieście, Zawodzie, Wełnowiec-Józefowiec, Dąb, Szopienice, and Załęże. They serve to improve social functioning and strengthen the social and professional potential of the district’s residents. They help to combat disparities in the standard of living of residents, provide support to people who are excluded and at risk of exclusion. They also provide assistance to people returning to the labour market, enabling them to acquire new or improve their existing qualifications.

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Property tax exemption for non-profit entities providing services to vulnerable persons

Entities engaged in non-profit activities for the benefit of people unable to cope with risks are exempt from property tax. In 2021, 18 entities benefited from the tax exemption under the aforementioned resolution. 
In 2022, 19 entities benefited from the tax exemption under the aforementioned resolution.
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Development of a social shops network

The City of Katowice supports the establishment of more social shops in Katowice by an NGO. The social shop project is an innovative, first in Poland, solution whose main objective is to improve the economic conditions of people in a difficult life situation.

Persons and families residing in Katowice, who are in a difficult life situation, are entitled to purchase at a social shop. The social shops can be used by people who meet the criteria agreed with the Free Space Foundation, based on special referrals issued by the Municipal Social Welfare Centre in Katowice.

The idea of running a social shop is to meet the needs of people experiencing permanent or temporary financial difficulties, poverty and life crises arising from unforeseen random events such as epidemics, loss of work, sudden disability, illness of the person affected or their loved ones. In addition, the facility has been equipped with a special area for a club-café, which may be used in particular by senior citizens of Katowice aged 60+, gathered around senior citizens organisations actively and regularly operating in Katowice (e.g. Senior Citizen Clubs, foundations, associations, the University of the Third Age).

There are 2 social shops in Katowice: at 82 Tysiąclecia Street and at 25 Świdnicka Street.

Running a charity shop

With the support of the City of Katowice, one of the first charity shops in Poland was opened at 3a Morcinka Street. The “Tyle tego” shop is run by the Stowarzyszenie Kurka Wodna Association. Charity shop is a place where residents can bring their items which are unnecessary but in good condition. These things are then sold, and the money from their sale, according to Ms Magdalena Janosz – the Vice-president of the Association, is allocated to its statutory objectives, which largely relate to work for the benefit of the excluded, disadvantaged, disabled, and elderly people.

https://www.facebook.com/tyletego.sklepspoleczny

A similar charity store was opened by the FAZA Foundation in the city’s premises at 1 Karola Miarki Square. The Foundation’s activities are largely based on regional cooperation with existing animal aid and environmental protection organisations. The charity store’s activities can be described in three words: GIVE, BUY, HELP.

Every day, the shop accepts during its opening hours: clothes, shoes, handbags, jewellery, books, records, games, toys, household goods, minor electronics, and household appliances. What matters is that things are clean and undamaged. The store offers new and used items of practical and sentimental value, retro gems, and well-known brands - by BUYING them you give them a new life in line with the zero waste concept and HELP protect our climate.

The FAZA Foundation promotes second circulation, the idea of sharing, zero waste, and sustainable development. Proceeds from sales are allocated to statutory activities such as workshops, lectures, picnics for residents, and environmental protection.

https://www.facebook.com/charityshopkatowice/


 

Zero Hunger

Zero Hunger

If handled properly, agriculture, forestry and fisheries can provide food for all and earn a decent income. At the same time, they can contribute to rural development and environmental protection. It is time to look at how food is produced, consumed and distributed.
Nowadays, soil, drinking water, oceans, forests and biodiversity are rapidly degraded. Climate change has an even greater impact on the environment on which our lives depend. It increases the risk of natural disasters such as droughts and floods. Many rural men and women can no longer make a living from farming and are forced to migrate to cities in search of a better life.
 

Low food security and the severe malnutrition that comes with it cause developmental disorders and under-growth in millions of children. We need to fundamentally change the global food and agricultural system to feed 810 million hungry people. It is estimated that by 2050, the number of undernourished people will increase by additional 2 billion people.  Investment in agriculture is key to expanding production capacity. In turn, introducing sustainable food production systems will reduce the risk of hunger.

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Food aid

In Katowice, there are three eateries and six food distribution points run by non-governmental organisations and church organisations, supported by the City of Katowice. Food aid within the framework of the EU Food Aid Operational Programme (FAOP) may be granted to individuals and families in a difficult life situation, meeting the criteria laid down in Article 7 of the Social Assistance Act and whose income does not exceed 220% of the income criterion. These points also implement other actions resulting from the EU Food Aid Operational Programme, such as: conducting workshops, ongoing cooperation with specialists, including social workers, in order to counteract negative social phenomena.

Development of a social shop network

Currently, there are two social shops in Katowice, i.e. at 82 Tysiąclecia Street and at 25 Świdnicka Street. These are run by one of Katowice’s NGOs, the Free Space Foundation, which received premises for renovation and funding in the form of a grant from the City of Katowice for this purpose.

The establishment of social shops is a form of outreach to people who are in a difficult life situation, experience permanent or temporary financial and life difficulties due to unforeseen random events such as illness or sudden loss of work. On an average day, about 120 people do the shopping at these stores.

The stores are well equipped. The shop’s product range includes food products (including dairy products, baked goods, fruits and vegetables, sweets, cold meat) as well as chemical products and clothing. The prices of goods are competitive with those of other stores. All food products sold in both shops are fresh and fit for consumption, but they have a short shelf life – hence the considerable price reduction.

Shopping at these stores is available to people with special referrals issued by the Municipal Social Welfare Centre (MOPS) in Katowice or the Free Space Foundation, i.e. people whose income currently does not exceed 300% of the income criterion set under the Social Assistance Act.

Customers of these shops – due to their location – are mostly people living on the Tysiąclecia estate and in the Ligota district or in neighbouring districts. 

In addition, at the social shop at 82 Tysiąclecia Street, there is also a club-café called “Cafe Spichlerz” in a separate part of the premises, which is a meeting place for seniors and people shopping at the social shop. The café is available to all residents of Katowice.

The Foundation has enlisted a dozen business partners from which it receives or buys products before the expiration date, which it then sells in its shops.

For seniors with a referral from the Municipal Social Welfare Centre (MOPS), the above-mentioned stores have an additional amenity. All a senior has to do is call a special number, and the Foundation that runs the shops will prepare and deliver the shopping directly to the senior’s place of residence free of charge. The cost of purchased products and items is covered by the senior. It is possible to do the shopping either through relatives or in person. 

https://www.mops.katowice.pl/sklepsocjalny 

Soup in Kato

On each Thursday, as part of the service on the streets, members of a non-governmental organisation, the Community of the Good Shepherd (Wspólnota Dobrego Pasterza), together with volunteers, cook soup for the poor, which they share with the poor at Przyjaciół z Miszkolca Square.

https://www.facebook.com/ZupaWKato/

https://dobregopasterza.pl/15-aktualnosci/88-zupa-w-kato


 

Good health and well-being

Good health and well-being

Significant strides were made in increasing life expectancy and reducing the most common factors causing infant and maternal mortality. However, reducing the maternal mortality ratio to below 70 cases per 100,000 live births by 2030 requires improved medical care.

Reducing premature deaths from non-communicable diseases by one third by 2030 also requires the use of clean cooking fuel and better education about the harms of smoking.

We must continue to work intensively to tackle the prevalence of many diseases and emerging health threats.  By ensuring more effective financing of health systems, improving sanitation and hygiene, access to doctors, and reducing environmental pollution, we can make significant progress in saving millions of lives.

 

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

New city pools

The Zadole swimming pool was opened in 2022 and the Brynów and Burowiec swimming pools were opened in June 2020. Modern photovoltaic systems were used in the swimming pools, partly covering the energy needs of the facilities. Each of the three facilities included, among others: A 6-lane sport swimming pool measuring 25m x 16m, a recreational pool with three lanes for learning, a paddling pool for children equipped with attractions, Jacuzzi tubs, spectator stands with 115 seats, an 80-metre slide, and saunas. In addition, the facilities are equipped with a dry zone which offers the following features:
- at Brynów swimming pool – gym and EMS;
- at Burowiec swimming pool – fitness and yoga rooms as well as a sports hall for team games (i.e. volleyball, basketball, football or badminton);
- at Zadole swimming pool – a sports hall for team games.

https://baseny.wodociagi.katowice.pl/

Programmes addressed to Seniors

In connection with the Katowice Senior Citizens’ Policy and the requests made by the Senior Citizens’ Council of the City of Katowice, the Mayor decided to open the Senior Citizens’ Centre the Senior+ Club at 27 Słowackiego Street.

“Handyman” Project

The purpose of the project is to enhance and improve the quality of life by providing seniors with free minor home repair services. The services are available to residents of Katowice, older than 65 years of age (single persons, 2-person households), who are unable to cope with home repairs and cannot always count on the support of their relatives. In 2022, 673 services were provided under the programme. 

Local Activity Programmes and Community Centres

There are activities intended for senior citizens implemented through Local Activity Programmes and Community Centres operating in the districts of Katowice, as part of projects conducted by the City of Katowice in cooperation with non-governmental organisations. These activities are co-financed by the European Union within the framework of the European Social Fund. Currently, such activities are addressed to the residents of Janów-Nikiszowiec, Bogucice, Załęże, Śródmieście, Szopienice and Burowiec, Zawodzie, Wełnowiec, Józefowiec, and Dąb.

Seniors can take advantage of a wide range of activities aimed at improving their social functioning and strengthening socio-professional potential. Regular individual and group meetings with local animators, integration meetings as well as thematic classes are organised for seniors. They include language, computer, manual, travel, educational, health, sports as well as rehabilitation and psycho-educational workshops; film and book meetings; developmental, relaxation and psychological activities; stationary social skills training. Seniors can also receive advice from specialists, such as a make-up artist, beautician or herbalist, and prepare natural cosmetics. These activities also involve lectures, seminars tailored to the needs of senior citizens, meetings of the Volunteer Club, sightseeing trips, grassroots initiatives and local events.

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“The Joy of Life – I Can Do Everything” support group

The programme is implemented by the City of Katowice. Meetings of the support group are held in the hall of the Municipal Centre of Culture in Katowice at 83 Boya Żeleńskiego Street. The main objective of this programme is to improve functional capacity and quality of life of the elderly and disabled people and to ensure their social and cultural needs by engaging them in creating ways of spending their free time. According to the assumptions of the programme, it is an open group for people aged 50+, elderly or disabled residents of Katowice, who still want to be active and be an example for others.

“Sunflower” Programme

The programme provides assistance through volunteer activities for the elderly and the disabled. The beneficiaries of the programme are persons who, due to their age and limitations, require support from the Municipal Social Welfare Centre (MOPS) in Katowice.

Objectives of assistance under the programme:

- maintaining social ties and safety in the residential environment of the elderly and the disabled,

- expanding social contacts and engaging the elderly and the disabled,

- increasing the sense of security. 

Katowice Resident Card”

The programme entitled “Katowice Resident Card” is part of the promotional and social policy pursued by the City of Katowice. The programme is focused, among others, on strengthening the residents’ sense of local identity, improvement of their living conditions and quality of life by facilitating their access to cultural goods, sports and recreation, as well as encouraging both residents of Katowice and non-residents to register in the city and pay taxes here.

The card can be issued to people who meet at least one of the following conditions:

•   they are registered for permanent residence in Katowice (regardless of age);

•   they are registered for temporary residence and pay their personal income tax in Katowice (children under 18 may receive the card if at least one of their parents / legal guardians settles their tax in Katowice);

•   they pay personal income tax in Katowice (children under 18 may receive the card if at least one of their parents / legal guardians settles their tax in Katowice);

•   they stay in care and educational institutions in Katowice (up to 18 years of age),
as well as educators and directors of these institutions,

•  university students registered in the City of Katowice with a temporary residence permit,

•   persons registered for temporary residence in Katowice who are under 26 years of age,

•   they are residing in round-the-clock social welfare institution in Katowice.

As part of the Programme, card holders can benefit, among others, from reduced admission fees to the city’s swimming pools and ice rinks, discounted tickets to the “Ateneum” Theatre, the Katowice History Museum, cultural events, and many other discounts offered by private partners. Currently, discounts for KRC owners are provided by 15 municipal units and 102 private partners.

Since the beginning of the Programme, over 95,000 cards have been issued.

https://kkm.katowice.eu

Activities for people with disabilities: 

Transport services for disabled residents of Katowice 

The City of Katowice provides transport services intended for disabled residents of Katowice. The transport services are available not only in the City of Katowice, but also its neighbouring municipalities (i.e.: Chorzów, Mikołów, Mysłowice, Tychy, Ruda Śląska, Sosnowiec, Siemianowice Śląskie, Czeladź) from Monday to Saturday between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm and on Sundays and public holidays between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm.

In 2022, 2680 people used the services, including 644 people in wheelchairs. In 2022, the amount of funds spent from the municipal budget for this purpose totalled PLN 200,046.29. Read more

“Katowice – a Barrier Free City” Guide for People with Disabilities helps people with disabilities find their way to the appropriate competent bodies and institutions and enables them to plan their active leisure in accessible places and public facilities. The guidebook is addressed not only to people with disabilities, but also to their families, caregivers, and all those working and acting for their benefit. The “Katowice – a Barrier Free City” Guide for People with Disabilities is handled and updated by the KONTRA Club Foundation. 
                                           

Migam sign language interpreter, Connect with Interpreter

In order to make it easier for people with hearing impairments to contact the Katowice City Hall, in April 2020 we launched a service that enables them to connect online with a sign language interpreter through the office website: https://tlumacz.migam.org/miasto_katowice.

This service was also launched at the Municipal Social Welfare Centre in Katowice in September 2021. Communication takes place via a video connection on the client’s computer/tablet/phone. The sign language interpreter visible on the screen mediates in a conversation between the Client and the Official on the topic of the Client’s interest, which may concern matters handled by the Municipal Social Welfare Centre in Katowice.

Minimum technical requirements: any computer, tablet or phone with Internet access, equipped with a camera and microphone, with an up-to-date browser installed: Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari, and MS Edge. The service also works on Android as well as IOS mobile devices.
The costs of the service, excluding the costs of the connection, are incurred by the City of Katowice.

“Signal of Life” Municipal Emergency Notification System

In order to increase the safety of the elderly and the disabled, the “Signal of Life” Municipal Emergency Notification System has been implemented in Katowice since December 2008. The system is intended for people who are not always able to communicate with a dispatcher receiving a call and give information necessary to provide assistance in emergency situations. A participant of the Emergency Notification System needs to have a landline or mobile phone with buttons in which the emergency number is programmed.

In the event of an emergency, after pressing the button, a dispatcher at the Voivodeship Emergency Notification Centre will obtain information about the need for assistance and the details of the caller, which will be transmitted to the Voivodeship Ambulance Service. 

The Poviat Social Council for People with Disabilities has undertaken innovative activities consisting in expressing opinions on projects implemented by the City of Katowice. The Council is composed of people with disabilities. As part of its meetings, the Poviat Council consults urban projects with designers in terms of accessibility and adaptation of urban space for people with disabilities.

Members of the Council also review draft resolutions and programmes adopted by the City Council in terms of their implications for people with disabilities. They actively participate in developing projects aimed at social inclusion of people with disabilities.

Katowice, Open City – Development of Social Services – stage II

The project entitled “Katowice, Open City – Development of Social Services – Stage II” aims to support 60 disabled and dependent people and to alleviate the problem of insufficient methodological support for a group of 20 actual carers of dependent and disabled people living in Katowice (including at least 50% of people from revitalised areas) by creating an interdisciplinary system which will take into account the individual needs of these people and ways to support them. The target group consists of 80 people, including 40 disabled people and 20 dependants with severe and moderate disability (from 15 to 70 years of age), at risk of social exclusion due to disabilities.

Ultimately, 91 people took part in the project, including 87 disabled people and 4 dependants with severe and moderate disability.

The following activities were carried out under this project: respite services – as part of the task, project participants were supported by the Personal Assistant of a Disabled Person (87 people) and Dependant’s Caregiver (4 people) as support activities. The aim of the support is to improve the quality of life of disabled persons, striving to achieve a possible level of self-determination and active participation in social life, and to achieve optimal results in independent living of persons with disabilities, as well as respite care in case of temporary incapacity to provide care or a need for rest by a caregiver.

