End poverty in all its forms everywhere

Since 2000, global poverty rates have fallen by more than half. Despite this fact, one in ten people living in the developing region and their families live below the international poverty line of US$1.90 a day, and millions more living on a great deal less. Significant progress has been made in many countries in East and Southeast Asia, but up to 42% of sub-Saharan Africa's population still lives below the poverty line.

Poverty is more than a lack of income and the necessities of life.  Poverty is hunger, malnutrition, limited access to education and basic services, social discrimination, exclusion and lack of participation in a decision-making process. Economic growth must be inclusive, provide work opportunities and promote equality.

Social protection systems need to be implemented to mitigate the effects of natural disasters and help countries that are vulnerable to them. These systems can support the economy in countries exposed to natural disasters and end extreme poverty in the poorest regions.

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Running day-care centres for children and young people

In Katowice, there are 28 day-care centres run by municipal units and non-governmental organisations, subsidised from the budget of the City of Katowice. Their main aim is to support families experiencing difficulties by providing care and education for children. Children attending such institutions often come from families that are poor, broken, incomplete, inept or at risk of social pathology. The facilities in the form of day-care centres and youth clubs provide the people under their care with, among others, two meals a day, assistance in learning and organisation of leisure time through interest groups, trips and cultural events. The scheduled activities help many children avoid the phenomenon of the so-called inheritance of poverty and learned helplessness. Moreover, during winter and summer holidays, the centres organise leisure activities for children and teenagers.

The day-care centres run by non-governmental organisations provide 532 seats, whereas those run by the Municipal Social Welfare Centre (MOPS) provide 175 seats. The amount of subsidies allocated to day-care facilities in 2022 is PLN 4,065,843.00, while the annual cost of running and maintaining day-care facilities of Katowice MOPS is PLN 2,511,743.17.

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Community-based activities related to the organisation of the local community

In 2023, the Municipal Social Welfare Centre cooperated with UNICEF to help children and teenagers and families who fled the war in Ukraine and found refuge in our city. In Katowice, community-based activities were carried out in such districts as Nikiszowiec, Bogucice, Śródmieście, Zawodzie, Wełnowiec-Józefowiec, Dąb and Szopienice. The activities aimed at increasing the level of integration of refugee children and their parents/guardians into the social, cultural environment.

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Property tax exemption for non-profit entities providing services to vulnerable persons

Entities engaged in non-profit activities for the benefit of people unable to cope with risks are exempt from property tax. In 2021, 18 entities benefited from the tax exemption under the aforementioned resolution.
In 2022, 19 entities benefited from the tax exemption under the aforementioned resolution.
In 2023, 23 entities benefited from the tax exemption under the aforementioned resolution.
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Running a charity shop

The “Tyle tego” shop at 3a Morcinka Street is run by the “Kurka Wodna” Association. Charity shop is a place where residents can bring their items which are unnecessary but in good condition. These items are then sold, and the money from their sale is allocated to the statutory objectives of the Association, which largely relate to work for the benefit of the excluded, disadvantaged, disabled, and elderly people.

https://www.facebook.com/tyletego.sklepspoleczny

A similar charity store was opened by the FAZA Foundation in the city’s premises at 1 Karola Miarki Square. The Foundation’s activities are largely based on regional cooperation with existing animal aid and environmental protection organisations. The charity store’s activities can be described in three words: GIVE, BUY, HELP.

Every day, during its opening hours, the shop accepts: clothes, shoes, handbags, jewellery, books, records, games, toys, household goods, minor electronics, and household appliances. What matters is that such items must be clean and undamaged. By BUYING them, you give them a new life in line with the zero waste concept and HELP protect our climate.

The FAZA Foundation promotes the second-hand market, the idea of sharing, zero waste, and sustainable development. Proceeds from sales are allocated to statutory activities such as workshops, lectures, picnics for residents, and environmental protection.

https://www.facebook.com/charityshopkatowice/

The “Deszczu-Kropelką” Foundation has set up charity boutiques at 83 Jankego Street (Ochojec) and 18 Koszalińska Street (Ligota) in Katowice. People can donate: clothes, shoes, jewellery, handbags, books, minor household appliances, plants, small furniture, toys, records, games, glassware, home decorations. Proceeds from the sale of items in the shop are entirely allocated to the statutory activities of the “Deszczu Kropelką” Foundation, which include: climate protection, promotion of sustainable consumption and production, gender equality and empowerment of women and girls, ensuring a healthy life and well-being for all people, regardless of age, in-kind support for organisations and people in need.

https://www.facebook.com/deszczukropelka 

The “Prowitalni” Foundation has opened a shop at 81 Armii Krajowej Street (Piotrowice), which is a charity shop called Friends. Here, the main focus is on health, in line with the foundation’s statutory activities. A comprehensive approach to health not only ensures well-being, but also helps to prevent diseases of civilisation (obesity, diabetes, hypertension). The shop accepts: sportswear, sports shoes or shoes for various sports, accessories for various sports (mats, skates, rollerblades, exercise balls, dance and yoga accessories), games and toys (entertainment and intellectual effort is part of our vitality), survival, camping, travel items, development, cooking and travel books, comfortable hats, gloves, wristbands.

https://www.facebook.com/przyjacielesklepcharytatywny 

Zero Hunger

If handled properly, agriculture, forestry and fisheries can provide food for all and earn a decent income. At the same time, they can contribute to rural development and environmental protection. It is time to look at how food is produced, consumed and distributed.
Nowadays, soil, drinking water, oceans, forests and biodiversity are rapidly degraded. Climate change has an even greater impact on the environment on which our lives depend. It increases the risk of natural disasters such as droughts and floods. Many rural men and women can no longer make a living from farming and are forced to migrate to cities in search of a better life. 

Low food security and the severe malnutrition that comes with it cause developmental disorders and under-growth in millions of children. We need to fundamentally change the global food and agricultural system to feed 810 million hungry people. It is estimated that by 2050, the number of undernourished people will increase by additional 2 billion people.  Investment in agriculture is key to expanding production capacity. In turn, introducing sustainable food production systems will reduce the risk of hunger.

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Food aid

In Katowice, there are three eateries and six food distribution points run by non-governmental organisations and church organisations, supported by the City of Katowice. Food aid within the framework of the European Funds for Food Aid (EFFA) may be granted to individuals and families in difficult life situations, meeting the criteria laid down in Article 7 of the Social Assistance Act and whose income does not exceed a certain level, set as a percentage of the social assistance eligibility income.

The distributed food products include: fruit and vegetables, starchy foods (biscuits, cereals, pasta, flour, oatmeal), dairy products (milk, cheese), meat and fish products (minced pork ham, poultry ham, pork pâté, sprat in oil), sugar, rapeseed oil.

These points also implement other activities including: workshops, ongoing cooperation with specialists, including social workers, to counteract negative social phenomena.

In total, around 5,500 people benefit from the programme each year.

In 2023, the Municipal Social Welfare Centre cooperated with UNICEF to help children and teenagers and families who fled the war in Ukraine and found refuge in our city. As part of the programme, from January to August 2023, an additional warm meal was provided to children and women.

There were weekly deliveries of healthy snacks for children staying in collective accommodation facilities. Food was provided for more than 400 children. In addition, hot take-away meals for women and children were prepared and served (three times a week) at an eatery in downtown Katowice.

Development of a social shop network

The City of Katowice supports the establishment of more social shops in Katowice by NGOs. The social shop project is an innovative, first-of-its-kind solution in Poland, whose main objective is to improve the economic conditions of people in a difficult life situation.

Shopping at these stores is available to people with special referrals issued by the Municipal Social Welfare Centre (MOPS) in Katowice or the Free Space Foundation (FWM), i.e. people whose income currently does not exceed 300% of the income criterion set under the Social Assistance Act. On Saturdays, shopping is available to all residents.

The idea of running a social shop is to meet the needs of people experiencing permanent or temporary financial difficulties, poverty and life crises arising from unforeseen random events such as epidemics, loss of work, sudden disability, illness of the affected person or their loved ones. In addition, the facility has been equipped with a special area for a club-café, which may be used in particular by senior citizens of Katowice aged 60+, gathered around senior citizens organisations actively and regularly operating in Katowice (e.g. Senior Citizen Clubs, foundations, associations, the University of the Third Age).

