Cities of Belonging
About This Project
Cities of Belonging
Duration: June 2026 – May 2027
About the project
What makes us feel that we belong in a city? Is it the places we share, the stories we remember, the rights we exercise, or the opportunities we have to shape the communities around us?
Cities of Belonging is a cross-border, citizen-centred initiative exploring how cities can become more inclusive, accessible, participatory, and democratic for everyone.
Through the themes of history, memory, citizens’ rights, and urban life, the project explores how cities have evolved over time, how historical events and public spaces continue to shape our everyday lives, and how we can create communities where everyone feels represented, included, and empowered to participate.
Many citizens across Europe still feel disconnected from local governance and decision-making processes. Opportunities to actively participate in shaping public life, urban spaces, and democratic communities are often limited, while awareness of citizens’ rights and participation mechanisms remains low.
At the same time, European cities face common challenges related to accessibility, social inclusion, democratic participation, urban development, and community cohesion. Yet opportunities to exchange experiences, learn from one another, and develop shared solutions across borders remain limited.
Cities of Belonging responds to these challenges by bringing together citizens, municipalities, organisations, artists, educators, and local communities from Dresden (Germany), Prague and Ostrava (Czech Republic), Oleśnica (Poland), and Khmelnytskyi (Ukraine). The project creates spaces for participants to exchange perspectives, reflect on local realities, strengthen dialogue between citizens and municipalities, and collaboratively imagine more inclusive urban futures.
The project is centred around two transnational events hosted in Dresden:
- Event 1: Understanding the Past & Practicing the Present
- Event 2: Practicing the Present & Imagining the Future
The activities combine historical reflection, participatory learning, intercultural exchange, artistic expression, and direct dialogue with municipalities and local stakeholders. Participants from diverse social, cultural, and generational backgrounds will come together to reflect on the relationship between memory, rights, accessibility, participation, and urban life.
The project is built around several core methodologies and activity strands:
Know Your Rights Workshops
Interactive workshops introducing fundamental rights, participation, accessibility, inclusion, and non-discrimination through discussions, role-play, simulations, and real-life examples connected to everyday urban life.
Inclusive Cities Community Walks
Participatory walks exploring Dresden through historical landmarks, public spaces, memorials, and civic environments while reflecting on inclusion, accessibility, visibility, participation, and urban belonging.
City Mapping & Needs Assessment
Collaborative mapping activities where participants identify barriers, challenges, inclusive practices, and local assets using participatory tools.
Cross-City Comparison & Dialogue
Transnational exchange sessions where participants compare local realities, community challenges, urban experiences, and participation practices across the participating cities.
Participatory Design Thinking & Co-Creation
Collaborative workshops where participants work together to imagine and design more inclusive, accessible, and participatory urban futures through creative and citizen-centered approaches.
Artistic Co-Creations & Exhibitions
Participants develop artistic reflections connected to rights, memory, inclusion, participation, and urban belonging through photography, poetry, visual art, storytelling, performance, film, and other creative formats.
Panel Discussions with Municipal Representatives
Public discussions bringing together citizens, municipalities, local stakeholders, and organisations to strengthen dialogue around accessibility, participation, inclusion, and democratic urban life.
Through intergenerational and cross-social collaboration, Cities of Belonging promotes shared European values, democratic participation, solidarity, and mutual understanding. The project amplifies underrepresented voices while creating opportunities for direct exchange between citizens and local authorities.
Expected Results
- Increased awareness of citizens’ rights, participation, accessibility, and inclusion among participants and local communities
- Strengthened dialogue and exchange between citizens, municipalities, local organisations, and community actors
- Strengthened confidence and engagement of participants in public dialogue and community life
- Creation of artistic and creative outputs reflecting themes of rights, accessibility, participation, and urban belonging
- Strengthened intercultural exchange and mutual understanding between participants from Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, and Ukraine
- Increased visibility of local challenges and good practices connected to accessibility, inclusion, democratic participation, and urban life
- Development of new local and transnational connections between municipalities, organisations, artists, and citizens
- Increased opportunities for citizens to engage directly with municipal representatives and contribute perspectives on inclusive urban futures
- Strengthened awareness of shared European values, solidarity, and democratic participation through collaborative and citizen-centered activities
Project consortium
Jugend- & Kulturprojekt e.V. – Germany (coordinator) | www.jkpev.de
Gminny Ośrodek Kultury Oleśnica (Poland) | www.gokolesnica.pl
Council of Khmelnytskyi Region (Ukraine) | www.khm.gov.ua
Statutory city of Ostrava (Czech Republic) | www.ostrava.cz/cs
Youth Included, z.s. (Czech Republic) | www.youthincluded.com
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
Project Reference Number: 101292350