The project involved:
1) services of Dependant’s Caregiver at the place of residence who completed 106.5 hours for 4 persons,
2) services of Personal Assistant of a Disabled Person (AOON) who completed 16,198.5 hours for 87 persons, including 26 persons were provided with support in COVID-19 vaccination.

The project was implemented from 1 February 2020 to 31 March 2022.
Project value: PLN 1,032,600.00
Contribution from the European Social Fund: PLN 877,710.00

https://www.mops.katowice.pl/node/3069

Activities for accessibility of public administration services.

The City of Katowice is constantly taking measures to increase the capacity of the disabled to function independently in all public areas.

From March 2021 to June 2022, the City of Katowice proceeded with the implementation of the project titled “Silesian Local Governments without Barriers Accessible to All”. As part of this project, training was provided for local government staff in the application of solutions facilitating the employment of disabled persons, procedures were reviewed and recommendations for handling customers with special needs were implemented in order to ensure the accessibility of administrative services, including to acquire minor improvements.

As part of the grant project titled “Katowice City Hall Accessible to People with Special Needs”, there are plans to implement, from July 2022 to June 2023, an accessibility standard concerning architectural accessibility and an accessibility standard concerning information and communication accessibility of the Katowice City Hall for people with special needs, including people with disabilities, aimed at improving the accessibility of public services provided to persons with mobility, hearing and/or vision impairment.

Moreover, as part of the project titled Shoulder to Shoulder. Development of Social Services in Katowice – stage II
, from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022, in response to the identified needs among the residents of Katowice, it is planned to implement the service of Personal Assistant of a Disabled Person. Assistants support those under their care in the pursuit of independent day-to-day living, accompanying them to medical appointments, visits to various offices, banks, the post office, and shopping. In many cases, they are also a relief to relatives and families, as they provide so-called respite care. As part of the project, it is planned to provide approx. 16,547 hours of services of Personal Assistant of a Disabled Person.

https://www.mops.katowice.pl/node/84

Reducing mortality by promoting mental health and well-being

There are 4 Community Self-Help Homes in Katowice, run by non-governmental organisations, with a total of 113 places. Community Self-Help Homes provide services as part of individual or group self-help training and social skills training consisting in learning, developing or maintaining skills with respect to day-to-day activities and social functioning.

Free specialist counselling

The City of Katowice, as part of the offer of the Municipal Social Welfare Centre, provides specialist counselling to the residents of Katowice (regardless of their income situation). Counselling is provided by psychologists, educators, therapists, mediators, psychiatrists, and social workers.

Protection packages in relation to COVID-19

The City of Katowice carried out a number of actions aimed at preventing epidemics. They include: a helpline for the most deprived, operated by the Municipal Social Welfare Centre, psychological support, and “Shopping Emergency” which ensures that food packages are provided free of charge to the less affluent residents of Katowice and shopping is done for those who have financial means.

Among the numerous activities carried out by the Katowice City Hall during a difficult period of the pandemic are, among others, the launch of swabbing buses, the purchase of disposable masks for city services and hospitals, multiple-time masks for seniors and the provision of 83 laptops for remote learning by children from Katowice’s educational institutions.

Non-Governmental Organisations Centre (COP)

Activities aimed at institutional strengthening of non-governmental organisations and other third sector entities are carried out on a permanent basis by the Non-Governmental Organisations Centre located at 14 Kopernika Street, run by the BRIDGE Non-Governmental Organisations Support Association. The premises were made available from the Katowice City resources under a lending agreement. The task was commissioned in an open tender for the years 2016-2020 and 2021-2022.

In 2022, the Non-Governmental Organisations Centre continued its activities to provide:

- a registration address for newly established NGOs,
- infrastructure support (access to training rooms, accommodations / desks, IT and office equipment, lockers for documents and incoming mail, storage space),
- professional support (general and specialist counselling, accounting services, training courses),

In the first half of 2022, 126 NGOs established in Katowice or acting for the benefit of the residents of Katowice received support, of which:

·  currently, there are 117 NGOs based at 14 Kopernika Street;
·  a number of activities were carried out concerning, among others, fundraising in the form of counseling or monthly meetings concerning the financing of the organisation; thanks to this support, government funds were obtained for the support activities of Ukrainian citizens residing in Katowice in the total amount of PLN 96,889.76;
·  in total, several hundred pieces of information was provided and more than 100 consultations were organised;
·  14 trainings and information meetings were organised;
·  the first cycle of incubation trainings was organised and during the registration process the COP team helped 11 new organisations;
·  15 animation meetings took place;
· 123 consultations took place, including 18 incubations59 general consultations; additionally, in view of the arrival in Katowice of people fleeing from Ukraine, there were 75 specialist consultations addressed to entities (non-governmental organisations, volunteers, grassroots initiatives) providing various assistance to refugees;
· organisations used COP rooms and equipment (laptops, projectors, photocopiers, printers) 321 times.

The Katowice COP integrates entities of the third sector operating in our city, takes steps to make them more professional so that they implement public tasks commissioned by the Mayor as effectively as possible, and stimulates social activity of the residents of Katowice and their full involvement in the process of participatory budgeting and local initiative.

Taking into account these objectives and the continuous development of non-governmental organisations operating in Katowice, activities are being finalised for the opening of COP’s second registered office at 7 Wita Stwosza Street, where several veteran organisations will also have their registered office. Access to COP space will be free of charge for NGOs, as at 14 Kopernika Street.

https://mostkatowice.org/

https://www.facebook.com/COPkopernika

Youth Activity Centre

Since January 2021, the Youth Activity Centre has been operating at the Non-Governmental Organisations Centre – it is a task co-financed from the funds of the Regional Operational Programme of the Silesian Voivodeship for 2014-2020, in which the BRIDGE Association is Project Leader, while the City of Katowice is Project Partner.

The Youth Activity Centre aims to expand the offer of the Non-Governmental Organisations Centre with broadly understood activities in the field of social and professional activation of young people living in Katowice.

The project comprises social and professional activation of young adults (aged 15-35) living in Katowice that are at risk of social exclusion.

Thanks to participation in the project, they will acquire professional qualifications and competencies and become involved in civic activities for the benefit of Katowice through the implementation of local initiatives. Between 2021 and 2022, the youth, in cooperation with the Katowice City Hall, completed nine initiatives.

https://www.facebook.com/CentrumAktywnosciMlodziezowej

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Mayor’s Plenipotentiary for Non-Governmental Organisations

The position of Plenipotentiary was established to facilitate cooperation between the City of Katowice and the NGO sector. The activity of NGOs is very important for the local government in Katowice, as their activities affect many areas of the city’s life – hence the need for their cooperation.

The Plenipotentiary works both with entities with which the City of Katowice has been cooperating for many years and establishes relations with those that are emerging only now or which would like to start cooperation with the local government.

The main task of the plenipotentiary is to provide information on possible forms of financial and non-financial cooperation with the City of Katowice and to respond to the changing needs of organisations in order to improve and develop such cooperation. The Office of the Plenipotentiary exercises, among others, supervision over the activities of the Katowice Non-Governmental Organisations Centre (COP).
The position of the Plenipotentiary for Non-governmental Organisations was established in 2015 by the Mayor. 

https://www.facebook.com/Pelnomocnik.PMK.NGO

Information Point for foreigners

The main objective of this task is to support foreigners residing in the City of Katowice by providing them with free information and advice on how to function in the local environment in social and professional terms. The Point also undertakes regular activities to integrate foreigners with the local community, among others, by organising cultural days of a given country.
Located at 5 Młyńska Street, the Information Point for foreigners has been operating since May 2021.
The Mayor commissioned the task of running the point to In Corpore Foundation.

https://www.facebook.com/punktinformacyjnydlacudzoziemcow/

Prevention and Health Promotion Programme for the City of Katowice for the years 2021-2027

The City of Katowice has carried out projects to improve the health and quality of life of its residents for many years. Current programs include free examinations, rehabilitation classes and flu vaccinations for seniors, as well as preventive examinations for children and anti-HPV vaccinations for adolescents.
 

City nurseries

The number of places for children in nurseries has increased significantly. In 2022, there was one City Nursery in Katowice with 13 branches located in various districts. In 2022, it had 949 places of care for children up to 3 years of age. As part of its activities, it provided care for children in living conditions similar to home conditions, thus ensuring: proper nursing and educational care by conducting play activities with elements of education, taking into account the individual needs of each child, conducting childcare and educational activities, taking into account psychomotor development of the child appropriate to his or her age.

The need for nursery care was analysed on an ongoing basis – in order to meet the needs of Ukrainian families, the city came up with a project aimed at increasing access to nurseries and programmes supporting early childhood development, financed by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). It is planned, among others, to launch, from January 2023, 32 additional places for Ukrainian children, purchase of additional equipment for children’s rooms and playgrounds for all 13 Branches of the City Nursery in Katowice, expansion of the WiFi network, purchase of computer equipment, implementation of LiveKid app (for communication with parents), organisation of trainings for employees of the City Nursery concerning the development of competences and organisation of individual classes in the specialist office of the City Nursery at 3A Ordona Street (psychologist, speech therapist) and group classes conducted by specialists at the Branches of the City Nursery in Katowice (psychologist, speech therapist, educator, specialist in music therapy, art therapy, sensory integration), as well as numerous workshops and meetings with parents, integrating Ukrainian and Polish families at the Branches of the City Nursery in Katowice.

https://www.zlobek.katowice.pl/

Katowice Silver Book for Seniors

Residents aged over 65 years and people with disabilities may order a book or an audio book from a library with home delivery. Orders are accepted over the phone or by e-mail – by writing to the address of the library branch that the user is a member of. The person willing to order a book must give their name, address, and phone number. Of course, it is crucial to provide the titles of books that the person wishes to borrow. One may also specify their literary preferences.  
The delivery and collection of books is free of charge. According to the rules, readers may borrow up to 5 books at a time. They must be returned within 30 days – this can be done either at the library branch or via the “book bus”. If you have any questions, please call 502 28 88 28.

In 2021, a total of 971 visits were paid to readers who were supplied with 5,626 books and audio books.
In 2022, a total of 1246 visits were paid to readers who were supplied with 6,268 books and audio books.

 

Municipal Committee for Solving Alcohol Problems in Katowice

As part of the implementation of the municipality’s own tasks under the Act on Upbringing in Sobriety and Counteracting Alcoholism of 26 October 1982 set out in the Municipal Programme for Preventing and Solving of Alcohol Problems and Counteracting Drug Addiction, the  Mayor of Katowice established the Municipal Committee for Solving Alcohol Problems in Katowice aimed at helping addicts and their families cope with the problem of addiction. There are many therapy centres in Katowice that deal with the above mentioned issues. Read more on the website 

Revitalisation of parks

The year 2022 witnessed the beginning of construction of two new parks (at Leopolda/Le Ronda Street and Wantuły Street) and the revitalisation and expansion of three existing parks (Wełnowiecki Park, Ślepiotka Park, and Katowice Forest Park). These projects focus on ecological and educational functions, preservation of areas of high natural value, protection of natural habitats for animal, and proper rainwater retention. In addition, parks will serve recreational and leisure functions, including active recreation, while ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities. 

The revitalisation of Bogucki Park in Katowice, worth over PLN 6 million, was completed in 2019. New walking paths, an outdoor gym, and a dog run were created here. Additionally, a local playground was modernised and expanded. The Olympians Park in Szopienice was also revitalised.

Currently, preparations are underway for the revitalisation of the Five Ponds Valley in Katowice – the Morawa, Borki and three Hubertus Ponds, i.e. reservoirs created on the site of former sand pits exploited for mining purposes. The complex is located in Szopienice and Burowiec, right on the border of Katowice with Sosnowiec and Mysłowice, and covers as much as 157 hectares. The total area of the five ponds is 91 hectares, thus it is 10 times larger than the area of the reservoirs in the Three Ponds Valley, which covers a total of 9 hectares.

Developing, updating and monitoring the Katowice 2030 City Development Strategy

As a document of overriding importance in relation to other strategies and field programmes in the City of Katowice, the Strategy sets the framework and assumptions for their development and for planning investments and non-investment activities in all aspects of urban development.

Taking into account legislation changes, as well as the ongoing preparations for the next EU financial perspective and contemporary development demands formulated at global level, it was decided to initiate the process of updating the Katowice City Development Strategy.

 

Quality education

Quality education

ENSURE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE QUALITY EDUCATION AND PROMOTE LIFELONG LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL

Quality education is the basis for improving people's lives and sustainable development.

Universal access to education improves the quality of life and makes it possible to find innovative solutions to the major problems of the contemporary world.

Currently, more than 265 million children are out of school and 22% do not attend primary school. Furthermore, even children who are in school cannot read or count.

Significant progress has been made in increasing access to education at all levels. The number of people in education has increased, especially women and girls. While more and more people also have basic literacy skills, further efforts need to be made to achieve the Universal Education Goal. For example, while equality for boys and girls in access to primary education has been achieved globally, only a few countries have met this goal for all levels of education.

Reasons for poor quality education include lack of adequately trained teachers, poor school conditions and unequal access to school for children in rural areas. Ensuring quality education involves establishing educational scholarship programmes, teacher workshops, building schools and improving access to water and electricity in schools.

 

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES 

European City of Science 2024

In December 2021, Katowice was awarded during a press conference the title of the European City of Science 2024 by EuroScience and the ECS 2024 Academic Consortium Agreement was signed. Consortium members will cooperate during the preparation stage and actual events related to the award of the title of the European City of Science 2024. The Consortium is composed of the following members:

·  the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice,
·  the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice,
·  the Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice,
·  the Silesian University of Technology,
·  the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice,
·  the University of Economics in Katowice,
·  the University of Silesia in Katowice (leader)
·  the City of Katowice (strategic partner of the consortium).

In connection with the awarding of the title of the European City of Science 2024, Katowice will organize EuroScience Open Forum 2024.

The title of the European City of Science is awarded to show the richness and diversity of the scientific landscape. It also aims to promote self-education, scientific integration, and interest in science among younger generations. The title strengthens the European and international profile of the scientific community in the respective city and the region as a whole, it also increases the involvement of citizens and of the scientific community in local problems as well as triggers public investment in regional science and its infrastructure, in addition to increasing tourism.

www.europejskiemiastonauki.us.edu.pl

Factory of Sustainable Entrepreneurial Practices 

Katowice is part of an international project called the “Factory of Sustainable Entrepreneurial Practices”. The following cities also take part in the project: Saint-Étienne (France), Sierre (Switzerland), Monastir (Tunisia) and Tamatave (Madagascar). The project involves activities which address three challenges:

  • Exchange of good practices in the field of entrepreneurship – internationalisation. Within this challenge, the International Business Incubator facilitates the organisation of study visits and business missions in the cities network that can be carried out by SMEs and start-ups. Companies receive logistics and organisational support as well as a place to work in one of the business incubators of the city network.
  • Exchange of good practices and creation of new tools for industry education. Under this challenge, the main focus is on the exchange of trade schools. Currently, it takes place in areas such as catering and hotel industry, as well as widely understood fashion and design. Work is underway to expand cooperation and include other areas of exchange.

Exchange of good practices in the field of social economy and professional inclusion. This challenge involves the exchange of organisations that deal with the broadly understood social economy. Project participants mostly share practices in developing business models for social economy entities.

Climate Education

The introduction of climate education in Katowice schools will be another step towards sustainable development in Katowice. The development of the original Climate Education Programme was entrusted to a Team appointed by the Mayor of Katowice, consisting of school and academic teachers and representatives of the city. The programme involves teaching multiple subjects in four thematic areas: biodiversity, human impact on climate change, sustainable consumption, and energy transition. The work is still in progress, but the Team has already came up with dozens of ideas for introducing climate education into the curriculum. The pilot project will start from September 2023 in three primary schools in Katowice and will cover seventh grade students. The programme will become more attractive thanks to practical classes proposed by the Ecological Education Centre in the Murcki District of Katowice.