For seniors with a referral from the Municipal Social Welfare Centre (MOPS), the above-mentioned stores have an additional amenity. All a senior has to do is call a special number, and the Foundation that runs the shops will prepare and deliver the shopping directly to the senior’s place of residence free of charge. The cost of purchased products and items is covered by the senior. Seniors can do the shopping either through relatives or in person.

There are 2 social shops in Katowice: at 82 Tysiąclecia Street and at 25 Świdnicka Street.

https://www.mops.katowice.pl/sklepsocjalny 

Soup in Kato

On each Thursday, as part of street service, members of a non-governmental organisation, the Community of the Good Shepherd, together with volunteers, cook soup for the poor, which they share with the poor at Przyjaciół z Miszkolca Square.

https://www.facebook.com/ZupaWKato/

https://dobregopasterza.pl/15-aktualnosci/88-zupa-w-kato

Good health and well-being

Significant strides were made in increasing life expectancy and reducing the most common factors causing infant and maternal mortality. However, reducing the maternal mortality ratio to below 70 cases per 100,000 live births by 2030 requires improved medical care.

Reducing premature deaths from non-communicable diseases by one third by 2030 also requires the use of clean cooking fuel and better education about the harms of smoking.

We must continue to work intensively to tackle the prevalence of many diseases and emerging health threats.  By ensuring more effective financing of health systems, improving sanitation and hygiene, access to doctors, and reducing environmental pollution, we can make significant progress in saving millions of lives.

 

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Swimming pools in Burowiec and Brynów

For more than three years now, residents of Katowice have been going to the swimming pool facilities in Burowiec and Brynów, which were promised by the Mayor of the City of Katowice, Marcin Krupa, in his election programme. In addition, by decision of the Mayor, adult residents of Katowice are treated preferentially and pay only PLN 10 per hour for using the swimming pool, while children and young people pay half as much. For comparison, the cost of a regular ticket for visitors from other cities is 25 PLN. So far, the Burowiec and Brynów swimming pools have been visited by over 2 million people. The enormous popularity of the swimming pool facilities is due to a number of attractions that were created there. Residents can enjoy, among others, a 25-metre swimming pool, a learn-to-swim pool, a paddling pool, water massagers, a jacuzzi, slides, and a sauna area. In addition, sports halls have been built next to the swimming pool facilities, where visitors can play football, basketball, volleyball, or train karate.

The modern pools also make it possible to fulfil another commitment made by Mayor of Katowice, Marcin Krupa: the universal swimming programme for children from schools in Katowice called “Swim like a fish”, thanks to which more than 8,000 children have already acquired basic swimming skills. The total cost of building the Brynów and Burowiec swimming pools amounted to PLN 72 million.

https://baseny.wodociagi.katowice.pl/

Swimming pool in Zadole

In 2022, the first residents had an opportunity to use the Zadole swimming pool. Its construction resulted from the announcement of Mayor of Katowice, Marcin Krupa. So far, nearly 310,000 people have used the facility. Residents have at their disposal, among others, a sports pool, a recreational pool, and a sauna area. What is more, a sports hall has been made available for football, volleyball and basketball fans.

“The swimming pool in Zadole is a modern facility surrounded by a beautiful park. We really needed a pool in this part of the city. Here we can relax, take care of our fitness, swim, and generally unwind”, says Dorota Fiertek, who often uses the facility.
A hallmark of the Zadole swimming pool is a special outdoor area where visitors can use an enclosed space with deckchairs and sun umbrellas in spring and summer. The pool is also part of the city’s “Swim like a fish” project, which involved nearly 500 students from 10 schools just last year. The cost of building the Zadole swimming pool amounted to PLN 33.5 million.

It is worth recalling that the Zadole swimming pool is the third facility of its kind in Katowice. The Burowiec and Brynów swimming pools were opened earlier. At the same time, by decision of Mayor of Katowice, Marcin Krupa, residents of Katowice holding the Katowice Resident Card are treated preferentially at the swimming pools, as they pay only PLN 10 per hour (non-residents pay PLN 25), and children pay half as much.

Programmes addressed to Seniors

The 2022-2027 “Katowice Senior in the City” Programme is intended for senior residents of Katowice who are over 60 years of age. Its main objective is to improve the quality of life by providing these people with access to appropriate forms of support. The implementation of various projects within the programme is aimed, among others, at counteracting loneliness and marginalisation of elderly people, managing their free time after retirement (e.g. by developing skills and personal interests), increasing the activity and participation of elderly people in social life, pro-health and educational or physical culture activities.

Each year, Katowice allocates over PLN 50,000,000.00 to the programme (in 2022: PLN 55,178,647.28).

https://bit.ly/2NOEhKT

In addition, in 2022 and 2023, the City of Katowice continued its cooperation with TVS Television that consisted in purchasing a senior-oriented programme called: “Silver Katowice”. The programme is implemented as part of a broadly defined senior citizen policy. The content of each section of the programme is related to current events concerning senior citizens of our City.

In connection with the Katowice Senior Citizens’ Policy and the requests made by the Senior Citizens’ Council of the City of Katowice, the Mayor decided to open the Senior Citizens’ Centre – the Senior+ Club at 27 Słowackiego Street.

“Handyman” Project

The purpose of the project is to enhance and improve the quality of life by providing seniors with free minor home repair services, such as replacing/repairing kitchen and bathroom taps, unclogging drains, repairing leaky pipes, connecting washing machines/dishwashers, changing light bulbs, repairing/replacing electrical sockets, adjusting/sealing doors and windows, repairing door handles/locks on doors and windows. These services are available to residents of Katowice who are 65 years of age or older (single persons, 2-person households), who are unable to cope with home repairs and may not always count on the support of their relatives.

The Foundation for the Development of Social Economy, has been responsible for implementing this task from the very beginning, receiving a grant from the Katowice city budget for this purpose.

In 2022, 941 repairs were carried out for 491 seniors, with 997 repairs being conducted for 572 seniors in 2023.

Local Activity Programmes and Community Centres

In 2023, the Municipal Social Welfare Centre cooperated with UNICEF to help children and teenagers and families who fled the war in Ukraine and found refuge in our city. In Katowice, community-based activities were carried out in such districts as Nikiszowiec, Bogucice, Śródmieście, Zawodzie, Wełnowiec-Józefowiec, Dąb and Szopienice. The activities aimed at increasing the level of integration of refugee children and their parents/guardians into the social, cultural environment.

In addition, as part of UNICEF activities, child-friendly zones were created in social welfare centres. Vertical touchscreens with animations and games for children appeared in 17 Municipal Social Welfare Centres in Katowice, and some children’s corners were equipped with new toy sets, educational projectors and furniture.

In cooperation with UNICEF, action was also taken to support refugee children and their temporary guardians. In the Family Foster Care Team, three interpreters regularly provided assistance through professional support to temporary guardians, and a lawyer was engaged to provide ongoing legal assistance. Temporary guardians’ children under their care often benefited from the support offered by the aforementioned programme, for example they received a monthly cash benefit of PLN 500.00.

“Personal Assistant for People with Disabilities” programme – 2023 edition funded by the Solidarity Fund (the Ministry of Family and Social Policy).

In 2023, 230 people benefited from the services of a personal assistant for people with disabilities (PAPD), who provided 55,434.5 clock hours of PAPD assistance. Assistants support those under their care in the pursuit of independent day-to-day living, accompanying them to medical appointments, visits to various offices, banks, the post office, and shopping. In many cases, they are also a relief to relatives and families, as they provide so-called respite care.

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“The Joy of Life – I Can Do Everything” support group

The programme is implemented by the City of Katowice. Meetings of the support group are held in the hall of the Municipal Centre of Culture in Katowice at 83 Boya Żeleńskiego Street. The main objective of this programme is to improve functional capacity and quality of life of the elderly and disabled people and to ensure their social and cultural needs by engaging them in creating ways of spending their free time. According to the assumptions of the programme, it is an open group for people aged 50+, elderly or disabled residents of Katowice who still want to be active and set an example for others.

“Sunflower” Programme

The programme provides assistance through volunteer activities for the elderly and the disabled. The programme beneficiaries are persons who, due to their age and limitations, require support from the Municipal Social Welfare Centre (MOPS) in Katowice.

