January 2009, Bucharest
The citizens, the NGOs and the town halls with initiative received awards at the Public Participation gala, event organized by CeRe and included in the "A Prize for Participation" project, financed by Trust for Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe.
The winners, town halls which consulted the citizens before taking a decision, or citizens and NGOs which imposed their point of vue to the authorities, came one by one on the stage to make their story known. The over 100 participants, representatives of public institutions, civil society, citizens who want to make a difference for their community, applauded at the open-stage all the winning projects. Those present affirmed the necessity that these successful stories should be known and recognized in order to encourage those who want to realize something but they are afraid that they wouldn't be supported.
"These stories represent the living proof of a mentality change. There are 20 years since the Revolution and at last we can say that there are visible signs that Romanians begin to act as citizens in their country and they don't always need the providence-state to show want and how should things be done.", shows Sinziana Olteanu, program director at CeRe.
The Romanian version of the catalogue of awards >>>
Awarded prizes:
- The Federation of the Block Associations Timisoara- prize "the Critical Eye" for vigilance and professionalism in The town's Voice demands Ethics and Action project
- Mediaş town hall -prize ‘Up front' for responsibility and perspective in ‘Closer to Medias citizens
- The National Association of Children And Adults with autism from Romania, Craiova- prize ‘Marked goal' for efficiency and determination in ‘ A step towards independence' project
- Iaşi town hall - prize ‘From Tour Eiffel to Coposu' for engagement and complexity in ‘French district models in Iasi
- Emil Sărăcuţu - prize „Lock breaker" for simplicity and efficiency in „Moineşti Online" project
- Timişoara town hall -prize „A cooperative town hall" for responsibility sense in "Consultative district councils- participation at the making-decision process"
- Association „Help us understand the world" - prize for "stubbornness" for perseverance and courage in "Day center-step number one"
- Foundation For You - prize „Chinese drop" for impact and consecvence in "Different but together" project
- Association Kogayon- the jury's special prize for„Say no to legalized hunting in Naional Parks
- The citizens of the Lacul Tei boulevard - the jury's special prize for„the citizens of the Lacul Tei boulevard against forbidding the parking"
In order to see the gala photos, please click here.