 Participation in the P-TECH Programme (Pathways to technology)

In 2019, the Polish edition of an educational and vocational development programme called P-TECH (Pathways to technology) was launched in Katowice under the honorary patronage of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and the Ministry of Digitisation. The programme was implemented locally by IBM in cooperation with the local government of Katowice and Fujitsu Technology Solutions and the Educational Research Institute (IBE). The main objective of the Programme is to support local communities in Katowice by adequately preparing young people to work in professions with an IT specialisation, which – in addition to obtaining a high school diploma – require relevant skills, but not necessarily several years of higher education.

Currently, two technical schools from Katowice are taking part in the pilot project: Zespół Szkół Technicznych i Ogólnokształcących nr 2 (the Complex of Technical and General Education Schools No. 2) in Katowice, which cooperates with IBM Poland and Kyndryl as well as Śląskie Techniczne Zakłady Naukowe (the Silesian Secondary School of Technology and Science) from Katowice, which implements the educational programme in cooperation with Fujitsu Technology Solutions. As part of P-TECH, over the course of five years of studying, students will prepare for their matura and diploma exams, obtaining the title of IT technician, programming technician or mechatronics technician. At the same time they will extend their knowledge under the guidance of their mentor and acquire new skills. For example, students will follow the daily work of their mentor (job shadowing), learning about the business environment from the inside.

P-TECH does not require any changes to the core curriculum. The partner company, in cooperation with the school teaching staff, provides additional substantive input or tools for existing subjects and classes, so as to equip students with specific skills needed in the labour market and the sector in which it operates. The partner company is also committed to supporting P-TECH graduates as they enter the labour market.

It is also important to emphasise the role of the Educational Research Institute. In addition to working together in order to develop key assumptions for the implementation of the P-TECH programme in Poland, supporting schools, teachers and students in the development of resources and skills which are useful in the modern digital labour market, IBE coordinates the process of creating new market qualifications. The market qualifications designed, described and incorporated by the partners in the Integrated Qualifications System correspond to the competency gaps identified by them between what the school can offer and what is expected by employers. When implementing the Integrated Qualifications System as part of the Partnership, the Educational Research Institute ensures that the P-TECH model becomes an exemplary project in the field of vocational education in Poland.

Katowice schools are a member of the P-TECH international community, which comprises 300 schools, over 150,000 students and 600 partner companies in 28 countries around the world!

www.ptech.org

P-TECH Program

Katowice – City of Professionals

Katowice – City of Professionals is a programme designed to encourage young people who are at the crossroads of education to take up education in trade and technical schools by showing them appealing career prospects. In addition, this programme aims to increase knowledge and public awareness of the dual education system and to present an extensive offer of the City of Katowice as regards career opportunities.

The Katowice – City of Professionals programme has been carried out periodically since 2018. In the 2021/2022 school year, another edition of the programme was held, as part of which about 300 seventh grade students from primary schools took part in 27 study visits to programme partners, i.e. Katowice-based entrepreneurs, from early March to mid-May. The current edition of the programme will include study visits to programme partners during the 2022/2023 school year until the end of 2022. Study visits to companies are a key part of Katowice – City of Professionals. After these visits, students will also visit trade and technical schools which provide education in the fields discussed during the study visits at companies. The final stage of the programme includes summative educational lessons which are provided as part of school classes.

The partners of this year’s edition of Katowice – City of Professionals are: Sieć Badawcza Łukasiewicz - Instytut Technik Innowacyjnych EMAG, BFC Nieruchomości Johann Bros, Energoprojekt Katowice S.A., Famur S.A., Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacji Miejskiej Katowice Sp. z o.o., Rockwell Automation Sp. z o.o. During these visits, students will learn about the specifics of work in such professions as mechanic, plumber, mechatronics technician, welder, grinder, milling machine operator, heat treater, mill operator, quality controller, specialist and technician in AI, cyber security, IT and data analysis, electromechanic, fitter, graphic designer, architect, cook, receptionist.  

 “Get a Career” Festival

This is a celebration of Katowice secondary schools. During the festival, visitors can not only learn about what secondary schools have to offer, but also talk to older students, friends and teachers. The Festival programme includes, among others, shows and artistic performances, which are an opportunity for students to present their talents and skills in front of the audience of the Silesian Science Festival. In this space, arranged especially for the Festival, you can participate in a wide range of interesting festival events full of scientific inspiration, expanding students’ knowledge
and encouraging them to develop their interests. This could not be possible without the Katowice schools which presented their offer in a substantive and reliable manner:

 “Get a Career” is also a chance for everyone to learn about the full offer of general secondary schools
as well as trade and technical secondary schools, but also an opportunity to receive professional support from vocational counsellors of psychological and educational counselling centres in Katowice. The combination of the
“Get a Career” Festival and the Silesian Science Festival is a unique opportunity for students to take a comprehensive look at their education and think about their development in the context of choosing their studies and future work.

Get a Career has been implemented since 2018/19 as a module of the Silesian Science Festival, which takes place every year at the International Congress Centre in Katowice.

www.slaskifestiwalnauki.pl

Katowice, business and my future

At the turn of November and December 2022, the first edition of the project Katowice, business and my future took place. It is a joint venture carried out in the Business-Science-Government triad.

Local authorities will make every effort to ensure that the Katowice’s educational offer responds to the demand and adapts to employment trends in specific professions, and a well-educated workforce is undoubtedly an important argument in attracting new investors who are looking for specialists in their industries. Supporting students at the stage of secondary education helps guide the development of young people in the way expected by the labour market.  

As part of the project, 6 meetings were held in 6 secondary schools – 3 general high schools and 3 technical school complexes. Their purpose was to present the business offers of Ammega, Honeywell, Accenture, Kyndryl, SII, and TDJ-Famur to third and fourth grade students and discuss recruitment processes by representatives of Arche Consulting, Randstad, Hays Poland, and Manpower. However, the key element of all meetings was the Q&A session. Topics addressed during the speeches concerned, among others, the competencies of the future, how to build a professional CV and career paths in the context of the changing labour market.

 As planned, representatives of individual classes will share the knowledge they acquired with their friends during education lessons, as a result of which the impact of the project will be even greater. Due to the very good response to this initiative both in schools and with business partners, another edition of the project is planned for 2023.

SOS_3 Open opportunity training

The aim of the project is to improve employability among at least 60 students of Śląskie Techniczne Zakłady Naukowe (the Silesian Secondary School of Technology and Science – Technical School No. 17) by organising internships with employers, courses in gaining additional professional qualifications and improving qualifications, developing key competencies, as well as increasing the attractiveness and effectiveness of teaching in the Silesian Secondary School of Technology and Science by retrofitting laboratories, workshops and classrooms and performing vocational training for 10 teachers of professional subjects and instructors of practical vocational training.

Project period: 2 November 2020 – 31 October 2022
Total project value: PLN 1,135,327.50
Contribution from the European Social Fund: PLN 965,028.37

Professional competence as investment in the future

The aim of the project is to improve employability and self-employment among 80 students of Zespół Szkół Gastronomicznych – Cooking School Complex in Katowice (Technical School no. 3, First Degree Trade School no. 2, Secondary Degree Trade School no. 2) through the organisation of student internships, specialised workshops and courses aimed at acquiring additional skills and competences necessary in the labour market, as well as strengthening human and technical potential through the implementation of professional development for 11 teachers of vocational subjects and modernisation/retrofitting of vocational training labs.

Project period: 1 September 2020 – 31 December 2022
Total project value: PLN 812,534.10
Contribution from the European Social Fund: PLN 690,653.98

“I Am a Professional” – courses and internships at the Complex of Technical and General
Education Schools No. 3 in Katowice

The aim of the project is to improve employability among 30 students of the Complex of Technical and General Education Schools No. 3 (Technical School no. 12) by increasing the effectiveness and attractiveness of vocational training in the professions of Electronics Technician and Broadband Electronic Communications Technician, as a result of providing educational and vocational counselling, training/qualification courses, student internships, and for teachers – training/qualification (instructor) courses), as well as retrofitting of vocational training labs.

Project period: 2 November 2020 – 30 June 2022
Total project value: PLN 369,727.50
Contribution from the European Social Fund: PLN 314,268.37

“The Heart of the Metropolis – Katowice – My Place on Earth” – Katowice’s original regional education programme

The programme is implemented in order to spread reliable, comprehensive knowledge about the city – the place of origin or place of residence/school attendance, to instil a sense of pride in the ongoing changes, to raise awareness of tools and mechanisms affecting the creation of urban reality, to awaken civic activity and to promote diversity, openness and respect for others. It is implemented in first and second grades of secondary schools, one hour a week per branch.
In the 2021/2022 school year, the programme was attended by 4351 students of secondary schools.

https://bit.ly/38qyTH2

Mobility abroad

The City of Katowice, through its educational units, systematically applies for funds to enable groups of students and teachers to benefit from foreign trips to EU countries under, among others, the Erasmus + and POWER programs. International mobility makes it possible to gain knowledge and experience, as well as to learn foreign languages, develop learning skills, acquire new competences necessary for personal development, future employment and active European citizenship.

The projects provide an opportunity to develop skills in a variety of areas such as: work
in an international group, development of social relations, improvement of ICT skills, planning and implementation of project activities. 

The projects enabled students and staff to: 

• develop potential
• acquire new practical skills
• expand horizons
• gain better understanding of relations and dependencies in the modern world
• develop linguistic and interpersonal skills, which contributes to increased cultural awareness
• become familiar with the international community
• develop the ability to properly function in a group
• develop interpersonal relations based on respect for other cultures and values; teachers and schools
• fulfil the requirements of the core curriculum
• acquire new tools to teach interesting lessons
• motivate students to work
• create a network of international contacts, which will contribute to building a pro-active attitude
• participate in interesting projects
• increase the prestige of their schools among other educational institutions.

Musicodrome

Katowice is a UNESCO Creative City of Music, so musical activities are a must. This is why at our cultural institution Katowice – City of Gardens we have the Musicodrome – a place which sounds, resonates, hums, rustles, rings and pulsates.

The Musicodrome includes regular workshops for young residents of Katowice to develop their musical competence and their overall development through musical activities. After the pandemic break, they returned to the regular programme of the City of Gardens, offering two meetings a month for two age groups – the youngest children (from infants to 3 years old) and older children (children up to 6 years of age).

The classes are continuously very popular. In 2022, about 500 children took part in all classes.

miasto-ogrodow.eu

Local Government Education Leader

The idea of the “Local Government Education Leader” Programme is to identify and promote local government units with special achievements in the domain of development of education and the educational system, and to improve the quality of local government activities in the field of local education policy. In the “Local Government Education Leader”
Programme, a committee of experts consisting of academics representing selected Polish universities evaluates the activities of local authorities in terms of education management. Local Governments which meet the criteria set out in the rules and regulations of the Programme and receive a positive review by the experts are awarded a certificate and the prestigious title of “Local Government Education Leader”. The experts appreciate innovative solutions in the field of ensuring high quality education, educational marketing, increasing the safety of children and youth or cooperation of local governments with scientific institutions. The committee also takes into account the effectiveness of municipalities and poviats in adapting education to contemporary challenges, e.g. the needs of the economy.
The competition is of a promotional nature, as it serves to popularise the achievements of local authorities in the field of education and to build a positive image of municipalities and poviats which are Polish leaders in education policy. However, the competition also serves an important substantive purpose. After the end of the committee’s work and the certification procedure, each participating local government receives feedback on the effectiveness and efficiency of its education policy and - which is particularly important - possible shortcomings and mistakes. This allows them to undertake pro-quality initiatives, make adjustments to their activities and obtain a useful expert opinion on their merits. Therefore, in addition to certificates, extensive documents containing justification of the committee’s decision are also provided.
These reviews are then used to improve the educational activities of local governments. During the Final Gala of the 11th edition of the Competition, on 27 June 2022, in the Kashubian Philharmonic Hall in Wejherowo, which honours local government units that best implement education policy tasks in Poland, the City of Katowice was awarded three honourable titles:

“LOCAL GOVERNMENT EDUCATION LEADER” CERTIFICATE - the title is awarded to municipalities, poviats and local governments of the voivodeship, which have performed outstanding local activities aimed at creating and implementing modern, progressive, innovative education policies, building civil society, shaping democratic and participatory attitudes among children and young people, and supporting science..

GOLDEN CERTIFICATE - the title is awarded to local governments which are awarded the title of the “Local Government Education Leader” for the sixth time, which confirms that their modern and innovative education policy is a multi-annual, systemic programme and is carried out strategically, consistently and in accordance with the highest public management standards.

SPECIAL MENTION –  the title is awarded to local governments which have achieved the highest and most noticeable progress in the eyes of the local community in the field of modern education management since the last certification
under the Programme.

In addition, in recognition of his merit, the Mayor of Katowice was awarded the title of “Local Governor Involved in Social Matters”. 

www.lider-edukacji.pl
https://bit.ly/2VGt1V5

Katowice Orchestra Folk University 

The innovative programme of music classes taught in a classroom by external educators developed in 2022 as it covered two additional primary schools in Katowice. The classes are designed not only to introduce children from the third to the fifth grade to the world of music, but also to achieve important social objectives – to learn how to cooperate in a group and overcome divisions, thereby deepening social cohesion. 

The 3rd edition of the programme, which lasted from September to December, had its finale at a joint concert on the professional stage of the City of Garden on 14 December 2022.

miasto-ogrodow.eu

 

 

Gender equality

Gender equality

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 

The achievement of the Millennium Development Goals has contributed to making progress on gender equality and the empowerment of women in the world.  Among other things, equal access to primary education for girls and boys has been achieved. However, in every part of the world, women and girls continue to suffer discrimination and violence.

Gender equality is not only a universal human right. It is also the foundation of a sustainable world in which people will live in peace and prosperity.

Sadly, one in five women aged 15-49 admits to having experienced physical or sexual violence by a partner in a 12-month period. There are currently no laws protecting women from domestic violence in 49 countries. There has been progress in combating harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation. These practices have decreased by 30 per cent in the last decade, but much remains to be done to eradicate them completely.

Ensuring that women and girls have equal access to education, health care and decent work and to participate in political and economic decision-making will strengthen sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity as a whole.

The implementation of a new legal framework for equality in the workplace and the combating of harmful practices against women are essential actions to put an end to gender discrimination occurring in many countries. (Source: UN)

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Elimination of all forms of violence

The City of Katowice provides assistance to people in need in the form of social work. Working with people / families affected by violence focuses on recognising the phenomenon of violence, building an intervention, social, psychological and legal aid plan, and then its implementation. Social work for people affected by violence and their families is provided by social workers, family assistants, family foster care coordinators, assistants for homeless and disabled people, streetworkers, psychologists, educators, therapists, consultants, mediators. It involves individual specialist counselling, including legal counselling, group forms of counselling and community visits. Due to the need to ensure the safety of victims of violence, the Centre provides shelter for people who cannot stay in their current place of residence due to their dramatic situation and provides assistance in the form of crisis intervention and crisis therapy.

Psycho-educational group for victims of violence. The aim of the course is to obtain support and knowledge about the possibilities of protection and solving the problem of violence in legal, psychological and social terms. There is also an Educational and Correction Programme for people with anger or aggression issues or resort to violence.

Moreover, the Municipal Social Welfare Centre in Katowice cooperates with the Municipal Police Station as well as representatives of other services and institutions within the Interdisciplinary Team for Counteracting Domestic Violence.

www.mops.katowice.pl

JazzCamp for Girls 

In pursuing the objective of gender equality, the City of Garden was the first institution in Poland to implement a Scandinavian workshop project in the form of a summer camp for young female students of music schools aimed at developing their skills in musical improvisation. The aim is to promote the performance of improvised music among future instrumentalists and vocalists.

miasto-ogrodow.eu/strona/jazzcamp

Mayor’s Plenipotentiary for Equal Treatment

Katowice has always been an open, tolerant and multicultural city.
Referring to the past and, at the same time, building a new image of the city in the global world of changes, the Mayor of Katowice implements a policy of equal treatment that respects diversity and does not discriminate against anyone in public, social and economic life.
In January 2023, a Plenipotentiary of the Mayor of the City of Katowice for Equal Treatment was appointed.