The objectives of assistance under the programme:

• maintaining social ties and safety in the residential environment of the elderly and the disabled,
• expanding social contacts and engaging the elderly and the disabled,
• increasing the sense of security.

“Katowice Resident Card”

The programme entitled “Katowice Resident Card” is part of the promotional and social policy pursued by the City of Katowice. The programme is focused, among others, on strengthening the sense of local identity among the residents, improvement of their living conditions and quality of life by facilitating access to cultural goods, sports and recreational activities, as well as encouraging both residents of Katowice and non-residents to register in the city and pay taxes here.

The card can be issued to people who meet at least one of the following conditions:

• they are registered for permanent residence in Katowice (regardless of age),
• they are registered for temporary residence and pay their personal income tax in Katowice (children under 18 may receive the card if at least one of their parents / legal guardians pays their tax in Katowice);
• they pay personal income tax in Katowice (children under 18 may receive the card if at least one of their parents / legal guardians pays their tax in Katowice);
• they stay in care and educational institutions in Katowice (up to 18 years of age), as well as educators and directors of these institutions,
• university students having a temporary residence permit in the City of Katowice,
• persons having a temporary residence permit in Katowice who are under 26 years of age,
• they are staying in round-the-clock social welfare institution in Katowice.

As part of the Programme, card holders can benefit, among others, from reduced admission fees to the city’s swimming pools and ice rinks, discounted tickets to the “Ateneum” Theatre, the Katowice History Museum, cultural events, and many other discounts offered by private partners. Currently, discounts for KRC holders are provided by 12 municipal units and 120 private partners.

Since the beginning of the Programme, over 123,000 cards have been issued.

https://kkm.katowice.eu

Activities for people with disabilities: 

Transport services for disabled residents of Katowice 

The City of Katowice provides transport services intended for disabled residents of Katowice. The transport services are available not only in the City of Katowice, but also its neighbouring municipalities (i.e.: Chorzów, Mikołów, Mysłowice, Tychy, Ruda Śląska, Sosnowiec, Siemianowice Śląskie, Czeladź) from Monday to Saturday between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm and on Sundays and public holidays between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm.

In 2022, 2680 people used the services, including 644 people in wheelchairs. In 2022, the amount of funds spent from the city budget for this purpose totalled PLN 200,046.29.  Read more

In 2023, 2386 people used the services, including 748 people in wheelchairs. In 2023, the amount of funds spent from the city budget for this purpose totalled PLN 222,684.88.

Link: Transport for people with disabilities (katowice.eu)

“Katowice – a Barrier Free City” Guide for People with Disabilities helps people with disabilities find their way to the appropriate and competent bodies and institutions and enables them to plan their active leisure time in accessible places and public facilities. The guidebook is addressed not only to people with disabilities, but also to their families, caregivers, and all those working and acting for their well-being. The “Katowice – a Barrier Free City” Guide for People with Disabilities is handled and updated by the KONTRA Club Foundation.

Link: “Katowice – a Barrier Free City” Guide for People with Disabilities
                                           

Migam sign language interpreter, Connect with Interpreter

In order to make it easier for people with hearing impairments to contact the Katowice City Hall, in April 2020 we launched a service enabling online connection with a sign language interpreter through the office website: https://tlumacz.migam.org/miasto_katowice.

This service was also launched at the Municipal Social Welfare Centre in Katowice in September 2021. Communication takes place via a video connection on the client’s computer/tablet/phone. The sign language interpreter visible on the screen mediates in a conversation between the Client and the Official on the topic of the Client’s interest, which may concern matters handled by the Municipal Social Welfare Centre in Katowice.

Minimum technical requirements: any computer, tablet or phone with Internet access, equipped with a camera and microphone, with an up-to-date browser installed: Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari, and MS Edge. The service also works on Android as well as IOS mobile devices. The costs of service, excluding connection cost, are incurred by the City of Katowice.

“Signal of Life” Municipal Emergency Notification System

In order to increase the safety of the elderly and the disabled, the “Signal of Life” Municipal Emergency Notification System has been implemented in Katowice since December 2008. The system is intended for people who are not always able to communicate with a dispatcher receiving a call and give information necessary to provide assistance in emergency situations. Participants of the Emergency Notification System need to have a landline or mobile phone with buttons in which the emergency number is programmed.

In the event of an emergency, after pressing the button, a dispatcher at the Voivodeship Emergency Notification Centre will obtain information about the need for assistance and the details of the caller, which will be transmitted to the Voivodeship Ambulance Service.

The Poviat Social Council for People with Disabilities has undertaken innovative activities consisting in expressing opinions on projects implemented by the City of Katowice. The Council is composed of people with disabilities. As part of its meetings, the Poviat Council consults urban projects with designers in terms of accessibility and adaptation of urban space for people with disabilities.

Members of the Council also review draft resolutions and programmes adopted by the City Council in terms of their implications for people with disabilities. They actively participate in developing projects aimed at social inclusion of people with disabilities.

Activities for accessibility of public administration services.

The City of Katowice is constantly taking measures to increase the capacity of the disabled to function independently in all public areas.

As part of the grant project titled “Katowice City Hall Accessible to People with Special Needs”, there are plans to implement, from July 2022 to June 2023, an accessibility standard concerning architectural accessibility and an accessibility standard concerning information and communication accessibility of the Katowice City Hall for people with special needs, including people with disabilities, aimed at improving the accessibility of public services provided to persons with mobility, hearing and/or vision impairment.

“(In)visible” – training for employees of the Katowice City Hall

Based on the Partnership Agreement concluded with StwardnienieRozsiane.Info (a foundation from Gdynia dealing with matters related to multiple sclerosis) for the implementation of the “(In)visible” project, online training courses for employees of the Katowice City Hall were held in September 2023. Aim of the training was to broaden knowledge and improve awareness of invisible disabilities and facilitate the day-to-day functioning of people with such disabilities by sensitising them to their needs. Part of the training focused on savoir-vivre towards people with disabilities.

The 90-minute training sessions were attended by 185 people.

Link: (In)visible (katowice.eu)

“Occupation: Assistance Dog” campaign

The safety and comfort of everyone using the City Hall’s services are our priority, which is why we spread knowledge about how to behave towards assistance dogs so that their owners can enjoy public spaces to the fullest.

Link: Occupation: Assistance Dog (katowice.eu)

In 2023, a series of workshops for students of Katowice schools and kindergartens was also held. The main goal of the workshops was to build awareness about the work of assistance dogs. Increased public awareness of this topic will ensure greater comfort in navigating public spaces for people with assistance dogs. This will allow them to make fuller use of available services and reduce discrimination based on disability.

Reducing mortality by promoting mental health and well-being

There are four Community Self-Help Homes in Katowice, run by non-governmental organisations, with a total of 113 places. Community Self-Help Homes provide services as part of individual or group self-help training and social skills training consisting in learning, developing or maintaining skills with respect to day-to-day activities and social functioning.

Free specialist counselling

The City of Katowice, as part of the offer of the Municipal Social Welfare Centre, provides specialist counselling to the residents of Katowice (regardless of their financial situation). Counselling is provided by psychologists, educators, therapists, mediators, psychiatrists, and social workers.

Protection packages in relation to COVID-19

The City of Katowice carried out a number of actions aimed at preventing epidemics. They include: a helpline for the most deprived, operated by the Municipal Social Welfare Centre, psychological support, and “Shopping Emergency” which ensures that food packages are provided free of charge to the less affluent residents of Katowice and shopping is done for those who have financial means.

Among the numerous activities carried out by the Katowice City Hall during a difficult period of the pandemic are, among others, the launch of swabbing buses, the purchase of disposable masks for city services and hospitals, multiple-time masks for seniors and the provision of 83 laptops for remote learning by children from Katowice’s educational institutions.

Non-Governmental Organisations Centre (COP)

Activities aimed at institutional strengthening of non-governmental organisations and other third sector entities are carried out on a continuous basis by the Non-Governmental Organisations Centre. In recent years, COP has operated at 14 Kopernika St. and, since 2023, it has established a second location at 7 Wita Stwosza St., where in the first half of the year, 13 NGOs found permanent premises and a dozen others used the shared space.

