What aspects are to be considered in structuring participation-processes? How Community-Spirit can be supported step by step? Who gives a good example for a sustainable network-process?

Steps of Participation in Short 

The “9 steps of participation” are starting from a common concern, creating the real, temporal and social spaces to enhance the interaction of people balancing individual and community spirit, the ‘in- and outside’, work and leisure time: 

1. Starting point: a significant issue for many?

2. Clarifying talks in the initiative circle: Some introduce the process.

3. Planning sessions in the project circle: Qualified partners create and support the open course of the entire process.

4. Activation forum in the event circle: The large-group develops activities.

5. Realisation phase in the action circles: The participants accomplish their plans in individual activities and keep in contact with the other participants.

6. Integration forum in the event circle: The large-group reflects, presents and celebrates the results.

7. Reflecting sessions in the project circle: The project-partners secure the results and pass them on.

8. Final talks in the initiative circle: The initiators draw their conclusions.

9. Result: A grown network, able to develop sustainable solutions!

“Tolerance in Frankfurt Oder: Top not rancid!”
(Real-Life-Story):

In 2002, projects dealing with intercultural cooperation, tolerance and prevention of violence in Frankfurt/Oder were disappointed and perceived each other as rivals rather than as partners. A small group of volunteers from various organizations arranged a preparatory meeting with a Gemeinsinn-Werkstatt Consultant to address the common issue: “Tolerance in Frankfurt/Oder: top not rancid!” A participation process (1; the numbers refer to the project phases of the process-image) was initiated. 

Activation phase (2-4): Parallel, relevant stakeholders (2), essential cooperation partners (3) and interested people became involved. This helped to gradually integrate the participants’ needs, visions and abilities to pursue the common goal. A initiatives and institutions applied and realized various methods (e.g. Appreciative Inquiry, Open Space). Highlight was the ‘activation forum’ (4), a three-day large-group-event in springtime with 45 people covering all generations, cultures and social groupings: “Learning from, creating with and engaging for each other”. growing team of consultants, evaluators and facilitators coming from adjoining 

Realisation phase (5): Different self-organized action circles were established, and during summer they profited from the networking experience, the methodological know-how as well as from the organizational support of the project circle. Assistance from regular meetings, further large-group-events, information markets, research activities, mediation offers, interactive web modules, method trainings etc., enhanced information exchange and cooperation. Thirteen projects were realized, such as a public relations and a supervision group, a publication (presented by the academy for seniors), an international youth meeting and even a successful singing ensemble. 

Integration phase (6-9): Six months later, during thanksgiving in October, another market with 40 people took place. The ‘integration forum’ (6) invited all participants to reflect upon, present and celebrate their results. This phase announced the well-deserved recreation for both the project circle (7) and the initiative circle (8). The self-dependent action circles were able to pursue their individual processes and to even develop their own Gemeinsinn-Werkstatt beyond the given projecttime (9)

Networking-process during the phases of a Gemeinsinn-Werkstatt

Sustainable development of networking: The Gemeinsinn-Werkstatt created a new and sustainable network between various associations, organisations with people are still meeting regularly. The institutions began to specialize, recommending each other and improving the quality of the programs. Common petitions and events, mutual information about financial resources and advice are now daily practice. People in Frankfurt/Oder became more aware of tolerance activities again, and the process also had a positive effect on the project teams and their private relations.

Participation-model of running networks

The following model shows the transparent and accessible participation of Gemeinsinn-Werkstatt-networks. Longerlasting initiatives and organisations need permanent exchange, networking and qualification to support a structure of cooperation worth living. According to this model Netzwerk Gemeinsinn e.V. is designed.