 

Clean water and sanitation

Clean water and sanitation

Ensure access to water and sanitation for all through sustainable management of water resources 

Everyone in the world should have access to clean water. We have enough water on our planet to make this happen. However, due to poor management or poor infrastructure, millions of people, mostly children, die every year from diseases related to inadequate water resources, poor sanitation and poor hygiene.

Water scarcity, poor water quality and poor sanitation have a negative impact on food security and livelihoods. They also limit poor families' chances of getting an education.

Today, more than 2 billion people live in areas where there is a risk of limited access to drinking water.

It is estimated that by 2050 at least one in four people worldwide will live in a country affected by chronic or periodic drinking water scarcity. Drought affects some of the poorest regions of the world, which only increases the occurrence of hunger and malnutrition.                

The last decade has seen a significant increase in access to drinking water and sanitation, with over 90% of the world's population having access to improved sources of drinking water. To improve sanitation and access to drinking water in developing countries, sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, South Asia, East Asia and Southeast Asia, there is a need to increase investment in freshwater ecosystem management and sanitation at the local level. (Source: UN)

 

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Construction of retention reservoirs

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing cities today. High temperatures, increasingly frequent extreme weather phenomena, droughts and cloudbursts mean that we need to adapt urban centres so that, on the one hand, they reduce the negative impact on the climate and, on the other, they are resilient to the effects of such changes. This is particularly important to economic governance.

19 of the 25 planned underground retention reservoirs have been built in Katowice. These activities aim at arranging the drainage and retention of rainwater discharges in order to temporarily delay the flow and take the pressure from receiving bodies with the possibility of re-using this water. It is feasible due to the applied design solutions which make it possible to collect some of the rainwater which can be used by municipal services, e.g. for watering municipal greenery. The implementation of the plans will improve the condition of the natural environment. 

Collectively, the projects completed in 2022 gave rise to about 11 kilometres of sanitary sewers, about 9 kilometres of storm sewers. The total area covered by the rainwater management system will be more than 3 km2. More than 129,000 people will be covered by the rainwater management systems. All construction works in both stages of the project should be completed by Q4 2023 at the latest.

The overall objective of the project is to organise the drainage and retention of rainwater discharges in order to temporarily delay the flow and take the pressure from receiving bodies with the possibility of re-using this water. The implementation of the plans will improve the condition of the natural environment. In addition, the design solutions concerning retention reservoirs make it possible to collect some of the rainwater which can be used by municipal services, e.g. for watering municipal greenery, cleaning work. This is because the reservoirs allow for the development of wells for water intake. In addition, an additional advantage of reusing water by city services is the reduction of tap water consumption, which translates into financial savings for the City.

Projects related to the development of blue and green infrastructure are carried out by Katowickie Inwestycje S.A. as part of two stages of the Project called “Governance of the rainwater management system in Katowice – Stage I and Stage II”, co-financed from the Cohesion Fund under the Infrastructure and Environment Operational Programme 2014-2020.

In addition, in 2021, Ecol-Unicon sp. z o.o. from Gdańsk, on the occasion of its 25th anniversary, donated two rainwater collection barrels with a capacity of 500 litres each to Katowice. The barrels were located at 75 Panewnicka Street and at 12 Słonimskiego Street in Katowice.

katowickieinwestycje.pl

“Want a drink? Take a sip of Katowice tap water”

In 2019, in an effort to encourage residents to give up single-use plastic (among others), we launched a social campaign under the slogan “Want a drink? Take a sip of Katowice tap water”. Moreover, we have engaged local businesses in the campaign, including selected cafes and restaurants which serve free tap water. The City Hall was the first institution to phase out water in plastic bottles and dispensers and install water drinkers. The sign of participation in the campaign is a sticker with the campaign logo.

The campaign is conducted in partnership with Katowice Waterworks. An element promoting drinking tap water was the original water maker (saturator), from which people could drink water, also with juice, on the Market Square in the summer of 2019; the device also appears at many events. According to the idea, the goal-oriented actions should “support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water resources management and sanitation infrastructure”. Therefore, the “Katowice tap water” campaign perfectly implements this idea, because in Poland about 60% of people do not believe that tap water is safe to drink. By drinking tap water, not only do we reduce plastic production, but also we realise what a luxury it is to have access to drinking tap water, while so many people on earth suffer from its scarcity. We are learning to treat mains water as equally valuable as the water we buy in bottles at the store. 

katoobywatel.katowice.eu

Let’s Catch Rainwater

Municipal Housing Company (MHC) has joined the fight against the effects of the drought in Katowice. MHC, as part of the action “Let’s Catch Rainwater”, installed more than 30 rainwater tanks in the residential buildings under its management. The tanks can hold 210-350 litres of rainwater which will be used to water the plants in the courtyards and squares adjacent to the buildings. Water scarcity is a serious problem, but every small step towards eco-responsibility matters and through this action we want to encourage other managers, homeowners and residents to save water.

 

Affordable and clean energy

Affordable and clean energy

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Overcoming challenges and seizing numerous opportunities in today's world involves access to energy. It is essential for jobs, security, climate change, food production or efforts to increase national incomes.

New economic opportunities and jobs can ensure universal access to energy, improved energy efficiency and the diffusion of renewable energy. They will also contribute to creating more sustainable and inclusive communities as well as increasing resilience to the effects of climate change.
Today, around 3 billion people lack access to clean cooking fuel and are exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution. In addition, slightly less than 1 billion people do not have access to electricity. As many as 50% of them live in sub-Saharan Africa. In the last decade, some progress has been made in the use of renewable sources of electricity from water, solar and wind power, and the ratio of energy consumed per unit of GDP is also declining.

However, this problem is far from being solved. Access to clean fuels and technologies should be increased, as well as the use of renewable energy in buildings, transport and industry.There is also a need to increase public and private investment in energy and to place greater emphasis on regulatory frameworks and innovative business models in transforming the world energy systems. (Source: UN)

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Municipal Energy Centre

The Municipal Energy Centre in Katowice is an information point whose tasks include day-to-day service of residents of Katowice in the scope of technical advice and available support systems – grants of the Department of Environmental Development (WKŚ), Clean Air, RPO 4.6.1, My Heat, My Electricity, My Water, 50 Kw to Start and other programmes; rules for the application of thermo-modernisation allowance, provisions of the anti-smog resolution.

Since the launch of the Municipal Energy Centre (MCE), located at 2 Młyńska Street, in 2018, more than 13,240 in-person, email and telephone advice have been provided to date.

The number of advice provided in 2022 has increased several times due to:

- providing information on the obligation to submit a CEEB declaration, the Act, templates, assistance in filling out declarations, issuing copies of declarations, verifying identity and issuing declaration identifier,

- providing information on the possibility of obtaining a shield allowance, the Act, templates and assistance in filling out an application, the related obligation to submit a CEEB declaration,

- providing information on the possibility of purchasing coal, its prices and availability, the related obligation to submit a CEEB declaration and have its identifier – knowledge of the provisions of law as well as rules and regulations of PGG and Tauron,

- providing information on the possibility of obtaining a coal allowance by households, informing about the provisions of the Act, templates, information on how to fill out the application, the related obligation to submit a CEEB declaration, providing explanations to residents requested by MOPS to complete the declaration,

- providing information on the possibility of submitting a statement by the heat consumer (allowance for vulnerable entities), informing about the provisions of the Act, templates and information on how to fill out the statement,

- providing information on the possibility of receiving a fuel allowance by vulnerable entities, informing about the provisions of the Act, templates and information on how to fill out the application, the related obligation to submit a CEEB declaration,

- providing information on the sale of coal on preferential terms organised by the City of Katowice.

www.facebook.com/MCEKatowice 

Granting of targeted subsidies from the Katowice budget.

The City of Katowice grants targeted subsidies from the municipal budget for the replacement of heating systems of up to PLN 10,000, but no more than 80% of eligible costs, and up to PLN 6,000, but no more than 50% of eligible costs. Subsidies are granted to natural persons, housing communities, legal persons and entrepreneurs owning residential premises where coal is used for heating purposes. Since 2017, the performance of the above task has been co-financed by the Voivodship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Katowice (WFOŚiGW).

As of 2021, subsidies for the installation of coal-fired boilers have been discontinued. Instead, the grace period for coal-fired boilers, purchased earlier under the subsidy system, was shortened from 10 to 5 years, together with an increase of the maximum amount of co-financing for pellet boilers and heat pumps intended for heating purposes up to PLN 10,000. As an additional measure, it became possible to sign an agreement for the assignment of the amount of the targeted subsidy to change the heating system. With this solution, the targeted subsidy can be paid up to the subsidy amount directly to the account of the Contractor replacing the heating system and/or installing a renewable energy source.

By the end of 2021, more than 7,440 non-environmental heat sources were subsidised for a total amount of PLN 59.7 million, as well as the installation of almost 1,360 renewable energy sources was subsidised for a total of PLN 7.7 million.

In early 2022, the Katowice City Council adopted another modification to the subsidy rules enabling the so-called “current financing” of the above tasks.

Improving air quality in the City of Katowice by replacing coal-fired heating systems in single-family buildings

The project allows you to replace an old coal-fired heat source (up to class 4) with one of the low-emission systems: heat pump, electric heating, gas boiler or biomass boiler. When changing the heat source, it is possible to apply for co-financing for the installation of a photovoltaic system, solar collectors, the construction / modernisation of the central heating system, as well as the performance of a heat connection and the construction or reconstruction of the existing gas or electricity connection.

The project provides for the possibility of replacing coal-fired heating systems and obtaining 100% co-financing for the net costs of the new heating system.

As a result of the conducted contest, 166 Grantees were shortlisted for the project. The first grant applications were received in September 2022, and the first contracts with Grantees were signed in October 2022. 

The grant project funding agreement was signed with the Marshal’s Office on 25 August 2022. The project is implemented under the Regional Operational Programme of the Silesian Voivodeship for 2014-2020, Priority Axis IV. Energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and low-emission economy, Measure 4.6. Clean air, Sub-measure: 4.6.1. Clean air – competition. The substantive implementation of the project is scheduled to take place between Q3 2022 and Q2 2023. 

 Boiler replacement and thermal upgrading in municipal residential buildings

Municipal Housing Company (MHC) is intensifying its activities and intends to change the heating method in residential units owned by the City of Katowice. By 2030, 50 buildings are planned to be modernised. The investment will cost around PLN 99 million. Some of the works have already begun. 

Implementation of the “Clean Air” Programme

Pursuant to the agreement signed by the City of Katowice with the Voivodship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (WFOŚiGW) on 1 February 2021, a point for receiving applications to the “Clean Air” Programme was established at the Municipal Energy Centre (MCE). At the same time, the Municipal Social Welfare Centre issues income certificates for interested residents under which they are eligible for the increased subsidy threshold. WFOŚiGW in Katowice receives quarterly reports on the number of certificates issued and applications submitted by the City of Katowice.

In 2021, the Municipal Social Welfare Centre (MOPS) in Katowice issued 86 income certificates, and through the Municipal Energy Centre, 52 applications were sent to WFOŚiGW in Katowice. In 2022, there were 61 certificates and 21 payment requests.

Implementation of the “STOP Smog” Government Programme in cooperation with Metropolis GZM

On 17 February 2022, the City of Katowice entered into a framework agreement for the implementation of the STOP SMOG Government Programme with 16 municipalities.

On 26 October 2022, Metropolis GZM, on behalf of 11 municipalities, signed the agreement for the implementation of the Stop Smog programme with the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW). The following were submitted for the project by the City of Katowice:

-  10 single-family buildings that are part of the Municipality’s housing stock.

- 15 single-family buildings meeting the principles of the Programme, which will be selected during an open call. The substantive implementation of the project is scheduled for 2022-2024.

Implementation of the ELENA Project in cooperation with Metropolis GZM

On 4 February 2022, the City of Katowice signed an agreement for the implementation of ELENA with 17 other municipalities. The City of Katowice has declared to complete the technical documentation for several residential buildings under this project. The substantive implementation of the project is scheduled for 2023-2027.

Air Quality Improvement Council

The Air Quality Improvement Council was established by the Mayor of the City on 30 April 2019. The Council was composed of experts from both the City Hall and external offices (scientists, doctors). The Council’s task is to analyse the effectiveness of municipal grants, protective programmes, educational activities, municipal guard control and to make recommendations for improvements to these activities. 11 meetings of the Council have been held since its establishment. In view of the pandemic period, meetings have been held in the form of teleconferences since 2020.

 

Organisation of the 1st edition of Metropolitan Energy Days

Organisation of outdoor events for residents:

From 12-17 September 2022, the City of Katowice, along with Metropolis GZM, held Metropolitan Energy Days. From 12-15 September, an energy advisor from WFOŚiGW was on duty at the MCE information desk. He held consultations with residents about improving energy efficiency and financial support for investments under the existing Programmes.

On 17 September, a family picnic took place at Katowice Market Square, where residents had an opportunity to talk to specialists about heat source replacement and energy efficiency. Partners: Marshal’s Office, Municipal Guard, KOMEL Institute of Electrical Drives and Machines, FEWE, WFOŚiGW, Tauron Ciepło, State Forests, PKM Katowice, ZS2 Murcki, SITZN, Technical School No. 8, ZSTiO2, Kominiarze, Meisel, Museum of Energy, Arka Foundation, Radio Katowice, Department of Environmental Management of the City Hall of Katowice, GZM, Kato Urban Corner, Infrapanel, PGNIG. 

#DoNotContaminate” Educational campaign

The #DoNotContaminate (#nieTruj) campaign was aimed at raising awareness among the residents of Katowice about air pollution, its causes, its impact on life comfort, low emission hazards and how to counteract it.

As part of the campaign, a mobile information point called “Smogobus” appeared in the city, where people could learn about the so-called “anti-smog resolution”, the Katowice City subsidy system, the “Clean Air” and “My Electricity” programmes, the offer of the Voivodship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Katowice (WFOŚiGW) in Katowice, and, above all, submit an application for subsidy to replace a heat source.

From 2020 to 2021, the “Smogobus” went to 59 locations on the city map, more than 1,000 residents received advice and more than 260 residents submitted their applications to change their heating systems.

AWAIR air quality monitoring

As part of an international project called “AWAIR”, the City of Katowice, together with partners from other European cities, received funding for a task under the “INTERREG CENTRAL EUROPE” programme. A pilot task was carried out, which consisted in the installation of air pollution sensors in selected locations (nurseries, kindergartens, orphanages, social welfare homes) as well as a multimedia presentation of the results on a dedicated internet platform and in individual unit locations (127 air sensors and 154 multimedia screens). This is the largest air quality measurement system in the country that is owned by a city (0.77 sensor per km2). The cost of the entire project is over € 290,000.

In 2020, as part of the expansion of the system and the implementation of another pilot project, “Indoor air quality monitoring system in selected educational facilities” was carried out. The system consisted in installing indoor air quality monitoring stations in selected buildings. It consists of 9 devices that measure the instantaneous parameters of the indoor air. In addition, the monitoring stations register the moment doors and windows are opened in the room by means of mounted reed switches. The sensors have been installed in Municipal Kindergarten No. 85, Primary School No. 33, and a branch of the Municipal Nursery on Uniwersytecka Street. The cost of installing these devices is PLN 120,500 gross. 

As part of implementation of the AWAIR Project, a cooperation agreement was also signed with the town of Mikołów, Siemianowice Śląskie, as well as with WFOŚiGW, ŚZGiP, and UMP, which made it possible, among others, to make a dedicated presentation for cities showing the current level of air quality based on the State Environmental Monitoring.

As part of the project, a website was created on which you can observe the current state of air quality in the city. 

powietrze.katowice.eu  

Monitoring system for energy and water carriers with control options in public facilities of the City of Katowice – SMIS

“Monitoring system for energy and water carriers with control options in public facilities of the City of Katowice – SMiS” is a tool aimed at monitoring and analysing the energy situation in public facilities. In November 2021, the new system was officially presented at the Youth Palace. In 2022, the buildings were successively retrofitted with control and measurement equipment and automation machines, and the configuration and visualisation of monitored parameters were carried out together with the control service. 64 buildings are currently monitored. The control of heat sources and ventilation is carried out in 50 buildings. In 2023, it is planned to launch a water consumption monitoring subsystem which requires the retrofitting of certain buildings to specialised online monitoring equipment. Ultimately, in 2024, the system will cover 71 public facilities. Part of the system’s visualisation will also be available to residents at mce.katowice.eu.