Katowice Non-Governmental Organisations Centre ensures:

• a registration address for newly established NGOs,
• infrastructure support (access to training rooms, office spaces / desks, IT and office equipment, lockers for documents and incoming mail, storage space),
• professional support (general and specialist counselling, accounting services, training courses) for NGOs based or operating in Katowice.

COP’s activity in the first half of 2023:

• 114 organisations founded at the COP, including 13 organisations at 7 Wita Stwosza Street,
• 112 hours of advice to NGOs, including accounting advice,
• 564 room rentals for organisation meetings,
• 29 rentals of equipment outside the CID headquarters (tents, tables, sound system, projectors, etc.);
• 17 training sessions and information meetings;
• 7 animation meetings,
• 5 meetings integrating NGO activities,
• 1 study visit:
• funding of partnership initiatives and granting of support packages for veteran organisations and development packages for NGOs based at 7 Wita Stwosza Street.

Social changes implemented at COP concern several areas:

• a new community of NGOs is emerging in the City of Katowice, centred around the new COP headquarters,
• the amount of comprehensive support offered to organisations working for the benefit of the residents of Katowice has increased;
• the CID’s operations have been expanded to include new types of services, in particular in the form of new headquarters, support from a development specialist for development packages for NGOs and veteran organisations;
• the absorption of external funding by Katowice-based NGOs increased;
• persons involved in the activities gained new knowledge and skills;
• the activities of Katowice-based NGOs in undertaking partnership actions increased;
• knowledge of volunteering and social activities in Katowice increased;
• measures were taken to improve communication between NGOs, civic dialogue bodies, and the local government;
• the human potential in Katowice-based organisations was strengthened.

The Katowice COP integrates entities of the third sector operating in our city, takes steps to make them more professional so that they implement public tasks assigned by the Mayor as effectively as possible and stimulates social activity of the residents of Katowice and their full involvement in the process of participatory budgeting and local initiatives.

https://mostkatowice.org/

https://www.facebook.com/COPkopernika

Youth Activity Centre

Since January 2021, the Youth Activity Centre has been operating at the Non-Governmental Organisations Centre – it is a task co-financed from the funds of the Regional Operational Programme of the Silesian Voivodeship for 2014-2020, in which the BRIDGE Association is Project Leader, while the City of Katowice is Project Partner.

The Youth Activity Centre aims to expand the range of activities offered by the Non-Governmental Organisations Centre to include broadly understood activities in the field of social and professional activation of young people living in Katowice.

The project comprises social and professional activation of young adults (aged 15-35) living in Katowice that are at risk of social exclusion.

Thanks to participation in the project, young citizens acquired professional qualifications and competencies and became involved in civic activities for the benefit of Katowice through the implementation of local initiatives. Between 2021 and 2023, the youth, in cooperation with the Katowice City Hall, completed nine initiatives.

https://www.facebook.com/CentrumAktywnosciMlodziezowej

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Mayor’s Plenipotentiary for Non-Governmental Organisations

The position of Plenipotentiary was established to facilitate cooperation between the City of Katowice and the NGO sector. The activity of NGOs is crucial for the local government in Katowice, as their activities affect many areas of the city’s life – hence the need for their coordination.

The Plenipotentiary works both with entities with which the City of Katowice has been cooperating for many years and establishes relations with those that are emerging only now or which would like to start cooperation with the local government.

The main task of the plenipotentiary is to provide information on possible forms of financial and non-financial cooperation with the City of Katowice and to respond to the changing needs of organisations in order to improve and develop such cooperation. The Plenipotentiary Office exercises, among others, supervision over the activities of the Katowice Non-Governmental Organisations Centre (COP). The position of the Plenipotentiary for Non-governmental Organisations was established in 2015 by the Mayor.

https://www.facebook.com/Pelnomocnik.PMK.NGO

Information Point for foreigners

The main objective of this task is to support foreigners residing in the City of Katowice by providing them with free information and advice on how to function in the local environment in social and professional terms. The Information Point also undertakes regular activities to integrate foreigners with the local community, among others, by organising cultural days of specific countries. Located at 5 Młyńska Street, the Information Point for foreigners has been operating since May 2021. The Mayor assigned the management of the point to In Corpore Foundation.

https://www.facebook.com/punktinformacyjnydlacudzoziemcow/

Prevention and Health Promotion Programme for the City of Katowice for the years 2021-2027

For many years, the City of Katowice has carried out projects aimed at improving the health and quality of life of its residents. Current programmes include free examinations and rehabilitation classes for seniors, preventive examinations by an orthopaedists and paediatricians, HPV vaccination, first aid education for primary school children, dental examinations, preventive education on dental caries for preschool children, and free classes for pregnant women as part of a childbirth school.
 

City nurseries

The number of places for children in nurseries has increased significantly. In 2022, there was one Municipal Nursery in Katowice with 13 branches located in various districts. In 2022, it offered 949 places of care for children up to 3 years of age. As part of its activities, it provided care for children in living conditions similar to home conditions, thus ensuring: proper nursing and educational care through play activities with educational elements tailored to the child’s individual needs, conducting childcare and educational activities based on psychomotor development of the child appropriate to his or her age.

The need for nursery care was analysed on an ongoing basis – in order to meet the needs of Ukrainian families, the city came up with a project aimed at increasing access to nurseries and programmes supporting early childhood development, financed by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

In 2023, with the support of UNICEF, the project titled “Increasing access to nurseries and early childhood development support programmes” was implemented, with particular focus on supporting Ukrainian children and families in their social inclusion process. As part of this project:

• 32 additional places for Ukrainian children were created
• children’s rooms and playgrounds for 13 branches of the Municipal Nursery were retrofitted
• two World Experience Rooms were created (in the Branch at Ordona A Street and 45 Tysiąclecia Street) as well as a specialist office in the Municipal Nursery Branch at 3A Ordona Street – for individual consultations with a psychologist and speech therapist
• numerous training sessions for the staff of Municipal Nursery Branches were held
• Wi-Fi networks were expanded, the Municipal Nursery’s website was redesigned, and computer equipment was purchased
• LiveKid application was implemented, enabling effective communication with parents/guardians (also in Ukrainian)
• group sessions were conducted by specialists (psychologist, speech therapist, pedagogue, art therapist, music therapist, and sensory integration specialist), supporting the all-round development of all children and promoting integration within groups.
• A total of 54 workshops/meetings with parents/guardians were organised in all Branches of the Municipal Nursery, with particular focus on integrating Polish and Ukrainian families (including workshops with specialists, artistic workshops, sports activities, cooking, family picnics, training etc.).

Between 2024 and 2025, it is planned to increase nursery care places within the framework of the 2022-2029 Childcare Institution Development Programme MALUCH+ by a total of 172 additional nursery care places, including: 82 additional places to be created in existing Municipal Nursery Branches and 90 new places in the Municipal Nursery Branch under construction at 7 Kossutha Street.

https://www.zlobek.katowice.pl/

Katowice Silver Book for Seniors

Residents aged over 65 years and people with disabilities may order a book or an audio book from a library with home delivery. Orders can be placed over the phone or by e-mail – by writing to the address of the library branch that the user is a member of. The person willing to order a book must provide their full name, address, and phone number. The key, of course, is to communicate the titles of the books the person wants to borrow. They may also specify their literary preferences.

The delivery and collection of books is free of charge. According to the rules, readers may borrow up to 5 books at a time. They must be returned within 30 days – this can be done either at the library branch or via through the “book bus” service. If you have any questions, please call 502 28 88 28.

In 2021, a total of 971 visits were paid to readers who were supplied with 5,626 books and audio books.
In 2022, a total of 1,246 visits were paid to readers who were supplied with 6,268 books and audio books.
In 2023, a total of 1,288 visits were paid to readers who were supplied with 6,440 books and audio books. 

Professional Activation Incubator for Seniors

The project aims to help senior residents of Katowice, women aged 60+ and men aged 65+, to re-enter to the labour market. Thanks to instruments such as senior or adaptation bonuses, employers interested in hiring retired people could benefit from innovative funding. In 2022, as part of the funding, 10 seniors were hired. 50 seniors took part in training in computer skills and professional image development that will help them re-enter the labour market. Due to the end of the project at the end of 2022, the activities performed in 2023 focused on activation through offers obtained by the local District Employment Office. In 2023, information was provided to more than 200 people, 114 job offers were presented and 50 people expressed their willingness to take the offer. Those who applied to the Professional Activation Incubator for Seniors were offered assistance from a career counsellor in the following areas: presentation of job offers tailored to seniors, preparation of application documents, preparation for a job interview, recognition of professional predispositions. Since 2021, the Professional Activation Incubator for Seniors, operating at the premises of the District Employment Office in Katowice, has been assisting senior residents of Katowice in actively seeking employment by presenting job offers. It also helps them prepare application documents as well as prepare for job interviews.

