The Network of Active Communities (MAZ), in partnership with the Tuzla Community Foundation (FTZ), is organizing the 14th Conference of Active Citizens on Saturday (September 25, 2021) at 11:00 AM at the Tuzla National Theater. This year’s conference focuses on a panel discussion on the topic “Functional councils of local communities, the key to local community development”, but also the engagement of ordinary citizens activists to whom the Network of Active Communities will award recognitions.
Given that local communities by their function should be places for direct involvement of citizens in community life and drivers of change at the micro-local level, their purposefulness, action and even the legal-organizational structure is often questioned. The panel discussion will be a space for representatives of civil society organizations, local governments and local community councils to look through all the advantages and disadvantages of this segment of local government through constructive dialogue and create recommendations on the work, selection and operation of functional local communities. Is this segment of local self-government necessary in the 21st century? What is the role of local community councils in practice? Is enough attention paid to this local self-government apparatus? The method of electing members of the Local Community Councils, the legal status of local communities, responsibilities towards citizens and founders, and different experiences in cities/municipalities in Tuzla Canton, are just some of the issues and topics that panelists will discuss.
The conference traditionally celebrates the successes of the activists of the Network of Active Communities from the previous year. Thus, in the final part of the conference, an awards ceremony will be organized for individuals, organizations and communities in the categories: best volunteer, best organizer, best fundraiser, best ECO activist/organization, best organized community and the greatest change in the community.
The conference is organized within the project “Democratic and economic empowerment of underdeveloped communities in Tuzla Canton”, which is implemented by the Tuzla Community Foundation in partnership with the Network of Active Communities.
If you want to talk to citizens and experts from different sectors who want to draw attention and solve systemic obstacles in the functioning of the lowest units of local self-government with their work and activism, you can do so in the following period:
10:45 – 11:00 – press statements
11:00 – 11:30 – video recording/photography
Please find attached the agenda of the program,
With respect,
Anita Šimić,
Secretary General of the Network of Active Communities
maztuzla@gmail.com, 061 662 120
Attachment: Invitation to the conference