The contractual cost of implementation of the entire project is slightly over PLN 1.0 million. The task is carried out between 2021 and 2024 and will ultimately cover 71 buildings.

Increasing electricity generation from renewable sources in public facilities in the City of Katowice.

As part of the pilot investment task included in the budget of the City of Katowice and the 2022-2045 Multiannual Financial Forecast titled: “Increasing electricity generation from renewable sources in public facilities in the City of Katowice”, in Q4 2022, it is planned to conduct a tender procedure for the development of design documentation and the selection of contractor of conceptual and design work. As part of the performance of the work, among others, technical condition appraisals will be carried out, conceptual studies will be developed, including the selection of PV installations to meet the needs of each building and the estimation of costs of the task for selected 8 buildings. Construction and installation work is planned for 2023-2024.

 

Implementation of the “Warm Flat” programme.

The task is performed by WFE, WKŚ and BZE. The programme aims to improve air quality in residential premises located in multi-family buildings by replacing sources with solid fuel and improving energy efficiency (mechanical ventilation, replacement of windows and entrance doors as complementary projects).

Implemented in the form of a subsidy, the programme is addressed to municipalities which, under the Programme, may receive a subsidy from funds made available by the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW), and then grant subsidies to so-called final beneficiaries, i.e. natural persons holding a legal title under ownership or limited property right to residential premises (usufruct, easement, pledge, cooperative ownership right to premises, mortgage).

The intensity of funding granted to Final Beneficiaries depends on their income or the income of those living in their household and was set at:

- basic level (up to 35% of eligible costs) – up to PLN 17,500,
- increased level (up to 65%) – to PLN 26,900,
- the highest level (up to 95%) – up to PLN 39,900.
It is assumed that 124 people will benefit from the Programme between 2023 and 2024, and its cost will amount to PLN 3,106,800.

 Construction of a network of publicly accessible charging points for electric vehicles

Katowice is implementing comprehensive e-mobility solutions to improve air quality. As a leader among other Polish cities, Katowice has more than fulfilled the obligation imposed on municipalities under the Act on Electromobility and Alternative Fuels. In 2019, 87 charging points (40 stations) were set up across the city, with more being put into use in 2020. In total, there are now as many as 147 charging points available, i.e. 69 stations. Charging stations are located in Downtown, at transfer centres, in the vicinity of major public facilities, along major routes and in the areas of the largest housing estates.
The project to build a charging network has a positive impact on the possibility of developing a fleet of electric vehicles in the city, the number of which is growing every month.
In 2019, the Driving Change Together declaration, the result of the Polish Presidency of COP24, was signed. The declaration concerns partnership for the development of electromobility. In addition, the growing number of electric buses, as well as electric cleaning vehicles, taking care of cleanliness in our city, are additional items on the agenda of efforts made for clean and accessible energy.  
The City has allocated a total of PLN 500,000 for the task of expanding the network of electric chargers. 

The charging stations map is available at: eipa.udt.gov.pl

Purchase of low-emission vehicles

As part of intensified long-term activities, the City of Katowice is taking steps to permanently reduce pollution levels. 
One of the measures taken in this regard is the purchase of low-emission vehicles, the purpose of which is to reduce emissions from means of transport. Therefore, PKM Katowice buses meeting the lowest emission standards (Euro 1-3) are being systematically phased out from service, while the fleet is being supplemented with electric and environmentally friendly public transport vehicles.

In 2020, PKM Katowice Sp. z o. o. purchased 5 brand new single-unit low-floor green urban buses with electric drive, with a net contract value of PLN 12,450,000.00.  In 2021, 5 new green low-floor urban buses with electric drive and 5 brand new green articulated buses were purchased, with a total net contract value of PLN 25,388,850. Moreover, in 2022, PKM Katowice Sp. z o. o. bought 5 new diesel-powered buses with a net value of PLN 6,244,000.00 and 5 diesel-powered drive buses with a net value of PLN 5,265,000.00.

The detailed assumptions of this project are set out in the “Low-Emission Management Plan for the City of Katowice”

https://bit.ly/2VVHdto

https://bit.ly/38xwFpD

 

Decent work and economic growth

Decent work and economic growth

Sustained and inclusive economic growth can drive progress, create decent jobs for all and improve living standards. 

COVID-19 has disrupted billions of lives and endangered the global economy. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects a global recession as bad as or worse than in 2009. As job losses escalate, the International Labor Organization estimates that nearly half of the global workforce is at risk of losing their livelihoods.

Even before the outbreak of COVID-19, one in five countries – home to billions of people living in poverty – were likely to see per capita incomes stagnate or decline in 2020. Now, the economic and financial shocks associated with COVID-19—such as disruptions to industrial production, falling commodity prices, financial market volatility, and rising insecurity—are derailing the already tepid economic growth and compounding heightened risks from other factors.

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Factory of Sustainable Entrepreneurial Practices 

Katowice is part of an international project called the “Factory of Sustainable Entrepreneurial Practices”. The following cities also take part in the project: Saint-Étienne (France), Sierre (Switzerland), Monastir (Tunisia) and Tamatave (Madagascar). The project involves activities which address three challenges:

  •          Exchange of good practices in the field of entrepreneurship – internationalisation. Within this challenge, the International Business Incubator facilitates the organisation of study visits and business missions in the cities network that can be carried out by SMEs and start-ups. Companies receive logistics and organisational support as well as a place to work in one of the business incubators of the city network.
  •          Exchange of good practices and creation of new tools for industry education. Under this challenge, the main focus is on the exchange of trade schools. Currently, it takes place in areas such as catering and hotel industry, as well as widely understood fashion and design. Work is underway to expand cooperation and include other areas of exchange.
  •          Exchange of good practices in the field of social economy and professional inclusion. This challenge involves the exchange of organisations that deal with the broadly understood social economy. Project participants mostly share practices in developing business models for social economy entities.

 

KATOWICE – CITY OF PROFESSIONALS

Katowice – City of Professionals is a programme designed to encourage young people who are at the crossroads of education to take up education in trade and technical schools by showing them appealing career prospects. In addition, this programme aims to increase knowledge and public awareness of the dual education system and to present an extensive offer of the City of Katowice as regards career opportunities.

The Katowice – City of Professionals programme has been carried out periodically since 2018. In the 2021/2022 school year, another edition of the programme was held, as part of which about 300 seventh grade students from primary schools took part in 27 study visits to programme partners, i.e. Katowice-based entrepreneurs, from early March to mid-May. The current edition of the programme will include study visits to programme partners during the 2022/2023 school year until the end of 2022. Study visits to companies are a key part of Katowice – City of Professionals. After these visits, students will also visit trade and technical schools which provide education in the fields discussed during the study visits at companies. The final stage of the programme includes summative educational lessons which are provided as part of school classes.

The partners of this year’s edition of Katowice – City of Professionals are: Sieć Badawcza Łukasiewicz - Instytut Technik Innowacyjnych EMAG, BFC Nieruchomości Johann Bros, Energoprojekt Katowice S.A., Famur S.A., Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacji Miejskiej Katowice Sp. z o.o., Rockwell Automation Sp. z o.o. During these visits, students will learn about the specifics of work in such professions as mechanic, plumber, mechatronics technician, welder, grinder, milling machine operator, heat treater, mill operator, quality controller, specialist and technician in AI, cyber security, IT and data analysis, electromechanic, fitter, graphic designer, architect, cook, receptionist. 

Katowice Entrepreneur Package

The Rawa.Ink Municipal Business Incubator coordinated an assistance campaign for entrepreneurs as part of the implementation of the Katowice Entrepreneur Package, which was launched in spring 2020 and operated until September 2021. KEP involves rent and lease exemptions, a 50% exemption from the waste collection fee, the establishment of a Crisis Advisory Point in cooperation with the Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the possibility of cancelling, spreading into instalments or deferring the date of payment of property tax at the individual request of an entrepreneur, for a period of one month, if the entrepreneur has observed a significant decrease in revenue, and also exemptions from fees for the use of permits for the sale and serving of alcoholic beverages at points of sale (catering business). During the two editions of the Katowice Entrepreneur Package, the City granted the eligible entrepreneurs with exemptions and discounts amounting to over PLN 15 million.

Promotion of entrepreneurship

The City grants funding on a one-off basis to start up a business, refunds the costs of equipping or retrofitting a workplace. Applicants may obtain funding amounting to over PLN 30,000.

katowice.praca.gov.pl 

 “Better start – better opportunities"

A special programme under which 8 unemployed persons registered with the Poviat Labour Office (PUP) in Katowice could apply for funds to start up a business for an amount not higher than PLN 35,000.00 and receive a start-up voucher of PLN 6,000.00 gross. Project participants were able to use the financial support they received under the voucher for payment of public tributes, administrative costs, telecommunication fees, etc.

Project period: 2022-2023

Your development – your career

The goal of the project was to increase employment opportunities for people aged over 30 that were registered with the Poviat Labour Office in Katowice as unemployed, in particular, those belonging to one of the following groups: people over 50, women, the long-term unemployed, people with disabilities, and people with low qualifications. The project participants were offered support in the identification of their needs, analysis of skills, aptitude and vocational issues as well as comprehensive and individual job placement services or vocational counselling. 24 project participants took part in internships offered by employers, 12 project participants benefited from intervention work and 33 project participants benefited from vocational training.

Project period: 2021-2022

katowice.praca.gov.pl  

Rawa.Ink Municipal Business Incubator

The Rawa.Ink Municipal Business Incubator supports activities aimed at accelerating the development of a new economy based on technological innovations developed thanks to endogenous entrepreneurial and R&D potential, by creating attractive conditions for the development of entrepreneurship with particular emphasis on SMEs and start-ups. Rawa.Ink is expected to help build a platform for cooperation between the local government, universities, businesses, and the local community. 
Rawa.Ink is also a place supporting people who intend to start their own business. The key aspect of the activities is to help newly established or operating companies by providing a place to start and run a business on market conditions, as well as to gain a wide access to the developed support instruments in the development of entrepreneurship and implementation of innovations. The Municipal Business Incubator was established in 2019. 

rawaink.katowice.eu 

 

Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Inclusive and sustainable industrialization, together with innovation and infrastructure, can unleash dynamic and competitive economic forces that generate employment and income. They play a key role in introducing and promoting new technologies, facilitating international trade and enabling the efficient use of resources. 

However, the world still has a long way to go to fully tap this potential. Least developed countries, in particular, need to accelerate the development of their manufacturing sector if they are to meet the 2030 target, and scale up investment in scientific research and innovation. 

Global manufacturing growth has been steadily declining, even before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic is hitting manufacturing industries hard and causing disruptions in global value chains and the supply of products. 

Innovation and technological progress are key to finding lasting solutions to both economic and environmental challenges, such as increased resource and energy-efficiency. Globally, investment in research and development (R&D) as a proportion of GDP increased from 1.5 per cent in 2000 to 1.7 per cent in 2015 and remained almost unchanged in 2017, but was only less than 1 per cent  in developing regions.

In terms of communications infrastructure, more than half of the world’s population is now online and almost the entire world population lives in an area covered by a mobile network. It is estimated that in 2019, 96.5 per cent were covered by at least a 2G network.     

The coronavirus pandemic has revealed the urgent need for resilient infrastructure. The Asian Development Bank notes that critical infrastructure in the region remains far from adequate in many countries, despite the rapid economic growth and development the region has experienced over the past decade. The Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific highlights that making infrastructure resilient to disasters and climate change will require an additional investment of $434 billion per year. This sum may need to be even greater in some subregions, such as the Pacific small island developing states.     

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Start-ups Mine

“Start-ups Mine” is a competition aimed at selecting young, promising and innovative Katowice-based companies. The competition also makes it possible to identify the local start-up environment and is an important element in building the innovation ecosystem in Katowice. As part of the competition, the best companies also participate in a short acceleration programme with mentors who are business experts or incubation managers associated with start-up organisations. The first two editions included teams representing 82 innovative projects. The prize pool of each edition amounted to PLN 330 thousand gross, including a two-year office lease contract at the Rawa.Ink Municipal Business Incubator. The next edition is scheduled for 2023. In all three editions, Katowice start-ups will receive a total of one million zlotys of support.

www.kopalniastartupow.katowice.eu 

IoT Innovation Showroom

In order to facilitate access to technology and increase the availability of solutions to interested parties, in 2021, the first IoT Innovation Showroom in Poland were created. Showroom is a cyber-physical space available in at the Rawa.Ink Municipal Business Incubator (17a Teatralna Street). It is an excellent opportunity, not only for the IoT sector in Poland which can showcase its achievements, but also for local governments and SMEs to learn about the technological innovations and solutions that they can use right now. The IoT Innovation Showroom also aims at integrating tech companies and provide opportunities for testing proposed solutions and training. In the center of Katowice, you can see, among other things, how satellite information helps cities in responding to meteorological factors and how sensors inform residents about the current air quality in the city. The IoT Innovation Showroom also allows you to take a closer look at cyber security technologies, and the topic of artificial intelligence. The Showroom is consistently supplemented with new solutions in cooperation with the Polish Cluster of the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence – SINOTAIC.

 www.showroomiot.pl 

Developing, updating and monitoring the implementation of the “Local Revitalisation Programme of the City of Katowice for 2016-2023”

Resolution of 28 April 2022 on the adoption of the “Local Revitalisation Programme of the City of Katowice for 2016-2023”. The programme was adopted in 2016 and has been updated annually ever since.

Revitalisation is a comprehensive process aimed at bringing degraded areas out of the crisis state, integrating interventions for the benefit of local community, space and local economy, territorially concentrated and conducted in a planned and integrated manner. A detailed diagnosis of the problems in the City of Katowice enabled us to define the areas and scope of the occurrence of crisis phenomena, and the work on the Programme made it possible to define the general objective of revitalisation, specific objectives and directions of revitalisation activities as well as basic projects whose implementation would help to save the degraded areas from crisis.

Within the LRP, a revitalisation area was designated, consisting of 6 urban sub-areas and 6 sub-areas of spatial problems.

The general objective of the revitalisation process in the City of Katowice involves a multidimensional revival and sustainable socio-economic revitalisation of the area, ensuring an improved quality of life for residents and enabling its further independent development.

Currently, the database of basic revitalisation projects comprises 171 items, of which 114 are urban projects and 57 are projects submitted by external institutions.. The value of basic revitalisation projects included in the LRP 2016-2023 amounts to over PLN 2.1 billion. 

The Municipal Management System – Katowice Spatial Information Infrastructure (MSZ-KIIP)

Katowice has implemented Municipal Management System – Katowice Spatial Information Infrastructure (MSZ-KIIP).
It is estimated that as much as 80-90% of the information that is used in public administration is spatially related and can be located on a map, e.g. based on the address details, geographical coordinates or plot number.

Thanks to the data collected in the MSZ-KIIP system in the form of thematic layers (such as: plots, buildings, roads, local zoning plans, address points, etc.) it is possible to analyse information about a specific area in an interdisciplinary manner.

In 2022, there were 107,772 entries to the MSZ-KIIP system from the outside. Websites dedicated to surveying contractors, property appraisers, designers and investors, as well as entities operating land development networks were launched.

emapa.katowice.eu 

Naprawmyto.pl

Naprawmyto.pl is an application which residents can use to easily identify any defects in the city in three thematic categories: infrastructure, greenery, and safety & security. To date (data as of January 2023), out of over 28,400 reported problems, more than 21,800 defects have already been repaired since spring 2018, but it is equally important to be able to follow or comment on the reported issues and to propose solutions, as well as direct contact between residents with officials. Innovation in this case, therefore, refers not only to the use of an innovative tool, but to the very formula of cooperation and communication with residents. The app is also largely used by residents of the most degraded districts that have equal access to and easier contact with municipal services (application, e-mail, telephone).