In June 2023, within the Incubator’s activities, a workshop titled “Coping with stress as a sought-after skill in the labour market” was organised, where participants had the opportunity to learn about and experience practical tools to help them cope with stress and better understand their emotions.

In addition, career counsellors were actively involved in current initiatives concerning senior citizens, such as: Senior Citizen’s Day in Katowice, conferences and meetings concerning senior citizens, such as “Katowice for Seniors”.

In view of the demographic situation and the resulting changes, the Professional Activation Incubator for Seniors also aims to raise employers’ awareness of the positive effects of employing retired people. Addressing this issue is possible, for example, through ongoing contact with employers reporting job vacancies.

Municipal Committee for Solving Alcohol Problems in Katowice

As part of the implementation of the municipality’s own tasks under the Act on Upbringing in Sobriety and Counteracting Alcoholism of 26 October 1982 set out in the Municipal Programme for Preventing and Solving of Alcohol Problems and Counteracting Drug Addiction, the  Mayor of Katowice established the Municipal Committee for Solving Alcohol Problems in Katowice aimed at helping addicts and their families cope with the problem of addiction. There are many therapy centres in Katowice that deal with the above mentioned issues. Read more on the website 

Revitalisation of parks

In 2024, the construction of two new parks (at Leopolda/Le Ronda Street and Wantuły Street) and the modernisation and expansion of three existing parks (Wełnowiecki Park, Ślepiotka Park, and Katowice Forest Park) will be completed. These projects focus on ecological and educational functions, preservation of areas of high natural value, protection of natural habitats for animals, and proper rainwater retention. In addition, the parks will serve recreational and leisure functions, including active recreation, while ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities.

The revitalisation of Bogucki Park in Katowice, worth over PLN 6 million, was completed in 2019. New walking paths, an outdoor gym, and a dog run were created here. Additionally, a local playground was modernised and expanded. Olympians Park in Szopienice was also revitalised.

The revitalisation of the Five Ponds Valley in Katowice is currently underway, with activities focused on the Morawa, Borki and three Hubertus Ponds, i.e. reservoirs created on the site of former sand pits exploited for mining purposes. Covering an area of 157 hectares, the complex is located in Szopienice and Burowiec districts, right on the border of Katowice with Sosnowiec and Mysłowice. The total area of the five ponds is 91 hectares, which means it is ten times larger than the area of the reservoirs in the Three Ponds Valley, which covers a total of 9 hectares.

Stage I of the project involved the construction of a new sailing scout station on the south-eastern shore of the Morawa pond, along with the development of the surrounding area, illuminated pathways, a pier, a barbecue area and bathing infrastructure.
In 2024, as part of the second stage of works being carried out on the northern shore of the Morawa pond, a bathing area and a beach will be created, including a lifeguard station, a ramp for people with mobility impairments, a pier, public facilities with changing rooms, showers and toilets, a sports area with a field, a playground and a barbecue area. There will also be a place for drivers to leave their vehicles in an unsupervised car park between Sosnowiecka Street and the railway tracks.

Along the southern shore of the Morawa pond, a pedestrian alley will be created, leading from the scout station to the cemetery area.

The next stage of the revitalisation of the Five Ponds Valley involves, among others, the creation of a beach on the southern shore of the Borki pond. There will also be parking spaces, a bicycle and pedestrian path from the beach towards the cemetery, a promenade from the scout station along the eastern shore of the Morawa pond and a connection in the form of a canal between the Borki and Morawa ponds with a footbridge.

In 2024, a new municipal park (16,990 m2) is planned to be created next to the Witos Municipal Centre of Culture, which is currently under construction. Every day, visitors will be able to use community gardens, an outdoor gym, a forest playground and educational trails. Pedestrian and bike paths, bike racks, benches, pergolas and a car park (with 10 parking spaces) will also be created.

Developing, updating and monitoring the Katowice 2030 City Development Strategy

As a superior document compared to other sectoral strategies and programmes in the city of Katowice, the Strategy sets the framework and assumptions for their development and for planning investments and non-investment activities in all aspects of urban development.

Taking into account new development trends on a European and national scale and the update of strategic documents on a national and regional level, together with the needs and expectations of the residents of Katowice, work has been carried out on the update of the Strategy. In accordance with applicable regulations, the document underwent extensive consultations, primarily with the residents of the city, as well as with the Voivodeship Board, local social and economic partners, neighbouring municipalities and their associations, including the Metropolis GZM and the Association of Municipalities and Districts of the Central Subregion of the Silesian Voivodeship, and the “Wody Polskie” State Water Management Authority. The document was adopted by Resolution of the Katowice City Council No. LXV/1360/23 of 22 June 2023.

link to the document:
https://bip.katowice.eu/RadaMiasta/Uchwaly/dokument.aspx?idr=135424&menu=660 

The Strategy identifies 5 strategic fields:

• Social quality of life
• Metropolitanity
• Entrepreneurship and economic development
• Climate and urban ecosystem
• Space and infrastructure

Quality education

ENSURE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE QUALITY EDUCATION AND PROMOTE LIFELONG LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL

Quality education is the basis for improving people's lives and sustainable development.

Universal access to education improves the quality of life and makes it possible to find innovative solutions to the major problems of the contemporary world.

Currently, more than 265 million children are out of school and 22% do not attend primary school. Furthermore, even children who are in school cannot read or count.

Significant progress has been made in increasing access to education at all levels. The number of people in education has increased, especially women and girls. While more and more people also have basic literacy skills, further efforts need to be made to achieve the Universal Education Goal. For example, while equality for boys and girls in access to primary education has been achieved globally, only a few countries have met this goal for all levels of education.

Reasons for poor quality education include lack of adequately trained teachers, poor school conditions and unequal access to school for children in rural areas. Ensuring quality education involves establishing educational scholarship programmes, teacher workshops, building schools and improving access to water and electricity in schools.

 

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES 

European City of Science 2024

Katowice has been declared European City of Science 2024 (ECSK 2024). This prestigious title is awarded by EuroScience – an organisation which closely works with the European Commission. Achieving this title is the result of the efforts of the City of Katowice and seven public universities of the Academic Consortium – Katowice City of Science. This would not have been possible without the Silesian Science Festival KATOWICE – one of the largest European popular science events and an important platform of cooperation for citizen science. The consortium of universities responsible for organising the European City of Science events in 2024 includes:

• the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music,
• the Academy of Fine Arts,
• the Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education,
• the Silesian University of Technology,
• the Medical University of Silesia,
• the University of Economics,
• the University of Silesia (leader).

The idea of the European City of Science Katowice 2024 is organised around the concept of 50 thematic weeks devoted to important Polish and global scientific issues which have a direct impact on our lives. The main goal of ECSK 2024 is to initiate the transition of the region through science, providing citizens with unrestricted access to knowledge and making it a fundamental instrument of civic dialogue. ECSK 2024 will showcase the richness of Silesian science in the context of European research and enable it to be closely known to the region’s residents. EN For a change: City break in Katowice. Without science, we cannot change the quality and way of life in Silesia. It is a natural asset, which is more important for the future of residents than fossil fuels or the industry associated with them. In the City of Science, we can turn it into a new industry. We want to make it obvious in our voivodeship that science can solve everyday problems and answer almost any question. One of the initiatives aimed at spreading knowledge and promoting the idea of the European City of Science is the Kato Science Corner – an appealing, well-arranged space in one of the historic tenement houses near the market square in Katowice, where various meetings, workshops and other educational events are held for all residents of the city.

https://miastonauki.pl/ 

Climate Education

There is no doubt that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. We are increasingly aware of environmental threats such as biodiversity loss, waste production due to overconsumption and the impact of global warming.

