37.

DESCRIPTION 

• The action started with an awareness-raising campaign consisting in sending 6500 letters to the women of the district. Collecting voluntary help offers and requests helped to set up a network of service exchanges in terms of temporary help (it does not act as a substitute for established non-profit organizations). The exchange of services triggered off community spirit and enhanced social relations, helped people feel less anonymous and lonely, and allowed them to find a solution to their needs when possible. The action is now spreading to neighbouring municipalities and should be continued within the framework of an intermunicipal network.

THE "EQUATION 2000" COMMISSION

Municipal policy of equal opportunities

DESCRIPTION 

• The initiative to create the commission came from women (politicians, officials and directors of associations) who wanted to promote the setting up, the development and the implementing of equal opportunity policies at local government level, e.g. municipalities and CPAS (local social security office), in the interest of the whole population. They also encouraged this policy in the field of associations, which were involved in the action.

The first step of one of their actions consisted in welcoming and informing the citizens. A leaflet was handed out by the women acting as relays in the neighbourhoods to the inhabitants and new citizens. The document listed information about municipal services, associations, public services, task distribution and how to obtain services, along with a wealth of advice concerning health, security, youth movements, initiatives against pollution (refuse, noise, etc.).

The aim of the action was to favour questions and the expression of expectations and needs through personal contact, and to help people feel less anonymous and lonely.

The positive result of the action: more social interaction and greater solidarity in the neighbourhood.

SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL INTEGRATION

OF UNDERPRIVILEGED WOMEN

DESCRIPTION 

• The CLIPS (Local Forum of Social and Professional Integration) is a forum of co-ordination, meeting, reflection and research. Its aims are:

- to join forces with the various participants in the integration process and analyse with them the existing needs, determine the appropriate responses as far as education is concerned and what links to establish with economic circles.

- to launch an awareness-raising and information campaign for the population, the institutions, the associations, medical, paramedical, judicial and education circles about the social policy carried out in the municipality

- to act as a forum of information and experience exchange for its members and offer them moral support

- to make the actions carried out public

- to examine the various topics concerning equal opportunities from the point of view of contents and working methods

- to favour and support all actions carried out in co-operation which establish local synergies.

WOMEN AND ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP

DESCRIPTION 

• Awareness campaign proposed in all municipalities and CPAS (local social security office):

first stage:

to inform local authorities and make them take steps to increase the active participation of women in the life of the municipality.

second stage:

a) collect information (statistics about the participation of women and men in the municipalities)

b) define the sphere of activity (schools, neighbourhoods, age groups, etc.)

c) awareness-raising and information campaign (population, the media, women, schools, etc.)

d) mobilisation of a target population (personalised letters, public notices, the press, etc.)

third stage:

a) organise a meeting in co-operation with local authorities

b) organise several workshops in the fields considered most relevant to the action (family life, housing, environment, the elderly, education, etc.)

c) define the actions to be carried out in the field with one mobilising topic each month

fourth stage: assessment, exchanges of experiences and achievements.

NETWORK OF MUNICIPALITIES

for an Equal Opportunity Policy

DESCRIPTION 

- To institutionalize the equal opportunity policy, i.e. have as many equal opportunity town councillors, officials and councils in the municipalities and CPAS (local social security office).

- To foster a dynamic in the field of equal opportunities, develop new ideas and promote their vitality.

- To act as a forum of information and experience for its members and give them moral support.

- To make contacts with foreign municipalities, particularly to exchange experiences and achievements.

- To examine the various topics concerning equal opportunities from the point of view of contents and working methods.

- To provide specific training to the concerned officials and equal opportunity councillors.

A CONSULTATIVE INTERGENERATION COMMISSION

DESCRIPTION

• A survey of the population of Nandrin had shown that there was a great number of young people and a large group of elderly people.

During the summer, an awareness campaign on the problems of old age, called "Seasons of life", was organised for the younger generation.

This action (interviews of elderly people by young people, intergeneration games, and active participation of the elderly) led to setting up a consultative commission of the elderly. Its aim was to be a meeting point expressing expectations and needs. The commission helped to respond efficiently to existing needs and enabled the spontaneous emergence of various actions (a Christmas market organised by elderly and young people, courses led by the elderly, a tea organised by small children for elderly people living in rest homes, workshops for handicapped old people with a double aim: to promote intergeneration relations and integrate disabled people through these relations, young people accompanying elderly people outside their homes, or rendering small services, etc.)

The positive result of this action was more social interaction and greater solidarity in the neighbourhood.

URBAN PLANNING

A Guide for Policy Makers

DESCRIPTION 

• Bestemmingsplannen, streekplannen, Provincie Zuid Holland, den Haag, 1987

This booklet is about 80 pages long. It describes the most recent developments in emancipation and the main themes of emancipation in relation to planning. It also shows the actual principles and the most used methods of planning in the Netherlands.

An elaborated scheme of the process of decision-making shows how and at what stage the women can influence it. In the second part of the book, some guidelines for the different levels of planning are given; they are illustrated with many pictures, drawings, and schemes.

WOMEN BUILDING AND DECIDING

DESCRIPTION 

• The project "Vrouwen bouwen en beslissen" (Women Building and Deciding) is actually meant as a course for women, aiming at the developing of skills for participating in decision making processes. Six leaflets of about 50 pages have been published to transmit the information:

1. All about housing

2. Social safety

3. Spatial planning

4. Strategy

5. Integration of migrant women

6. Environment

The booklets are focused on information and strategy issues. They are easy to read and have been used as a guide in several courses all over the Netherlands.

MUNICIPAL PLANNING ON WOMEN'S TERMS

Women's Perspectives in Municipal Planning

DESCRIPTION 

• The project underlined that women should play an active role in the planning process, and that the work should result in politically adopted municipal master plans. Important strategic assumptions were to mobilise the "grass-roots" and integrate them into the ordinary planning process in the municipalities.

An important feature of the project was to try to work from the bottom up, on women's terms, but in close contact with the municipal administrative and political bodies. The experiment was conducted in six pilot municipalities. Each one established a Project Group, its work being closely followed by an expert group of researchers, who were responsible for education, advice and outcome assessment.

The project has resulted in municipal master plans which show that concern for human beings and the natural environment is just as important as traditional methods based on economic considerations and technical feasibility. Women were strongly represented in the planning, and there was widespread mobilization in local communities within the municipalities.

The experience derived from the project is summarized in a booklet called "A Handbook for Alternative Municipal Planning". It contains advice on what to do and what not to do when municipalities wish to give priority to women's perspectives in their planning.

The book has two main parts:

Part 1, "Why", describes what the six municipalities mean by "women's perspectives" and why it is important to place more emphasis on these perspectives than they have received in planning hitherto.

Part 2, "How", summarizes experiences from municipal planning in women's perspectives, and includes related advice. Experiences are described in chapters dealing respectively with: organization, mobilization, working methods and follow-up. Emphasis is placed on various strategies as means for achieving the desired end.

A COOKBOOK FOR GRASSROOTS PLANNING

DESCRIPTION

• Men and women have different perspectives and ways of working. Women are often more concerned about the welfare of their family and local community, as well as environmental protection and social conditions. They are greatly underrepresented in political bodies. It is therefore important that women take part in planning activities. This leaflet shows how it can be done.

The first part explains the different kinds of planning measures. The second part presents concrete examples of situations in which women can be involved to solve everyday problems or improve daily life. Explanations are very clear, the solutions proposed very practical, with addresses and information about local and national government structures.