Places of Diversity

With the support of:

PLACES of DIVERSITY

Montenegro-Jordan-Albania

Public spaces as a field of intercultural dialogue and the promotion of social values

Places of Diversity In many Mediterranean cities and towns, especially in less developed democratic systems, public spaces are often commercialized - by the private sector.

When planning and designing, the focus is mainly on the physical aspect of the design of public spaces, and much less on the participation of citizens in the process of their creation or messages that can be sent within them. With this in mind, the idea of the project “PLACES OF DIVERSITY - Public spaces as a field of intercultural dialogue and the promotion of social values​​“ is to inspire those who want to see, in their communities, the promotion of desirable social values, such as understanding, support, love, multiculturalism, respect for diversity, etc. While the pilot activities will be implemented in Albania, Jordan and Montenegro, the principles and ideas of the project can be applied to other cities and towns.

Leading partner: EXPEDITIO Center for Sustainable Spatial Development, Kotor, Montenegro Partners: Leaders of Tomorrow, Amman, Jordan Co-Plan, Tirana, Albania

Places of Diversity Aim and activities The overall aim of the project “ PLACES OF DIVERSITY “ is to improve intercultural dialog between youth and civil society organizations from Albania, Jordan and Montenegro, through activities that increase citizens participation in promoting social values in urban/public spaces.

Activities implemented within the 11 months of the project (August 2013 July 2014): • Informing stakeholders about the activities, objectives and results of the project in Albania, Jordan and Montenegro; • Organizing study visits - Amman, Tirana and Kotor - linking , networking and learning from good practices of activism in the public spaces; • Organizing workshops for young people in order to develop ideas on how to promote desirable social values in public spaces; • Realizing creative pilot projects in Jordan, Albania and Montenegro, with the participation of local artists, designers, youth associations, etc.

• Creating a common web portal/or publication: How with small interventions in public spaces we can promote desirable social values ​​?

With the support of:

Project co-funded by European Union Culture programme - cooperation projects

Places of Diversity Partners EXPEDITIO Center for Sustainable Spatial Development [Montenegro] is a NGO based in Kotor, Montenegro.

It was founded in 1997 by six students of architecture.

EXPEDITIO mission is to encourage sustainable spatial development and enhance urban and rural areas in Montenegro and SEE region, through activity in the fields of architecture, urban planning, cultural heritage and environmental protection. EXPEDITIO realized over 50 projects addressing different problems in the field of sustainable spatial development. Organization had its representative in the National Sustainable Development Council of Montenegro and is a member of several networks on the national, regional and European level.

More info: www.expeditio.org

Leaders of Tomorrow (LoT) [Jordan] is a youth-led NGO, active since 2007 in Jordan and regionally in the Middle East and North Africa.

Their mission is to build a community of young Arab leaders who are educated, critical, initiative-takers, and capable of serving their local communities.

LoT worked on many projects and initiatives including EuroMed and YiA exchanges such as Diwanieh (public street debates), FOR9A.com (life-changing opportunities for young Arabs), FADFED (public commenting), Mstkblna (prepping high school students), and Mo7aka (role-playing retreats) - that address youth challenges in the MENA. More info: www.facebook.com/ leadersot

Co-PLAN [Albania] was established in 1997. It has an extensive experience in regard to all aspects of governance and sustainable spatial development, urban and regional planning and development, activities at multiple scales (i.e., the neighborhood, city, regional, inter-regional, and national levels) and with a spectrum of actors such as communities, local and central government, businesses, donors, and civil society organizations.

Co-PLAN has collaboration agreement with Polis University from Tirana and is acting as its applied research agent combining the practical live experience with the academic studies.

More info: www.co-plan.org