Transition to a new green deal will not be possible without appropriate educational policies and a deep social transformation. Education is essential to prepare the society to cope with the climate crisis, which is why the Mayor of Katowice, Marcin Krupa, PhD, established in 2022 a Team for Climate Education Pilot Curriculum to be implemented in local schools in Katowice. The team includes school teachers, academics specialising in this area, local government councillors, and officials. The team developed four main thematic areas of the Katowice’s original programme. These are: criticism of consumerism, biodiversity loss, anthropogenic climate change and, due to the nature of the post-mining Silesian and Zagłębie region, energy transition. The programme features practical activities proposed by the Centre for Environmental Education at the Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz School Complex No. 2 in Katowice – including workshops on nature and field activities.

The programme was created to help young people understand the impact of environmental degradation on their future, to expand their knowledge, awareness and skills in the field of climate education, and above all, to build commitment and a sense of agency to counteract the effects of global warming.

This is the first such programme implemented in local schools in Poland, and its uniqueness lies in the integration of content related to the climate crisis with the core curriculum of all subjects at the second stage of education, i.e. in primary schools in 7th grade. Such integration is required due to the complexity of climate issues and the need for a holistic approach to address them. Topics related to the climate crisis are implemented in interdisciplinary correlation through cross-curricular pathways, so that education is not limited to classroom-based schemes, but rather goes beyond “teaching to the test”, with the process being focused on the interdependence, relationality, and complexity of the world.

Link to the programme: https://katowice.eu/dla-mieszka%C5%84ca/ucz-si%C4%99/miejskie-programy-autorskie/klimatyczne-katowice 

Award of the Mayor of the City of Katowice and His Magnificence the Rector of the University of Silesia in Katowice for outstanding students – Katowice Diamond of Education.

This special award is intended for students of Katowice schools who live in our city and who not only achieve high academic results, but also excel in fields in which the awards are granted, i.e. humanities and foreign languages, exact and natural sciences, entrepreneurship, social and civic competences, regional education, culture and arts and sports. Through their activities, they go beyond the school walls, achieving significant successes, developing their talents and passions, and inspiring others with their creative, committed and pro-social attitude. The aim of the award is to support the potential of young residents of Katowice, promote their talents and achievements, motivate them to improve key competences and create positive role models for school communities.

Undoubtedly, the main impulse for introducing the new award was the need to initiate innovative, more attractive actions in supporting students and looking at young people in a multifaceted and individualised way. The first edition of the Award for student achievements in the 2022/2023 school year was granted on the basis of the Regulations attached to Regulation No. 158 of the Rector of the University of Silesia in Katowice of 16 October 2023 (https://us.edu.pl/katowicki-diament-edukacyjny-nagroda-prezydenta-katowic-i-rektora-us/)

Cash prizes for the prize-winners in the amount of:

PLN 5,000 – first prize,
PLN 4,000 – second prize,
PLN 3,000 – third prize,

were funded by the Mayor of the City of Katowice, while distinctions in the form of vouchers providing the opportunity to participate in the University of Silesia Programme for Children and Youth, a high school final examination course, and the Silesian University of the Best were awarded by the Rector of the University of Silesia in Katowice. The Mayor of the City of Katowice and His Magnificence the Rector of the University of Silesia awarded 99 prizes: 57 first-prize awards and 42 second-prize awards, totalling PLN 457,200.00. No third-prize awards were granted. On 20 November 2023, the University of Silesia in Katowice hosted a ceremony to present the first edition of the Award of the Mayor of the City of Katowice, Marcin Krupa, PhD, and His Magnificence the Rector of the University of Silesia in Katowice, Ryszard Koziołek, PhD, DSc, ProfTit, the “Katowice Diamond of Education”.

Link to video from the ceremony: https://youtu.be/G3eIHNkraXI 

Participation in the P-TECH Programme (Pathways to technology)

In 2019, the Polish edition of an educational and vocational development programme called P-TECH (Pathways to technology) was launched in Katowice under the honorary patronage of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and the Ministry of Digital Affairs. The programme was implemented locally by IBM in cooperation with the local government of Katowice and Fujitsu Technology Solutions and the Educational Research Institute (IBE). The main objective of the Programme is to support local communities in Katowice by adequately preparing young people for work in IT-related professions, which – in addition to obtaining a high school diploma – require specific skills, but not necessarily several years of higher education.

Currently, two technical schools from Katowice are taking part in the pilot project: Zespół Szkół Technicznych i Ogólnokształcących nr 2 (the Complex of Technical and General Education Schools No. 2) in Katowice, which cooperates with IBM Poland and Kyndryl as well as Śląskie Techniczne Zakłady Naukowe (the Silesian Technical Academy) from Katowice, which implements the educational programme in cooperation with Fujitsu Technology Solutions. As part of P-TECH, over the course of five years of studying, students will prepare for their matura and diploma exams, obtaining the title of IT technician, programming technician or mechatronics technician, while also extending their knowledge under the guidance of their mentor and acquiring new skills. For example, students will follow the daily work of their mentor (job shadowing), learning about the business environment from the inside.

P-TECH does not require any changes to the core curriculum. The partner company, in cooperation with the school teaching staff, provides additional substantive input or tools for existing subjects and classes, so as to equip students with specific skills needed in the labour market and the sector in which it operates. The partner company is also committed to supporting P-TECH graduates as they enter the labour market.

It is also important to emphasise the role of the Educational Research Institute. In addition to working together in order to develop key assumptions for the implementation of the P-TECH programme in Poland, supporting schools, teachers and students in the development of resources and skills which are useful in the modern digital labour market, IBE coordinates the process of creating new market qualifications. The market qualifications designed, described and incorporated by the partners in the Integrated Qualifications System correspond to the identified competency gaps between what the school can offer and what is expected by employers. By implementing the Integrated Qualifications System as part of the Partnership, the Educational Research Institute ensures that the P-TECH model becomes an exemplary project in the field of vocational education in Poland.

Katowice schools are a member of the P-TECH international community, which comprises 300 schools, over 150,000 students and 600 partner companies in 28 countries around the world!

www.ptech.org

P-TECH Program

Katowice – City of Professionals

Katowice – City of Professionals is a programme designed to encourage young people who are at the crossroads of education to take up education in trade and technical schools by showing them appealing career prospects. In addition, this programme aims to increase knowledge and public awareness of the dual education system and to present an extensive offer of the City of Katowice as regards career opportunities.

Katowice – City of Professionals has been implemented periodically since 2018. As part of four previous editions of the programme, nearly 4,000 primary school students took part, 195 study visits to companies and 205 visits to trade and technical schools have taken place, and 29 letters of intent have been signed with entrepreneurs.

The next edition of the programme is currently underway for the 2023/2024 school year, which will involve around 600 seventh-grade primary school students in study visits to the programme’s partners – Katowice-based entrepreneurs. Study visits to companies are a key part of Katowice – City of Professionals. After these visits, students will also visit trade and technical schools which provide education in the fields discussed during the study visits at companies. The final stage of the programme includes summary educational lessons which are provided as part of school classes.

The partners of the 5th edition of the Katowice – City of Professionals programme are: Alstom Polska S.A., BFC Nieruchomości Johann Bros, Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacji Miejskiej Katowice Sp. z o.o., Rockwell Automation Sp. z o.o., Piekarnia Antoni Król, Śląska Izba Turystyki, Adam Milner “AMO” Obsługa Gastronomii i Hoteli, Catering, Tauron Polska Energia S.A., Stosowanie Maszyn Tadeusz Szwajca.

“Get a Career” Festival

This is a celebration of Katowice secondary schools. During the festival, visitors can not only learn about what post-primary schools have to offer, but also talk to older students, friends and teachers. The Festival programme includes, among others, shows and artistic performances, which are an opportunity for students to present their talents and skills in front of the audience of the Silesian Science Festival. In this space, arranged especially for the Festival, participants can engage in a variety of interesting festival events full of scientific inspiration, expanding students’ knowledge and encouraging them to develop their interests. “Get a Career” is also a chance for everyone to explore the full offer of general secondary schools as well as trade and technical secondary schools, but also an opportunity to receive professional support from vocational counsellors of psychological and educational counselling centres in Katowice. The combination of the “Get a Career” Festival and the Silesian Science Festival is a unique opportunity for students to take a comprehensive look at their education and think about their development in the context of choosing their studies and future work.

