Local Democracy Agencies

LDA stands for Local Democracy Agency. The LDAs are local NGOs acting to foster Human Rights and local democracy. The Association of the Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA) is a European non-governmental organization supporting active citizenship and participatory democracy in all areas of local governance. The growth of the LDAs and the establishment of ALDA have followed the process from a period of war to peace, development and, eventually, the enlargement of the European Union in this part of the continent. ALDA is not working today only in South Eastern Europe but this is where we have preserved in our everyday activities.

LDA Subotica

The Local Democracy Agency Subotica was founded in 1993, as a result of an agreement between the Council of Europe and the local authorities of Subotica.

LDA Subotica is registered as local NGO and operates, since 1999 as a member of the international ALDA-Network. The profile of the LDA Subotica is determined by the aims of the ALDA-Network. The main goal of each LDA is to assist the region in a stable transition towards democracy and European integration, with an emphasis on promoting Human Rights and tolerant and trust-based relationships within different local communities.

The city of Subotica

Our organisation situated in the town of Subotica (in Hungarian Szabadka). Subotica is a 148,401-inhabitant city and is Serbia’s fifth largest city. It is the administrative centre of the North Backa District in Vojvodina. It is one of the most ethnically diverse cities among the Western-Balkans.  According to the last census (2002) its ethno-cultural composition is : Hungarians: 38,47%, Serbs: 24,14%, Croats: 11,24%, Bunjevci: 10,95%, Yugoslavs: 5,76%, Montenegrins: 1,25%, and Roma: 0,98%.

Subotica is on the map of intercultural cities of the Council of Europe, thanks to its vibrant multicultural activities. For example, there are the International Film Festival Palić, International Festival of Children's Theatres, the Interetno festival etc…

Subotica is commonly known as a multicultural city where people used to mix a lot in a peaceful environment. For instance, among one third of the marriages are mixed. Unfortunately, 10 years of war in the Western Balkans have led to some changes. A lot of Hungarian and Croatian people have emigrated. The emigration of some Hungarian and Croation people and the arrival of Serbian refugees coming from ex-Yougoslavia may have change the ethnico-cultural composition of the city. As a consequence, the distances between ethnical groups have drastically increased. In the same time some violent incidents have been registered during the last ten years which is quite unusual for our city.

LDA Subotica’s activities

Local partnerships for tolerance

In August 2008, LDA Subotica organised in co-operation with the local authorities a Public Round Table “Local Partnerships on Tolerance” on intercultural understanding and tolerance in Subotica.

Local coalition for EU integration

The project’s main objective was to help improve the knowledge and understanding at local level of EU integration process through appointing the EU policy officer, as well as to help build the administrative capacities to implement the European standards, applying on EU funds and cooperation to enhance good local governance.

The main target groups were the local elected /appointed officials (decision makers), Mayors’ Office members, Mayors’ advisors Municipal Assembly, Mayor, civil society organizations, and neighborhood community centers in 6 municipalities of Vojvodina: Apatin, Bač, Kikinda, Novi Bečej, Kovačica.

Microcredit

LDA Subotica implemented ALDA’s microcredit scheme in Vojvodina region in cooperation with Banca Intesa. The project aims at supporting self-employment and helping the owners of small and medium enterprises to develop and expand their businesses by providing them with loans that range from 3,000 to 10,000 €.

Intercultural cities

Subotica has been selected for the network of the European Intercultural Cities (ICC) Joint programme of the Council of Europe and European Commission. This network of fourteen cities includes also: Reggio Emilia Lyon, Lublin,  Patras, Tilburg, Berlin-Neukeln, Oslo, Greenwich, who are involved in intensive exchange of good practice in areas of good local governance in multiethnic and multicultural communities. Components of the programme range from public discourse, preservation of cultural heritage, information, mediation to education. The Joint programme started in 2008, and is designed as a permanent networking activity to promote good local governance and diversity management involving different local actors and partnerships with civil society organisations.

Regional Partnerships for intercultural exchange

This two year on-going project is designed as a set of activities involving local authorities and civil society organisations. It aims at supporting good local intercultural governance through more effective participation of civil society and minority communities as well as supporting the networking among local NGO-s involved in minority rights protection. Its main goals are fostering exchange of good local practice with regards to the management of multiethnic local communities and helping to promote innovative local practices and intercultural dialogue, tolerance and awareness on participation of minority communities at a local level.

Youth related projects

LDA Subotica is an accredited organization for sending and hosting EVS volunteers since 2007. It hosted its first European volunteer in 2009, and today it is hosting three volunteers at the same time. It has also already sent 4 volunteers.

In the same time, LDA Subotica is organizing European trainings in order to strengthen the capacity of local organizations from different countries to use the Youth In Action program. One of them, “Let’s EVS now”, was organized between the 15th and the 22nd October 2010 and it gathered around 25 people coming from 8 countries including Serbia.

LDA Subotica is also supporting local volunteerism by encouraging young people to create activities on local level about the topics they are interested in. The group of LDA’s young local volunteers has a weekly meeting. It is working on raising awareness of youth on topics such as democracy, volunteerism or human rights.

LDA Subotica is managing the local EU Info Point. It is a place where young people can get information about European Union, volunteering, youth mobility and related projects (seminars, trainings, activities and events).

As a joint work between EVS volunteers and local volunteers, LDA Subotica is also organizing workshops in EU Info Point and in high schools on topics such as democracy, volunteering, human rights…

Finally, in 2009 and 2010, LDA Subotica celebrated together with the Regional Youth Office the International Day of Youth. It aims at promoting youth creativity, youth NGO’s and informal groups. It also encourages young people to be more active into the society and to share their views on activism. On 12th august 2010, more than 350 young people and 10 NGOs gathered in Rajhl Ferenc Park organizing or attending various workshops such as on trash art, graffiti, dance or forum-theater. Exhibition stands were also given to NGOs to show their own material and leaflets.

Partnership’s proposal

LDA Subotica needs to strengthen and develop its activities. We are looking for local authorities to join in our partnership network. Our participation fee for the partner - local authorities covers the basic cost of LDA’s Subotica and partners meeting in ALDA office in Brussels held during October of each year.

LDA and his partners are involved in a two way learning process in which every actor is equal and relationships are based on trust and respect. Partnering is not just about financial support, it also includes a range of exchanges that cannot be quantified. Partners can benefit from the experience of LDA Subotica in fostering local democracy and community groups’ participation in an intercultural environment. It offers partnership that bring you contacts and co-operation with a wide range of target groups in the region of Vojvodina and Serbia, including local authorities, minority communities, education institutions, universities and media. Finally, LDA Subotica is working closely with other LDAs in the Balkan region while taking part in a wider network including all the members of the Association of Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA) all over Europe - local authorities, international and national associations of local authorities, NGOs and associations, individuals.

For more information please be free to contact us by email:

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