The application was created by non-governmental organisations and is also used by other Polish cities as an open source tool. However, Katowice achieved record results both in terms of the number of alerts reported (user activity) and the number of problems solved. 

“wCOP tree” application

The application is a simple and quick way to indicate locations for new trees in the city. Its name refers to the world’s largest climate conference, the UN Climate Summit, the 24th edition of which was held in Katowice in 2018. To date, we have planted over 1,000 trees using the application.  

Katowice Intelligent Monitoring and Analysis System 

Established in 2016, the system currently consists of 339 cameras, including 49 cameras recording vehicles on the main traffic routes. The cameras are located in public places, including family activity zones, after consultation with residents and relevant services responsible for safety and order in the city. The monitoring system is distinguished by the use of video analytics to detect specific events in the CCTV-controlled areas. The system is used on an ongoing basis by municipal services, including the Police, which directly increases the level of security in the city. Since 2021, the system’s functionality has been enhanced thanks to the platform for cooperation between services, which enables residents to monitor in real time, via a dedicated portal, air pollution levels, the situation on the roads and the water levels of rivers within the administrative boundaries of Katowice. Thanks to local government funds and the residents that are actively engaged in Participatory Budgeting, the system is being gradually expanded with new camera points.

 

Reduced inequalities

Reduced inequalities

Reducing inequalities and ensuring no one is left behind are integral to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

Inequality within and among countries is a persistent cause for concern. Despite some positive signs toward reducing inequality in some dimensions, such as reducing relative income inequality in some countries and preferential trade status benefiting lower-income countries, inequality still persists.

COVID-19 has deepened existing inequalities, hitting the poorest and most vulnerable communities the hardest. It has put a spotlight on economic inequalities and fragile social safety nets that leave vulnerable communities to bear the brunt of the crisis.  At the same time, social, political and economic inequalities have amplified the impacts of the pandemic.

On the economic front, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased global unemployment and dramatically slashed workers’ incomes.

COVID-19 also puts at risk the limited progress that has been made on gender equality and women’s rights over the past decades. Across every sphere, from health to the economy, security to social protection, the impacts of COVID-19 are exacerbated for women and girls simply by virtue of their sex.

Inequalities are also deepening for vulnerable populations in countries with weaker health systems and those facing existing humanitarian crises. Refugees and migrants, as well as indigenous peoples, older persons, people with disabilities and children are particularly at risk of being left behind. And hate speech targeting vulnerable groups is rising.

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

“Katowice Senior in the City” Programme for 2022-2027

The Programme is dedicated to senior residents of Katowice who are over 60 years of age. Its main objective is to improve the quality of life by providing these people with access to appropriate forms of support. The implementation of various projects within the programme is aimed, among others, at counteracting loneliness and marginalisation of elderly people, managing their free time after retirement (e.g. by developing skills and individual interests), increasing the activity and participation of elderly people in social life, pro-health and educational or physical culture activities.
In 2022, the City allocated PLN 52,278,884.00 for the programme.

In addition, in 2022, the City of Katowice continued its cooperation with TVS Television that consisted in purchasing a senior-oriented programme called: “Silver Katowice”. The programme is implemented as part of a broadly defined senior citizen policy. The content of each section of the programme is related to current events concerning senior citizens of our City.

Transport services for disabled residents of Katowice

“Katowice – a Barrier Free City” Guide for People with Disabilities helps people with disabilities find their way to the appropriate competent bodies and institutions and enables them to plan their active leisure in accessible places and public facilities. The guidebook is addressed not only to people with disabilities, but also to their families, caregivers, and all those working and acting for their benefit. The “Katowice – a Barrier Free City” Guide for People with Disabilities is handled and updated by the KONTRA Club Foundation.

Migam sign language interpreter, Connect with Interpreter

In order to make it easier for people with hearing impairments to contact the Katowice City Hall, in April 2020 we launched a service that enables them to connect online with a sign language interpreter through the office website.

Since September 2021, the Municipal Social Welfare Centre in Katowice also launched the services of an online sign language interpreter: “CALL TRANSLATOR”. Communication takes place via a video connection on the client’s computer/tablet/phone. The sign language interpreter visible on the screen mediates in a conversation between the Client and the Official on the topic of the Client’s interest, which may concern matters handled by the Municipal Social Welfare Centre in Katowice.

Minimum technical requirements: any computer, tablet or phone with Internet access, equipped with a camera and microphone, with an up-to-date browser installed: Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari, and MS Edge. The service also works on Android as well as IOS mobile devices.

The costs of the service, excluding the costs of the connection, are incurred by the City of Katowice.

Professional Activation Incubator for Seniors

The project aims to help senior residents of Katowice, women 60+ and men 65+, to return to the labour market. Thanks to instruments such as a senior or adaptation bonus, employers interested in hiring retired people could benefit from innovative funding in 2022. As part of the funding, 10 seniors were hired. 50 seniors took part in training in computer skills and professional image development that will help them re-enter the labour market. Starting from 2023, the Professional Activation Incubator for Seniors will assist senior residents of Katowice in actively seeking employment by presenting job offers. It will also help them prepare application documents as well as prepare for job interviews.

Mayor’s Plenipotentiary for Equal Treatment

Katowice has always been an open, tolerant and multicultural city.
Referring to the past and, at the same time, building a new image of the city in the global world of changes, the Mayor of Katowice implements a policy of equal treatment that respects diversity and does not discriminate against anyone in public, social and economic life.
In January 2023, a Plenipotentiary of the Mayor of the City of Katowice for Equal Treatment was appointed. 

Katowice, Open City – Development of Social Services – stage II

The project entitled “Katowice, Open City – Development of Social Services – Stage II” aims to support 60 disabled and dependent people and to alleviate the problem of insufficient methodological support for a group of 20 actual carers of dependent and disabled people living in Katowice (including at least 50% of people from revitalised areas) by creating an interdisciplinary system which will take into account the individual needs of these people and ways to support them. The target group consists of 80 people, including 40 disabled people and 20 dependants with severe and moderate disability (from 15 to 70 years of age), at risk of social exclusion due to disabilities.

Ultimately, 91 people took part in the project, including 87 disabled people and 4 dependants with severe and moderate disability.

The following activities were carried out under this project: respite services – as part of the task, project participants were supported by the Personal Assistant of a Disabled Person (87 people) and Dependant’s Caregiver (4 people) as support activities. The aim of the support is to improve the quality of life of disabled persons, striving to achieve a possible level of self-determination and active participation in social life, and to achieve optimal results in independent living of persons with disabilities, as well as respite care in case of temporary incapacity to provide care or a need for rest by a caregiver.

The project involved:
1) services of Dependant’s Caregiver at the place of residence who completed 106.5 hours for 4 persons,
2) services of Personal Assistant of a Disabled Person (AOON) who completed 16,198.5 hours for 87 persons, including 26 persons were provided with support in COVID-19 vaccination.

The project was implemented from 1 February 2020 to 31 March 2022.
Project value: PLN 1,032,600.00
Contribution from the European Social Fund: PLN 877,710.00

 

Sustainable cities and communities

Sustainable cities and communities

The world is becoming increasingly urbanized. Since 2007, more than half the world’s population has been living in cities, and that share is projected to rise to 60 per cent by 2030. 
Cities and metropolitan areas are powerhouses of economic growth—contributing about 60 per cent of global GDP. However, they also account for about 70 per cent of global carbon emissions and over 60 per cent of resource use. 
Rapid urbanization is resulting in a growing number of slum dwellers, inadequate and overburdened infrastructure and services (such as waste collection and water and sanitation systems, roads and transport), worsening air pollution and unplanned urban sprawl. 
The impact of COVID-19 will be most devastating in poor and densely populated urban areas, especially for the one billion people living in informal settlements and slums worldwide, where overcrowding also makes it difficult to follow recommended measures such as social distancing and self-isolation. 
The UN food agency, FAO, warned that hunger and fatalities could rise significantly in urban areas, without measures to ensure that poor and vulnerable residents have access to food.

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

KATOcitizen

KATOcitizen project is a social innovation which consists in building civil society and engaging residents in actions for the sustainable development of the city. The city acts as the initiator here, gives tools and reasons for joint engagement, creates actions, campaigns and launches applications, for example, for reporting and fixing problems or planting trees in places indicated by users. Residents together with the city can sow meadows and build community gardens, clean and practise zero waste, hang nesting boxes and feeders. The project also included the completion of Katowice’s first parklet on Teatralna Street was also created and the decoration of electrical boxes with an artistic graffiti promoting Katowice’s modernist architecture. The project partners include, among others, non-governmental organisations, municipal entities, local entrepreneurs, and artists. The project won the Transformative Action Award for transformative action of the year 2020, and was also a finalist in the Innovation in Politics 2020 competition in the ecology category. In the same year, it also received an honourable mention in a competition organised by the Polish Press Agency: “Innovative Local Government” in the large cities category. 

https://katoobywatel.katowice.eu/

 

Get a Bike

Biking not as a sport, but as a means of transport – this is something we want to instil into residents, not only by investing in infrastructure and expanding the bike rental network, but also through educational and promotional activities. That is why, in 2022, we launched the campaign “Get a Bike”. The approach we want to instil is to believe that biking is less about fitness, equipment or clothes and more about attitude. A good opportunity for the campaign’s launch was the annual celebration of European Mobility Week in Katowice. Launched by the European Commission in 2002, the campaign encourages people living in cities to change their habits and choose alternative, environmentally friendly means of travel: walking, biking, using public transportation or carpooling. In Katowice, we engaged residents in bicycle activities: tours of the city on bikes, bike repair classes and even cleaning up green areas on bikes. The City Hall also launched the “Bike Ambassadors” campaign, consisting in presenting officials who travel on bikes on the official Facebook profile of the City of Katowice. The City Hall in Katowice undertakes internal activities to promote biking among employees.

We initiated the collection of bikes for refugees from Ukraine who settled in Katowice. As part of the “Bikes for Start” campaign, residents of Katowice donated more than one hundred bikes, scooters, rollers and accessories, which, after servicing, became an equipment rental base. Bikes were used not only for play and recreation, but also for transportation purposes, e.g. for commuting, shopping, etc.  

The popularity of single-track vehicles, not only for recreational purposes, is growing. Therefore, the bicycle infrastructure – including bicycle paths and bike rental stations – is constantly expanded. Currently, there are 125 bike docking stations in the city, with 1010 vehicles being available to residents.

https://citybybike.pl/ 

Katovisions

This is a project aimed at selecting CSR leaders among SMEs which invest, create and implement innovative tools and solutions to serve local communities and the environment.The competition is designed to recognize and promote socially responsible companies. SMEs that have implemented a corporate social responsibility project are eligible to enter the competition. The City of Katowice wants to promote the idea of a popular and important CSR concept.

In December 2020, the first edition of the competition took place. The Katowice Mayor’s Award was given to the following three entities: The Link School of Foreign Languages and Cross Cultural Communication for the project “Culture Explorers. Inter School Intercultural Tournament”, INDEX - Biuro Podróży Sp. z o.o. Sp. k. for the project “Intergenerational Integration Centre – A Safe Fortress” and CShark Sp. z o.o. for the project “New Chapter”.

In the second edition of the competition, which was held in 2021, the jury decided to grant the Mayor’s Award, the title of a socially responsible company and a financial prize to the following companies:

  •          The prize of PLN 3,000 gross was awarded to Little Bit Academy for the project “C0DE.DES1GN.GAME”
  •          The second prize of PLN 2,000 gross went to Planeta Jublema Sp. z o.o. for the project “Earth Hour with Mr. Kleks’ Fairy Tale”.

The third edition is currently underway – the deadline for submissions is 31 December 2022. Applications may be submitted by the companies themselves or by non-governmental organisations and residents of Katowice. 

IoT Innovation Showroom

In order to facilitate access to technology and increase the availability of solutions to interested parties, in 2021, the first IoT Innovation Showroom in Poland were created. Showroom is a cyber-physical space available in at the Rawa.Ink Municipal Business Incubator (17a Teatralna Street). It is an excellent opportunity, not only for the IoT sector in Poland which can showcase its achievements, but also for local governments and SMEs to learn about the technological innovations and solutions that they can use right now. The IoT Innovation Showroom also aims at integrating tech companies and provide opportunities for testing proposed solutions and training. In the center of Katowice, you can see, among other things, how satellite information helps cities in responding to meteorological factors and how sensors inform residents about the current air quality in the city. The IoT Innovation Showroom also allows you to take a closer look at cyber security technologies, and the topic of artificial intelligence. The Showroom is consistently supplemented with new solutions in cooperation with the Polish Cluster of the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence – SINOTAIC.

https://www.showroomiot.pl/

Reconstruction of critical road sections (DK81, DK86), which made traffic in the city smoother and safer for its users – both motorists and pedestrians. https://bit.ly/2VJZNVl

Construction of transport hubs in the districts of Ligota, Brynów and Zawodzie, allowing you to leave your car – at the price of a public transport ticket – relatively close to the city centre and to travel by bus or tram.

Opening  the “Sądowa” international bus station at the very heart of the city, which facilitates a transfer between trains, buses, trams and even bikes.

Katowice Intelligent Transport Management System

In order to improve traffic flow and reduce the inconvenience caused by excessive vehicle traffic, work is underway to implement the Katowice Intelligent Transport Management System, thanks to which public transport vehicles will have priority at crossings, and information about the arrival time of the bus will be displayed on the bus stop boards. In order to counteract social exclusion, acoustic devices are being installed as part of traffic signal upgrades to support the movement of visually impaired and blind persons. One of the components of the ITS system is a web portal for obtaining information on traffic conditions. It will include an intermodal trip planner that will allow users to plan trips using the most optimal modes of individual and public transportation on a given route. 

Project value/funding: the total value of the project is PLN 85,129,932.83. The value of the ERDF funding amounts to PLN 67,209,049.98, and the budget of the City of Katowice amounts to PLN 17,920,882.85

GREEN BUDGET

Katowice is investing in the renewal of existing green enclaves and creation of new ones by engaging residents in these activities. A tool which helps residents fulfil their needs related to broadly understood ecology and environmental protection is the Green Budget, which allows you to turn your ideas into action. Facts (2022): in the three editions, out of 514 applications submitted, a total of 239 tasks were selected for implementation. 

DIGITAL MUSEUM

In order to popularise cultural resources, a digital form of selected museum objectsheld by the Museum of the History of Katowice was made available on the Internet.

https://www.mhk.katowice.pl/index.php/muzeum-on-line/multimedia 

Conservation of Monuments

Every year, the City subsidises conservation, restoration and construction works of the most valuable monuments of  Katowice. In 2020, subsidies were granted from the city budget in the amount of: PLN 849,996.43 for works at 8 historic objects. In 2021, subsidies were granted from the city budget in the amount of: PLN 889,093.42 for works at 7 historic objects.

In 2022, a total amount of PLN 997,004.00 was transferred for subsidies for conservation, restoration and construction works at 8 historic objects in Katowice.

 “The Action Plan for Cities. Model Locality” (PDM)

In 2021, Katowice was qualified for the programme “Action Plan for Cities. Model Locality” (PDM), which is an integral part of the WUF projects. The PDM is also an implementation tool included in the new 2030 National Urban Policy, which is currently being developed. The PDM’s mission is to mobilise cities to take bold action towards sustainable transformation and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals at the local level. Katowice has submitted its project titled: “Time for Szopienice – Changing Our Cities for a Better Future”. As part of the project, a spatial development concept for the area of Powstańców Śląskich Square in Katowice will be elaborated based on the results of study and design workshops, conducted by student teams from the economics and architecture faculties. The proposed solutions that take into account expectations of the local community will serve as the basis for further actions and plans of the City in this regard. They will be also used to develop a municipal revitalisation programme for Katowice. 

 

Responsible consumption and production

Responsible consumption and production

Worldwide consumption and production — a driving force of the global economy — rest on the use of the natural environment and resources in a way that continues to have destructive impacts on the planet. 
Economic and social progress over the last century has been accompanied by environmental degradation that is endangering the very systems on which our future development — indeed, our very survival — depends. 
A few facts and figures:
  • Each year, an estimated one third of all food produced – equivalent to 1.3 billion tonnes worth around $1 trillion – ends up rotting in the bins of consumers and retailers, or spoiling due to poor transportation and harvesting practices.
  • If people worldwide switched to energy efficient light bulbs the world would save US$120 billion annually.
  • Should the global population reach 9.6 billion by 2050, the equivalent of almost three planets could be required to provide the natural resources needed to sustain current lifestyles.