Get a Career has been implemented since 2018/19 as a module of the Silesian Science Festival, which takes place every year at the International Congress Centre in Katowice.

www.slaskifestiwalnauki.pl

Katowice, business and my future

At the turn of November and December 2022, the first edition of the project Katowice, business and my future took place. It is a joint venture carried out in the Business-Science-Local Government triad.

Local authorities will make every effort to ensure that the Katowice’s educational offer meets the demand and adapts to employment trends in specific professions, and a well-educated workforce is undoubtedly a valid argument in attracting new investors who are looking for specialists in their industries. Supporting students at the stage of secondary education helps guide the development of young people in the way expected by the labour market.

Within the project, 6 meetings were held in 6 secondary schools – 3 general secondary schools and 3 technical school complexes. Their purpose was to present the business offers of Ammega, Honeywell, Accenture, Kyndryl, SII, and TDJ-Famur to third and fourth grade students and discuss recruitment processes by representatives of Arche Consulting, Randstad, Hays Poland, and Manpower. However, the key element of all meetings was the Q&A session. Topics addressed during the speeches concerned, among others, the competencies of the future, how to build a professional CV and career paths in the context of the changing labour market.

As planned, representatives of individual classes will share the knowledge they acquired with their classmates during education lessons, as a result of which the impact of the project will be even greater. Due to the very positive response to this initiative both in schools and among business partners, another edition of the project is planned for 2023.

SOS_3 Open opportunity training

The aim of the project is to improve employability among at least 60 students of Śląskie Techniczne Zakłady Naukowe (the Silesian Secondary School of Technology and Science – Technical School No. 17) by organising internships with employers, courses to gain additional professional qualifications and skills, developing key competencies, as well as increasing the attractiveness and effectiveness of teaching in the Silesian Secondary School of Technology and Science by retrofitting laboratories, workshops and classrooms and performing vocational training for 10 teachers of vocational subjects and instructors of practical vocational training.

Project period: 2 November 2020 – 31 October 2022 Total project value: PLN 1,135,327.50
Contribution from the European Social Fund: PLN 965,028.37

Professional competence as investment in the future

The aim of the project is to improve employability and self-employment among 80 students of Zespół Szkół Gastronomicznych – Cooking School Complex in Katowice (Technical School no. 3, First Degree Trade School no. 2, Secondary Degree Trade School no. 2) by organising student internships, specialised workshops and courses aimed at acquiring additional skills and competences necessary in the labour market, as well as strengthening human and technical potential through the implementation of professional development for 11 teachers of vocational subjects and modernisation/retrofitting of vocational training labs.

Project period: 1 September 2020 – 31 December 2022 Total project value: PLN 812,534.10
Contribution from the European Social Fund: PLN 690,653.98

“I Am a Professional” – courses and internships at the Complex of Technical and General
Education Schools No. 3 in Katowice

The aim of the project is to improve employability among 30 students of the Complex of Technical and General Education Schools No. 3 (Technical School no. 12) by increasing the effectiveness and attractiveness of vocational training in the professions of Electronics Technician and Broadband Electronic Communications Technician, through educational and vocational counselling, advanced training/qualification courses, student internships, and for teachers – advanced training/qualification (instructor) courses), as well as retrofitting of vocational training labs.

Project period: 2 November 2020 – 30 June 2022 Total project value: PLN 369,727.50
Contribution from the European Social Fund: PLN 314,268.37

University of the Best

This is the first programme of its kind in the Silesian Voivodeship, which has been carried out in partnership with the University of Silesia in Katowice since 2018. The purpose of the programme is to develop the passions of the most talented primary and secondary school students, winners and finalists of Olympiad exams and other competitive competitions that are interested in scientific development. The programme aims to showcase the rich educational offer of the University of Silesia and encourage students to study in the Silesian Voivodeship. “University of the Best” supports students in developing their cognitive activity while stimulating their innovation and creativity. The main method of work at the “University of the Best” is tailored education based on tutoring. The tutor is a mentor who helps a student find their optimal academic path and adjust it to the student’s interests. During the meetings, the tutor works with the participant, attempting to accurately identify their potential, helps discover and develop talents, sets a development path jointly with the student and motivates them to engage in long-term cooperation in personal and academic development. Programme participants are recruited from primary and secondary school students. The committee is composed of academic staff of the University of Silesia. The programme envisages the implementation of individualised educational programmes for gifted students under the supervision of academic staff of the University of Silesia.

Silesian School of Exercise

The Silesian School of Exercise project was implemented in the City of Katowice from September 2020 to November 2022. Its aim was to improve the functioning and utilisation of the school support system in the development of key competencies and universal skills among in students, so-called transversal skills, necessary in the labour market. Such skills include: mathematical and natural science skills, foreign language skills (including Polish for foreigners and returnees coming back to Poland and their families), ICT skills, reasoning skills, creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship, critical thinking, problem solving, learning and teamwork skills in the context of the work environment, as well as experimental teaching and methods of student-centred approach.

The total value of the project is PLN 1,218,587.71.

The leading schools under the project were: the Stanisław Ligoń Primary School No. 33 with Bilingual Divisions in Katowice, the Adam Mickiewicz General Secondary School No. 3 in Katowice, the Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz School Complex No. 2 in Katowice, and the T. Kościuszko Primary School No. 17 in Katowice. Supported schools included 9 institutions in Katowice and 2 schools located in rural municipalities – Świerklaniec and Orzech. Project partners include: the University of Silesia in Katowice and the SOKRATES Non-Public Teacher Development Institution – Education and Training Group. Since December 2022, the project has entered a 5-year sustainability phase and is continued, increasing the number of supported institutions each year.

“The Heart of the Metropolis – Katowice – My Place on Earth” – Katowice’s original regional education programme

The programme is implemented in order to spread reliable, comprehensive knowledge about the city – the place of origin or the place of residence/school attendance, to instil a sense of pride in the ongoing changes, to raise awareness of tools and mechanisms affecting the creation of urban reality, to awaken civic activity and to promote diversity, openness and respect for others. The City’s Regional Education Programme is implemented in the first and second grades of post-primary schools at a rate of 1 hour per week per branch, resulting in a total of 227 hours per week in the 2022/2023 school year. In the 2022/2023 school year, the programme was attended by 6373 students.

https://bit.ly/38qyTH2

City’s Original Programme: “Coded Katowice”.

This programme consists of additional classes in coding and programming for 3rd grade primary school students. The idea of this programme is to enable students develop skills in logical thinking, reasoning, inference, as well as social competence. Learning coding and programming is not so much about acquiring purely technical skills but rather about supporting the all-round development of the child. These classes allow for the development of teamwork skills in the most child-friendly way: through experience and experimentation, which also translates into rapid memorisation of the acquired information and its skilful use in practice. After a year-long pilot phase, starting from 1 September 2022, the programme is intended for third grade students of local primary schools at a rate of 1 hour per week per branch.

Link: https://katowice.eu/dla-mieszka%C5%84ca/ucz-si%C4%99/miejskie-programy-autorskie/zakodowane-katowice 

City’s Original Programme: “Mathematical Katowice”

This programme consists of additional classes in mathematics for 4th grade primary school students. The idea of this programme is to stimulate students’ interest in mathematics, using their natural cognitive curiosity. The goal of the programme is to stimulate intellectual development by instilling in children the passion, enthusiasm and motivation for learning mathematics. The programme also attempts to make students aware that knowledge of mathematics has a tangible, practical dimension and helps in many daily activities, which enables students to overcome fear and foster a positive attitude towards the “queen of sciences”. Through participation in classes, students develop the ability to think logically, experiment, seek unconventional solutions, as well as engage in critical analysis and teamwork. After a year-long pilot phase, starting from 1 September 2022, the programme is intended for third grade students of local primary schools at a rate of 1 hour per week per branch.

Link: https://katowice.eu/dla-mieszka%C5%84ca/ucz-si%C4%99/miejskie-programy-autorskie/matematyczne-katowice 

City’s Programme “Swim like a fish”

This is a universal swimming education project aimed at all third grade students of primary schools for which the City of Katowice is the governing body, at a rate of 1 hour per week, carried out at city swimming pools and with the use of sports educational infrastructure.

