Case Studies   Vilnius Old Town: Užupis – Paupys Area Case study

5.3. Empowerment of initiative groups

Representatives of HOAs, neighbourhoods or interest groups are invited to take part in the inner work of the VOTRP working group of OTRA, to attend the OTRA SC meetings. In a circumstances of minimal trust between the sectors all the publicly announced or discussed information works as a fundamental tool for building the confidence. The trust is the precondition for delivering empowerment in any form to each of the sector. Residents and neighbourhoods gradually get empowered through providing them with technical advise and awareness rising actions, involvement into the CCB or observing the success projects implemented through VOTRP.

The integral way to tackle external partners is to attract and involve as many useful actors as possible. For instance, Crime Prevention Centre, Architects Union and number of HOAs in the whole Old Town are OTRA’s partners who brings new connections, professional advise and finally new qualities to OTRA work.

There are several initiatives discussed between OTRA and UF which could turn into a good practise of external communication: why not to issue photo album promoting Užupis-Paupys fascinating urban and social characters, cultural environment and its change? In the year 2002 UF with the advisory support of OTRA succeed to attract foreign sponsors for restoration of the derelict decoration of the main entrance to the nobleman’s palace.

OTRA made just few steps in stimulating private sector (mainly residents) to take initiative in maintenance their houses and living environment. Means for public awareness rising and advise were taken into practise seeking to reinforce public knowledge and self-sufficiency. Dialogues with various target groups are being carefully hold seeking to develop public-private partnership. All these activities are aimed to solve common problems. But in the current stage, all the CCB program work can be interpreted as kind of a social consolidation and confidence building, what, in fact, are basic present-day problems of our transiting society and neighbourhood life.

Using the ordinary communication tools -meetings and discussions, seminars and workshops, publications, questionnaires, media, Internet - we always invent new qualities of their application. Perhaps that often happens because of the dynamic evolution of the communities’ perceptions as well as of transiting social footings. The progress was always measured not through the number or variety of the information and engagement means used, but through rise or collapse of qualitative/ gentle neighbourhood intercourse's set, communities consolidation and expressed tolerance/ consciousness to the surrounding urban: natural, cultural and living environment. We observe some progress and some regress at the same time in transform of these fundamental qualities.

5.2. Economic strategy    5.4. Anchoring & mainstreaming