The COVID-19 pandemic offers countries an opportunity to build recovery plans that will reverse current trends and change our consumption and production patterns towards a more sustainable future.
Sustainable consumption and production is about doing more and better with less. It is also about decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation, increasing resource efficiency and promoting sustainable lifestyles.
Sustainable consumption and production can also contribute substantially to poverty alleviation and the transition towards low-carbon and green economies.

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Easter Breakfast for the Lonely and Christmas Eve for the Lonely, organised for many years at the International Congress Centre or in the Katowice Spodek, attract thousands of people who, for various life reasons, do not have the opportunity to spend the most important holidays for Christians with their loved ones. Due to the coronavirus epidemic, the event was continued in a mobile form, i.e. with the delivery of Christmas/Easter meals by volunteers to lonely and needy people, but in December 2022, Christmas Eve returned to the previous stationary form as a meeting at the common Christmas table.

This has been a metropolitan event for several years now. The activities are coordinated by Free Space Foundation (FWM).

Facts: About 2,500 residents of Katowice participate in the events every year.

http://wolnemiejsce.pl/ 

Cleaning Up Neighbourhoods

Cleaning Up Neighbourhoods is a project carried out since 2018 which engages residents in reporting and collectively cleaning up the most littered areas which are voted on online. These are mostly recreational areas, green areas where we like to relax, but also, unfortunately, litter. The aim of the campaign is to educate and integrate, as well as to improve the aesthetics of public space and quality of life in Katowice neighbourhoods. The city’s partner is a non-governmental organisation. Participants are asked to bring their own mugs and drink water directly from the mains provided by Katowice Waterworks (because the quality of tap water in Katowice is very good!). An important element of the campaign is also an integration meeting after cleaning, combined with a barbecue. In 2022, special editions of the campaign were held with the participation of the Ukrainian community (Ukrainian-Polish Subotnik) and employees of Katowice-based companies (Plogging on the wheel).

https://bit.ly/2Z3uYNn

Don’t sow trash, sow a meadow 

In May 2020, we launched a campaign under the slogan “Don’t sow trash, sow a meadow”. During its two editions, residents received flower meadow seeds and compost in exchange for e-waste or tyres brought to municipal waste collection points. In this way, the City, together with Municipal Utilities Enterprise (MPGK), tries to put an end to the bad practice of discarding e-waste and tyres in the woods, a dustbin shed or even on the city pavement. As a result, we collected one ton of e-waste and two tons of tyres.. The campaign will be continued in the years to follow by MPGK.  

Organisation of the 1st edition of Metropolitan Energy Days

Organisation of outdoor events for residents:
From 12-17 September 2022, the City of Katowice, along with Metropolis GZM, held Metropolitan Energy Days. From 12-15 September, an energy advisor from WFOŚiGW was on duty at the MCE information desk. He held consultations with residents about improving energy efficiency and financial support for investments under the existing Programmes.

On 17 September, a family picnic took place at Katowice Market Square, where residents had an opportunity to talk to specialists about heat source replacement and energy efficiency. Partners: Marshal’s Office, Municipal Guard, KOMEL Institute of Electrical Drives and Machines, FEWE, WFOŚiGW, Tauron Ciepło, State Forests, PKM Katowice, ZS2 Murcki, SITZN, Technical School No. 8, ZSTiO2, Kominiarze, Meisel, Museum of Energy, Arka Foundation, Radio Katowice, Department of Environmental Management of the City Hall of Katowice, GZM, Kato Urban Corner, Infrapanel, PGNIG. 

In an effort to reduce plastic, at the end of 2018, the Katowice City Hall recommended that the catering companies servicing the City Hall should eliminate plastic completely at meetings organized by the City. The City Hall also reduced the purchase of water in plastic bottles to a minimum.

In addition, selective waste collectionis carried out throughout the City Hall. Used battery containers were also placed in the three buildings of the City Hall.

We encourage you to watch a film on the 12th goal featuring the residents of our city and Ryszard Kulik, PhD, from Workshop for All Beings

 

 

Climate action

Climate action

The global temperature has already risen 1.1ºC above the pre-industrial level, with glaciers melting and the sea level rising.  Impacts of climate change also includes flooding and drought, displacing millions of people, sinking them into poverty and hunger, denying them access to basic services, such as health and education, expanding inequalities, stifling economic growth and even causing conflict.   By 2030, an estimated 700 million people will be at risk of displacement by drought alone.

Taking urgent action to combat climate change and its devastating impacts is therefore an imperative to save lives and livelihood, and key to making the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Goals – the blueprint for a better future – a reality.

In 2020, concentrations of global greenhouse gases reached new highs, and real-time data point to continued increases. As these concentrations rise, so does the Earth’s temperature. In 2021, the global mean temperature was about 1.1°C above the pre-industrial level (from 1850 to 1900). The years from 2015 to 2021 were the seven warmest on record.

To limit warming to 1.5° Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as set out in the Paris Agreement, global greenhouse gas emissions will need to peak before 2025. Then they must decline by 43 per cent by 2030 and to net zero by 2050. Countries are articulating climate action plans to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts through nationally determined contributions. However, current national commitments are not sufficient to meet the 1.5°C target.

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Tax exemption for green roofs or facades

The City Council adopted a resolution on property tax exemption for floor areas of residential buildings in which green roofs or vertical gardens have been arranged on the wall of the building or which have green façades on at least one whole wall of the building. The condition for the exemption is the arrangement of a green roof over its entire surface or a vertical garden on at least half area of the wall. As for the green façade, in order to gain the exemption, it should be on the entire wall of the building, and the plants on the façade must be rooted in the ground.

The fulfilment of the above conditions means that the exemption may be applied for in the first year. On the other hand, the exemption may be continued if they are kept in the years to follow. The exemption will apply only to floor areas of residential units not used for business purposes and located in residential buildings, and reliefs are addressed to residents and businesses alike. 

You can read the resolution by at the links below:
http://dzienniki.slask.eu/WDU_S/2022/2441/akt.pdf - Resolution of 22 July 2021
http://dzienniki.slask.eu/WDU_S/2021/5104/akt.pdf - Amendment of 30 September 2021
http://dzienniki.slask.eu/WDU_S/2021/6301/akt.pdf - consolidated text of resolution of 31 March 2022

 

Mayor’s Plenipotentiary for Climate Affairs

The position of climate plenipotentiary was established in 2022 by the Mayor to coordinate, systematize and intensify climate action.

The Plenipotentiary is responsible for giving opinions on investment tasks, plans, programmes and strategies in the field of climate protection. In addition, he participates in monitoring and updating the city’s climate change adaptation plan, as well as in preparing other documentation, such as local zoning plans. The plenipotentiary’s tasks include cooperation with municipal units and non-governmental organisations in the field of climate and air protection as well as popularisation of this topic through information and education activities. 

SOCIAL GARDENS

A dozen social gardens have been created in the city together with its residents as part of the civic action Let’s Make a Bed, as well as from the budget of the Local Initiative and Green Budget, where residents raise funds for their own initiatives. Residents grow perennials, herbs and vegetables. What is important, however, is that they actively participate in planting gardens, which not only has an ecological character but also a social one: it boosts the integration and health of the local community. As part of the “Let’s Make a Bed” campaign, residents built through joint efforts boxes for plants, benches, pergolas, compost bins with the help of an NGO. The activity was financed under the 2020 Transformative Action Award, which was given to the city for its “KATOcitizen” project aimed at building civil society.  

KatoGardeners  

Based on cooperation between residents and experience from joint projects, KatoGardenersgroup was set up on Facebook, bringing together active residents who want to share experiences, knowledge, as well as tools and crops with other urban gardeners. The group is moderated by the city KatoOgrodnicy | Facebook 

 

Flower meadows

Since 2018, we have been “Sowing Flower Meadows”, encouraging residents to join us. We sowed the first meadow together with the Meadow Foundation at the very heart of Katowice, and the residents had the opportunity not only to take part in the workshops but also to scatter the seeds by hand. During the first two years of the campaign, the Urban Greenery Department (ZZM) sowed a total of approx. 20,000 square metres of meadows from scratch, and we also encouraged residents to point out areas they don’t want us to mow, in order to give wild plant species a chance and educate about their benefits.

Meadows not only improve the aesthetics of the city, but also enrich the urban ecosystem, clean the air and soil of pollutants, accumulate moisture, and provide shelter for bees and other pollinators.
Thanks to education and tools such as the Green Citizens’ Budget, residents can today push for new meadows in their surroundings by putting forward original ideas and projects.
Thanks to cooperation with non-governmental organisations and private partners, sponsor meadows are also planted, among others Almette Meadow in a recreational area in the Three Ponds Valley (2021), where sowing once again involved workshops for residents.  

In June 2020, we encouraged residents to look for old, unused pots in their surroundings and create so-called “nano-meadows”. The starter pack contained seeds and compost which was made from biowaste at the Municipal Utilities Enterprise (MPGK). We also distributed re-cycled pots with some soil and plants to grow. Altogether, over 60 pots were adopted by residents of Katowice, private companies, and institutions. You can see who took on the challenge and where on this online map:

#ZaadoptujDonicę #SiejemyŁąkiKwietne – My Google Maps

In May 2021, we launched a pilot campaign under the slogan “Don’t sow trash, sow a meadow”. Residents received flower meadow seeds and compost in exchange for e-waste or tyres brought to municipal waste collection points. As a result, we collected one ton of e-waste and two tons of tyresThe campaign is continued by Municipal Utilities Enterprise (MPGK). In this way, the City, together with MPGK, tries to put an end to the bad practice of discarding e-waste and tyres in the woods, a dustbin shed or even on the city pavement.

In 2023, the frequency of grass moving will be reduced. Less frequent grass mowing contributes to the preservation of habitats for insects and small animals and reduces soil erosion. Grass is also our weapon in the fight against climate warming and they also clean the air. 

Climate Education

The introduction of climate education in Katowice schools will be another step towards sustainable development in Katowice. The development of the original Climate Education Programme was entrusted to a Team appointed by the Mayor of Katowice, consisting of school and academic teachers and representatives of the city. The programme involves teaching multiple subjects in four thematic areas: biodiversity, human impact on climate change, sustainable consumption, and energy transition. The work is still in progress, but the Team has already came up with dozens of ideas for introducing climate education into the curriculum. The pilot project will start from September 2023 in three primary schools in Katowice and will cover seventh grade students. The programme will become more attractive thanks to practical classes proposed by the Ecological Education Centre in the Murcki District of Katowice.

 “Sustainable Energy and Climate Plan (SECAP)”

In April 2019, by resolution of the City Council, Katowice joined the “Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy” (CoM). The Covenant was created in 2008 in Europe with the ambition to gather representatives of local governments that want to voluntarily commit to achieving and exceeding EU climate and energy targets.

In November 2019, an agreement on implementation of the “Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan for the City of Katowice” was signed. The final acceptance of the document took place in November 2022 and it is planned to be enacted in Q1 2023.  

“Katowice Climate Change Adaptation Plan by 2030”

The document was developed on the basis of the Agreement between the Mayor of Katowice and the Ministry of the Environment on the implementation of the project titled “Climate change adaptation plans for cities with more than 100,000 residents” within the Infrastructure and Environment Operational Programme 2014-2020.

The Adaptation Plan was developed in response to one of the most important environmental issues – climate change – and the need to adapt to its effects. The Plan sets a vision, overarching goal, and specific objectives for adapting the City to climate change that should be achieved through the implementation of selected adaptation measures in four most sensitive sectors/areas of the City: public health/sensitive groups, undeveloped area, transportation, and water management. 

The Plan is a reference for further adaptation measures for the City of Katowice and a basic tool for the development of urban policies aimed at increasing the City’s resilience to the effects of these changes and at strengthening its adaptability. The document is a set of proposals and solutions in the face of threats posed by climate change. 

“Good Climate for Katowice”

“Good Climate for Katowice” is a short film based on the “Katowice Climate Change Adaptation Plan by 2030”, adopted by the Katowice City Council, and educational walking tours organised for Katowice residents at the end of 2019. The 17-minute educational video presents the city’s methods of adapting to climate change with particular focus on two phenomena: urban flooding and urban heat island. The film also shows good practices followed in the City of Katowice and opportunities for residents to participate in adaptation and mitigation measures. The film was produced in cooperation with the Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas and the Silesian Botanical Garden.

“Adapt!” Guide 

“Adapt!” is a guide created in order to raise awareness among the residents of Katowice about the need to take action to adapt to ongoing climate change. It contains a number of suggestions for adaptation activities to be undertaken in the immediate surroundings – in one’s own backyard, housing estate, district, but also in urban space. 
Guide available here 

FB profiles: Municipal Energy CentreGood Climatestrona mce.katowice.eu

On the Facebook platform two thematic profiles have been created that refer to the widely implemented measures taken by the City in the field of efficient energy use and air and climate protection. Thanks to the profiles, residents of Katowice are informed about the latest events, meetings, actions and campaigns of the City. Since the launch of the profiles, about 1,200 posts have been published concerning the City’s activities and information on air and climate protection, energy efficiency, and environmental protection.
The mce.katowice.eu website has recently been expanded to include important current information for residents on Central Emission Register of Buildings (CEEB) and allowances for heat sources used. 

“wCOP tree” application

The application is a simple and quick way to indicate locations for new trees in the city. Its name refers to the world’s largest climate conference, the UN Climate Summit, the 24th edition of which was held in Katowice in 2018. To date, we have planted over 1,000 trees using the application.   

Since 2018, we have been Sowing Flower Meadows (the residents sow them on their own, but also take part in workshops), which translated into 20,000 square metres of flower meadows sown from scratch and 50,000 square metres of wild meadows, which will be mown only once a year, including areas indicated by residents. 

In June 2020, we encouraged residents to look for old, unused flower pots in their surrounding so that they could be used as flower meadows.  The starter pack contained seeds and biowaste compost. We also distributed re-cycled pots with some soil and plants to grow. Altogether, over 60 pots were adopted by residents of Katowice, private companies, and institutions.

You can see who took on the challenge and where on this online mapmeadow map

In May 2020, we launched a campaign under the slogan “Don’t sow trash, sow a meadow”. During its two editions, residents received flower meadow seeds and compost in exchange for e-waste or tyres brought to municipal waste collection points. In this way, the City, together with Municipal Utilities Enterprise (MPGK), tries to put an end to the bad practice of discarding e-waste and tyres in the woods, a dustbin shed or even on the city pavement. Result: one ton of e-waste and two tons of tyres.

We encourage you to watch a film on the 13th goal featuring the residents of our city and Ryszard Kulik, PhD, from Workshop for All Beings

 

Life below water

Life below water

The ocean drives global systems that make the Earth habitable for humankind. Our rainwater, drinking water, weather, climate, coastlines, much of our food, and even the oxygen in the air we breathe, are all ultimately provided and regulated by the sea. 

Careful management of this essential global resource is a key feature of a sustainable future. However, at the current time, there is a continuous deterioration of coastal waters owing to pollution, and ocean acidification is having an adversarial effect on the functioning of ecosystems and biodiversity. This is also negatively impacting small scale fisheries. 

Saving our ocean must remain a priority. Marine biodiversity is critical to the health of people and our planet. Marine protected areas need to be effectively managed and well-resourced and regulations need to be put in place to reduce overfishing, marine pollution and ocean acidification.

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Selective waste collection matters. Just because something goes into the bin does not mean that it can no longer serve us. On the contrary: in the vast majority of cases, waste can be recycled or reused. It can also be used to recover valuable raw materials whose deposits are shrinking so quickly. For example, hygienic tissues, toilet paper, mugs, pots, earrings, baskets, handbags and even furniture or clothes can be made out of waste! So why cut down beautiful, healthy forests to produce paper since it can be made from waste paper?

