Employability and Capacitation are transversal areas to the entire population of Vila Nova de Gaia. Access to jobs and education can mitigate situations of vulnerability and impact on the social and economic development of citizens. ESCOLA OFICINA is a triple bottom line solution, since it provides social, environmental, and economic responses while advocating equal opportunities, by training unemployed people in the areas of sewing and graphic arts.
Polished Backyard is an annual event concerned with the revitalisation of Katowice's rundown urban backyards, which has been taking place since 2013. It is a response to the particular needs of citizens in post-industrial areas where space allowing neighbourly relationships is missing. The area is chosen in an open competition, the citizens may nominate their backyards. The participatory aspect is crucial - future users take part in both the creative process and its implementation.
“NonSiButtaViaNiente”, an innovative start-up and benefit company, is the first national platform for sharing and recycling museum exhibits and inventories. Inspired by the principles of circular economy
FERCAM Echo Labs is a concrete example of industrial symbiosis that experiments production processes with low environmental impact and high social value, through a global approach and local projects. It uses a network of profit and non-profit companies and associations to feed a circular economy supply chain capable of utilising used wood avoiding its shredding or incineration. It trains fragile individuals, such as asylum seekers,to become skilled craftsmen able to build new beauty from waste.
The City of Brussels as launched its very first local social bulky waste management platform : Troc & Brol. This project is located in the very heart of Brussels, more specifically in the Marolles a small highly heterogeneous residential neighborhood. It aims to collectively collect, sort and repair discarded items and have them freely available for the neighborhood. It also provides a tool to transform habits and reflect upon our mode of consumption, items lifespan and their disposability.
The Canary Islands are constantly receiving plastic from Northern sea currents. Yum design collects plastic from de Canary coast, mainly single-use plastic, to create long life expectancy and high-quality furniture. This plastic is mixed with a small amount of domestic single-use plastic to ensure an optimum furniture finishing. Our furniture demonstrates that ocean plastic can be used for a purpose that matches better with plastic properties.
Wroclaw’s demonstration projects tackle the dual risks of flooding and heat stress. They are located in the Olbin district, a dense urban area that ranges from wealthy to socially deprived. They include several nature-based solutions– swales, raingardens and greenery. Community gardens and natural play areas gave space for the local people to socialize and produce their own vegetables. Biodiversity also benefits from the improved habitat, birdhouses and insect hotels.
The 5 Senses Open-air Museum of Sciacca is a bottom-up tourism innovation project: the local community is the protagonist and works together to transform the town’s cultural heritage, art, crafts, history, gastronomy and landscapes - into beautiful, unforgettable, inclusive, cultural tourism experiences.
The town becomes an open-air living museum where, by enhancing the community competencies and empowering individuals to transform local resources, a sustainable development is generated.
As a multi-generational participative project, The Epic has forever preserved the heritage of the "Chemin de l’Ile", a large social housing district of Nanterre, where multi-cultural generations have been living since the 70s. Through the life stories of the elders, recorded by the young ones, it has captured the unique identity of a diverse neighbourhood that is about to experience a profound transformation through an extensive urban renewal programme. A remarkable community building model !
Domestica Community - An Emerging Cultural Oasis in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Domestica is an estate and a community that brings together people of similar thinking, feelings and actions in a simple and magical story that opens the door that lead to a better world. Domestica seeks to encourage us to return to nature, where man and nature act in collaboration and synchronization, in harmonious rhythm of existence. Domestica discovers and teaches us the secrets of nature which are inexhaustible.