Let’s Catch Rainwater

Municipal Housing Company (MHC), as part of the action “Let’s Catch Rainwater”, installed more than 30 rainwater tanks in the residential buildings under its management. The tanks can hold 210-350 litres of rainwater which will be used to water the plants in the courtyards and squares adjacent to the buildings. Water scarcity is a serious problem, but every small step towards eco-responsibility matters and through this action we want to encourage other managers, homeowners and residents to save water.”

 

 

 

Life on land

Life on land

Nature is critical to our survival: nature provides us with our oxygen, regulates our weather patterns, pollinates our crops, produces our food, feed and fibre. But it is under increasing stress. Human activity has altered almost 75 per cent of the earth’s surface, squeezing wildlife and nature into an ever-smaller corner of the planet.

Around 1 million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction – many within decades – according to the 2019 Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service. The report called for transformative changes to restore and protect nature. It found that the health of ecosystems on which we and all other species depend is deteriorating more rapidly than ever, affecting  the very foundations of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide. 

Deforestation and desertification – caused by human activities and climate change – pose major challenges to sustainable development and have affected the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. Forests are vitally important for sustaining life on Earth, and play a major role in the fight against climate change. And investing in land restoration is critical for improving livelihoods, reducing vulnerabilities, and reducing risks for the economy.

The health of our planet also plays an important role in the emergence of zoonotic diseases, i.e. diseases that are transmissible between animals and humans. As we continue to encroach on fragile ecosystems, we bring humans into ever-greater contact with wildlife, enabling pathogens in wildlife to spill over to livestock and humans, increasing the risk of disease emergence and amplification.

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Urban hives on roofs

Seven urban beehives were built on the rooftops of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra building and of the two swimming pools in Brynów and Burowiec. The honey collected from them will be used as a gadget promoting the city. This initiative is part of the trend of placing hives in the urban environment, which turns out to be very bee-friendly. At the same time, the presence of these insects is beneficial to local vegetation, especially the growing number of flower meadows in the city.

– On average, 20 kilograms of honey are taken from each hive. Although it is a sweet gift for our guests, the most important advantage of having urban hives is to pollinate plants and spread knowledge of the role of pollinating insects in nature. We are pleased that bees in Katowice feel very good, as can be seen from the quality of the honey they make – says Marcin Krupa, Mayor of Katowice.

It is estimated that more than 75% of plants grown in Europe reproduce through pollination by bees and other insects. Paradoxically, it is the cities that can be a dream habitat for them. Unlike rural areas, cities use fewer amounts of pesticides, and plant variety is much greater. In addition, temperatures in cities are a tad higher, which is beneficial to season extension.  

Flower meadows

Since 2018, we have been “Sowing Flower Meadows”, encouraging residents to join us. We sowed the first meadow together with the Meadow Foundation at the very heart of Katowice, and the residents had the opportunity not only to take part in the workshops but also to scatter the seeds by hand. During the first two years of the campaign, the Urban Greenery Department (ZZM) sowed a total of approx. 20,000 square metres of meadows from scratch, and we also encouraged residents to point out areas they don’t want us to mow, in order to give wild plant species a chance and educate about their benefits.

Meadows not only improve the aesthetics of the city, but also enrich the urban ecosystem, clean the air and soil of pollutants, accumulate moisture, and provide shelter for bees and other pollinators.
Thanks to education and tools such as the Green Citizens’ Budget, residents can today push for new meadows in their surroundings by putting forward original ideas and projects.
Thanks to cooperation with non-governmental organisations and private partners, sponsor meadows are also planted, among others Almette Meadow in a recreational area in the Three Ponds Valley (2021), where sowing once again involved workshops for residents.  

In June 2020, we encouraged residents to look for old, unused pots in their surroundings and create so-called “nano-meadows”. The starter pack contained seeds and compost which was made from biowaste at the Municipal Utilities Enterprise (MPGK). We also distributed re-cycled pots with some soil and plants to grow. Altogether, over 60 pots were adopted by residents of Katowice, private companies, and institutions. You can see who took on the challenge and where on this online map:

#ZaadoptujDonicę #SiejemyŁąkiKwietne – My Google Maps

In May 2021, we launched a pilot campaign under the slogan “Don’t sow trash, sow a meadow”. Residents received flower meadow seeds and compost in exchange for e-waste or tyres brought to municipal waste collection points. As a result, we collected one ton of e-waste and two tons of tyresThe campaign is continued by Municipal Utilities Enterprise (MPGK). In this way, the City, together with MPGK, tries to put an end to the bad practice of discarding e-waste and tyres in the woods, a dustbin shed or even on the city pavement.

In 2023, the frequency of grass moving will be reduced. Less frequent grass mowing contributes to the preservation of habitats for insects and small animals and reduces soil erosion. Grass is also our weapon in the fight against climate warming and they also clean the air. 

Fauna and flora in Katowice

A great advantage of the City is the presence of rare species of flora and fauna or plant communities which are partially protected by law. Some of them are preserved in specially designated areas, such as nature reserves: “Murcki Forest”, which protects beech and mixed forests growing on the slopes of Wanda Hill, and “Ochojec”, which protects mountain plants.

Other areas of natural value are: Kłodnica springs with riparian forest, part of the “Płone Bagno” peat bog and coniferous swamps, Borki, Morawa and Hubertus ponds. Equally eye-catching are: Katowice Forest Park, ponds in the Tysiąclecia estate, riparian forests on the Ślepiotka River, preserved meanders of the Kłodnica River and the white stork nest in Zarzecze. Monumental trees or groups of trees are an important element of the landscape.

Animals in the city

In 2022, as part of the Green Budget of the City of Katowice, the Urban Greenery Department (ZZM) installed 180 nesting boxes and feeders, 4 bug hotels and 30 hedgehog houses.

In September 2020, TAURON donated 25 hedgehog housesto Katowice and then they were distributed among the residents as part of a civic campaign. Residents took the houses from us and pledged to take care of them. It was also part of an educational and information campaign to promote the care of hedgehogs in the cityEmployees of the Urban Greenery Department (ZZM) remember to leave heaps of leaves for hedgehogs after autumn cleaning.

In February 2021, 90 bird nesting boxes were distributed among residents, and the activity will be repeated with 100 boxes in spring 2022. The boxes were made by people with intellectual disabilities during the occupational therapy workshop of the SPES Association. Ornithologists have long encouraged people to help the birds which nest in the tree hollows by means of nesting boxes, among other things. The boxes have been distributed among private persons as well as institutions like schools and kindergartens. In December 2022, we distributed do-it-yourself bird feeders among residents to residents to encourage bird care in winter and family DIY, but also to teach the principles of proper bird feeding.  

 

Peace, justice and strong institutions

Peace, justice and strong institutions

Conflict, insecurity, weak institutions and limited access to justice remain a great threat to sustainable development. 

The number of people fleeing war, persecution and conflict exceeded 70 million in 2018, the highest level recorded by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in almost 70 years. 

In 2019, the United Nations tracked 357 killings and 30 enforced disappearances of human rights defenders, journalists and trade unionists in 47 countries.

And the births of around one in four children under age 5 worldwide are never officially recorded, depriving them of a proof of legal identity crucial for the protection of their rights and for access to justice and social services.

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Participatory Budgeting

Residents particularly appreciate the opportunity to participate in public consultations on issues which are important to local communities. The most popular are those during which the citizens of Katowice decide on how to allocate part of the city’s budget to the tasks they prioritize, i.e. participatory budgeting.

Facts:
In 2022, 3 public consultations were conducted on the basis of the Katowice Mayor’s resolution, with a total of nearly a thousand participants.

In the 9th edition of Participatory Budgeting, residents put forward 323 task propositions. As a result of the vote, 148 ideas were selected to be implemented in the following year, amounting to nearly PLN 15 million. 39,000 people took part in Participatory Budgeting. The 3rd edition of the Green Budget was also announced in 2022. Thanks to the activity of residents and their ideas, 96 projects concerning broadly understood ecology and environmental protection worth nearly PLN 2.8 million will be implemented in 2023.

In 2022, under the partnership project called “Youth Initiatives Centre”, the City of Katowice, based on local development packages – a form of involving residents in the affairs of the city with full empowerment, carried out a call for 8 youth initiatives to be reported and introduced by young adults who are project participants. An initiative proposed by the participants was supposed to arise from the needs of the community and had to contribute to solving local problems, including the activation and integration of the local environment, with the initiative being understood as a specific task (e.g. family/neighbourhood picnic/festival, renovation of staircases, organisation of a neighbourhood football tournament, launch of neighbourhood self-help, organisation of a toddler club, neighbours' day, a series of outdoor physical activities, educational workshops, etc.)

In 2021, 6 consultation were conducted on the basis of the Katowice Mayor’s resolution, with a total of 4885 participants.

In the 8th edition of Participatory Budgeting, as many as 43,382 residents selected 119 tasks. The turnout was 15.84% – the youngest participant, voting through his parents, was less than a month old, and the oldest one was 99 years old. It was the first time in the history of the Katowice Participatory Budgeting that the turnout in all auxiliary units exceeded the 10% threshold.

The 2nd edition of the Green Budget was also announced in 2021. It resulted in 89 projects worth nearly PLN 2.8 million being implemented in 2022.

Public consultations
http://www.bo.katowice.eu/

The basic duty of local government is to serve its residents, which is why the City of Katowice informs the citizens about the tasks it undertakes, thus ensuring the transparency of its activities and using the available tools (city websites, social media, KISS – text messaging service).
https://katowice.eu

 

Katowice says “no” to all forms of violence.
A number of interventionist measures are therefore taken, and victims of violence are also supported by providing shelter, psychological assistance, therapeutic assistance, crisis intervention and counselling, including legal counselling, and those with anger, aggression or violence issues are offered to participate in educational and behavioural programmes or therapeutic programmes.

During the national quarantine and the associated restrictions, violence escalated in families where it had already been present. The City has therefore taken action to prevent this negative phenomenon. Among other things, it appealed to its residents to pay particular attention to this issue, and by providing telephone numbers to the police, the Crisis Intervention Centre and the Blue Line, it encouraged them not to ignore the brawls behind the wall or the calls for help.

In addition, in 2021 “Dwójka’” Katowice Sober Association, supported by the City of Katowice, began to carry out the task of running a helpline for Katowice residents, providing support in the area of alcohol and drug addiction problems as well as domestic violence.

Facts: In 2021, the Municipal Social Welfare Centre 583 provided specialised counselling sessions for victims of violence, both adults and children, 1602 individual consultations and 21 family meetings. The municipal helpline rang 1432 times last year, of which 238 calls were related to violence. Nearly one million zlotys were allocated in 2021 to counteract domestic violence.

https://stowarzyszeniedwojka.katowice.pl/realizujemy/telefon-zaufania/  

Phone shopping or food and hygiene parcel:

The City of Katowice, as part of the offer of the Municipal Social Welfare Centre in Katowice, in order to prevent the spread of the epidemic, provides shopping assistance by means of “Shopping Emergency” or “Parcels” i.e. a free package of food and hygiene products.

To request the “Shopping Emergency” or “Parcels” services, you can call our Silver Phone at 32 251 69 00, from Monday to Friday, from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm.

Types of services:

  • for the elderly, the poor and those in need of financial support – a free package of food and hygiene products,
  • for the elderly, the disabled with their own financial means – purchase of food, hygiene products, including medicines, using the elderly person’s own money and on their request.

The service is provided by employees of the Free Space Foundation (FWM) equipped with
appropriate identification badges.

 Psychological support

The City of Katowice, as part of the offer of the Municipal Social Welfare Centre in Katowice, offers people in need of psychological support a counselling line:

  • HELPLINE FOR SENIORS: phone 796 970 686 – available from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm (from Monday to Saturday)
  • The Crisis Intervention Centre of the Municipal Social Welfare Centre
    in Katowice. You can contact us by phone and e-mail:

phone: 32 251 15 99
phone: 32 257 14 82
phone: 669 777 008
phone: 601 158 007
phone: 506 041 200
phone: 506 041 100, including contact via WhatsApp messenger and video
email: oik@mops.katowice.pl
Psychologists and interventionists are on duty from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm (Monday to Friday).

  • The Centre for Specialised Counselling, Methodology and Strategies of the Municipal Social Welfare Centre – remote telephone contact: phone 572 333 751, phone 725 150 086.

Financial support or care and household services:

The City of Katowice, as part of the offer of the Municipal Social Welfare Centre in Katowice, operates the Silver Phone – number 32 251 69 00, where people in need of financial support or household care services, from Monday to Friday, from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm, can obtain detailed information on how to deal with all formalities.

 

Partnerships for the goals

Partnerships for the goals

The SDGs can only be realized with strong global partnerships and cooperation.

A successful development agenda requires inclusive partnerships — at the global, regional, national and local levels — built upon principles and values, and upon a shared vision and shared goals placing people and the planet at the centre.

Many countries require Official Development Assistance to encourage growth and trade. Yet, aid levels are falling and donor countries have not lived up to their pledge to ramp up development finance.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global economy is projected to contract sharply, by 3 per cent, in 2020, experiencing its worst recession since the Great Depression.

Strong international cooperation is needed now more than ever to ensure that countries have the means to recover from the pandemic, build back better and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. 

 

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

 

Successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals requires partnership between various institutions in the city. A major influence is exerted through collective measures taken at:
- regional level: Metropolis GZM - 
https://metropoliagzm.pl/ 
- national level: local government organisations, e.g. 
the Union of Polish Metropolisthe Association of Polish Cities and
- international level: twin towns, international organisations – e.g. GPM, IAEC, 
ICLEIEUROCITIESUNESCO

 

Katowice Twin Towns:

Groningen (the Netherlands) since 6 May 1994  

Cologne (Germany) since 15 March 1991 

Košice (Slovakia) since 6 May 2009 

Lviv (Ukraine) since 3 July 2019  

Miskolc (Hungary) since 28 August 2005   

Mobile (USA) since 14 March 1990  

Opava (Czech Republic) 

Ostrava (Czech Republic) since 4 January 1996    

Pula - Pola (Croatia) since 30 November 2012  

Saint-Étienne (France) since 9 June 1994 

Shenyang (People’s Republic of China) since 6 June 2007  

“Bread Connects Us” City Partnership Festival

An annual international event in Zadole Park aimed at showing diversity and the community of cultures, nations and religions. It consists of panel discussions involving invited guests, presentations of traditionally produced bread, honey, wine, herbs, regional foods and artistic performances. Representatives of various religions, consuls general and honorary consuls, twin towns, master chefs, University of Silesia, organisations, district councils, cooking schools, artisans, people of culture and residents of Katowice are all invited to participate in the Festival. Read more

Calendar of Three Religions

The “Calendar of Three Religions” is the fruit of cooperation between Christians, Jews and Muslims, as well as scientific and cultural communities for 11 years. 

Dialogue and respect shown to everyone, as well as openness to multiculturalism, is a message that should resonate deeply, especially today. Our thoughts are now particularly strong for the Ukrainian people. Many Ukrainians fleeing the war stayed in our city, which has always been a city open to various cultures, religions and views – says Marcin Krupa, Mayor of Katowice.

 The “Calendar of Three Religions” is a tool for engaging in inter-religious dialogue. The project unites the religious communities of the City of Katowice and it is the result of cooperation and deepening of mutual respect for each other and cultural heritage. The first calendar was issued in 2013. Each calendar is prepared by representatives of the Catholic Church, the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession, and the Orthodox Church as well as Jewish and Muslim churches communities in cooperation with the Faculty of Theology of the University of Silesia.

 International organisations

The City of Katowice participates in revitalisation projects: NODUS (Urbact II), Resilient Europe (Urbact III), City Partnership Initiative: Revitalisation Network (a pilot project of the Ministry of Investment and Development) and draft Action Plan for Cities (an initiative developed as part of the 11th World Urban Forum, organised by the Institute of Urban and Regional Development (IRMiR) in cooperation with the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy). 

As a result of participation in these projects, the City has consistently implemented operational programmes under the Local Revitalisation Programme in the following districts:

- Janów-Nikiszowiec (2010-2011 - NODUS),
- Załęże  (2016-2018 - Resilient Europe),
- Bogucice (2018-2019 - PIM),
- Szopienice-Burowiec (2022 – PDM).