“Swim like a fish” classes are conducted each year under the guidance of qualified coaches over the course of two semesters – from September to June. The goals are to teach swimming, prevent postural defects and fight overweight among Katowice schoolchildren. As part of the Programme, the City provides free access to infrastructure, instructors, teachers taking care of the children, as well as transportation to the classes. The implementation of the “Swim like a fish” programme results in launching the “Swimming Elite of Katowice” project. Among the third grade students participating in classes under the “Swim like a fish” programme, every year 48 of the most talented swimmers are selected who, after reaching the 4th grade, begin advanced classes, taking advantage of free classes at 3 city swimming pools. Classes are held in the afternoon twice a week.

International mobility

The City of Katowice, through its educational units, regularly applies for funds to enable groups of students and teachers to benefit from foreign trips to EU countries under, among others, the Erasmus + and POWER programmes. International mobility makes it possible to gain knowledge and experience, as well as to learn foreign languages, develop learning skills, acquire new competences necessary for personal development, future employment and active European citizenship.

The projects provide an opportunity to develop skills in a variety of areas such as: work in an international group, development of social relations, improvement of ICT skills, planning and implementation of project activities.

The projects enabled students and staff to:

• develop potential
• acquire new practical skills
• expand horizons
• gain better understanding of relations and dependencies in the modern world
• develop linguistic and interpersonal skills, which contributes to increased cultural awareness
• become familiar with the international community
• develop the ability to properly function in a group
• develop interpersonal relations based on respect for other cultures and values; teachers and schools
• fulfil the requirements of the core curriculum
• acquire new tools to teach interesting lessons
• motivate students to work
• create a network of international contacts, contributing to building a pro-active attitude
• participate in interesting projects
• increase the prestige of their schools among other educational institutions.

Bilingual education

The following local schools with bilingual divisions operate in Katowice:

1. Jerzy Ziętek Primary School No. 4 with Bilingual Divisions, Nursery and Primary School Complex No. 9 – German,
2. John Paul II Primary School No. 15 with Bilingual Divisions – Spanish,
3. Stanisław Ligoń Primary School No. 33 with Bilingual Divisions – English,
4. Adela Korczyńska Primary School No. 35 with Bilingual Divisions – English,
5. Jan Twardowski Primary School No. 37 with Bilingual Divisions, General Education School Complex No. 1 – French,
6. Mikołaj Kopernik General Secondary School No. 1 with Bilingual Divisions, General Education School Complex No. 1 – French,
7. Maria Konopnicka General Secondary School No. 2 with Bilingual Divisions – Spanish,
8. “Scouts – Defenders of Katowice” General Secondary School No. 7 with Bilingual Divisions – English,
9. Maria Skłodowska-Curie General Secondary School No. 8 with Bilingual Divisions – German.

In addition, Technical School No. 2, which is part of the Wojciech Korfanty Economic School Complex in Katowice, consists of English bilingual divisions for “hotel technician” and “economic technician” vocational training.
In addition, the Adam Mickiewicz General Secondary School No. 3 consists of divisions with elements of bilingual teaching in English, preparing for the International Baccalaureate (IB DP) programme.

The I. J. Paderewski General High School No. 10 offers divisions with Chinese and Spanish as complementary subjects.

By contrast, students of the Major Henryk Sucharski General Secondary School No. 14 in Katowice have the opportunity to learn Japanese in a class with journalistic and artistic profile. Additionally, starting from the 2023/2024 school year, a class with Korean and Japanese as supplementary subjects will be introduced.

It is also worth noting that the International Universal Bilingualism Programme is implemented at 31 local kindergartens in Katowice. The primary goal of the Programme is the daily, contextual exposure of children to English during the period of particular linguistic sensitivity, which is especially true for preschool children so that English never becomes a foreign language to them.

Musicodrome

Katowice is a UNESCO Creative City of Music, so musical activities are a must. That is why at our cultural institution Katowice – City of Gardens, we have the Musicodrome – a place which sounds, resonates, hums, rustles, rings and pulsates.

The Musicodrome offers regular workshops for young residents of Katowice to develop their musical skills and enhance overall development through musical activities. After the pandemic break, they returned to the regular programme of the City of Gardens, offering two meetings a month for two age groups – the youngest children (from infants to 3-year-olds) and older children (children up to 6 years of age).

The classes continue to enjoy immense popularity. In 2023, about 600 children took part in all classes.

http://miasto-ogrodow.eu/strona/muzykodrom/mid/93 

Municipal Bank of Good Practices (MBDP)

Since its establishment in 2020, the Bank has been a platform for exchanging experiences, presenting and disseminating teaching and training materials, proposing innovative educational solutions and promoting organisational and methodological achievements implemented in the City’s educational institutions. It serves primarily teachers and educators of kindergartens, schools and institutions, supporting them in their daily professional work, however it also contains materials intended for all those seeking support in the education and upbringing of their children. The Bank continuously expands its database with examples of lesson plans and meetings, thematic multimedia and interactive presentations, diagnostic tools, teaching tests, descriptions of projects and programmes, etc., which are created as a result of the initiatives of teachers of educational institutions in Katowice. Over the past year, the amount of content posted there has increased significantly. Currently, there are 1114 materials at MBDP.

Link: https://katowice.eu/dla-mieszka%C5%84ca/ucz-si%C4%99/miejski-bank-dobrych-praktyk 

Local Government Education Leader

The idea of the “Local Government Education Leader” Programme is to identify and promote local government units with special achievements in the development of education and the educational system, as well as to improve the quality of local government activities in the field of local education policies. In the “Local Government Education Leader” Programme, an expert committee, composed of academics representing selected Polish universities, evaluates the activities of local authorities in terms of education management. Local Governments which meet the criteria set out in the rules and regulations of the Programme and receive a positive review by the experts are awarded a certificate and the prestigious title of “Local Government Education Leader”. The experts appreciate innovative solutions in ensuring high-quality education, educational marketing, increasing the safety of children and youth, and cooperation of local governments with scientific institutions. The committee also takes into account the effectiveness of municipalities and poviats in adapting education to current challenges, such as the needs of the economy.

The competition is of a promotional nature, as it serves to popularise the achievements of local authorities in the field of education and to build a positive image of municipalities and poviats which are Polish leaders in education policies. However, the competition also serves an important substantive purpose. After the end of the committee’s work and the certification procedure, each participating local government receives feedback on the effectiveness and efficiency of its education policy and – more importantly – possible shortcomings and mistakes. This allows them to undertake pro-quality initiatives, make adjustments to their activities and obtain a useful expert opinion on their merits. Therefore, in addition to certificates, extensive documents containing justification of the committee’s decision are also provided. These reviews are then used to improve the educational activities of local governments.

Titles awarded to the City:

2016 – Katowice as “Local Government Education Leader”; the Mayor of Katowice also received the title of “Patron of Knowledge”;
2017 – Katowice as “Local Government Education Leader”; the Representative of the Mayor of Katowice for Education, Ms Grażyna Burek, was awarded the title of “Manager of Success in Education”;
2018 – Katowice as “Local Government Education Leader”, and the distinction of “Success of the Year in Education”;
2019 – Katowice as “Local Government Education Leader” and the Silver SLE Certificate of the 9th edition of the competition, and the title of “PRIMUS” for the highest number of ranking points;
2020 – due to the pandemic, the certification was postponed to 2021;
2021 – Katowice as “Local Government Education Leader”; the Mayor of Katowice, Marcin Krupa, received the distinction of “Local Government Leader of the Last 30 Years”, and the Adam Mickiewicz General Secondary School No. 3 in Katowice was awarded the title of “EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE” (the first edition in this category);
2022 – Katowice as “Local Government Education Leader”; in addition, we received a GOLD CERTIFICATE, which is awarded to local governments that achieve the SLE distinction for the sixth time; SPECIAL DISTINCTION – the title is awarded to local governments which have made the highest and most noticeable progress among the local community in terms of modern education management since the last certification under the Programme. In addition, in recognition of his merit, the Mayor of Katowice was awarded the title of “Socially Engaged Local Governor”. The committee also selected and awarded the best public schools in certified local governments (the second edition in this category). Among those who received honourable mentions was Silesian Technical Academy in Katowice, receiving the title of “EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE”.
In 2023, the City of Katowice once again received the certificate of Local Government Education Leader. We also received a special distinction – “Education Quality Leader”. This distinction is awarded to local governments that particularly care about improving the quality of education in schools and institutions for which they are the governing bodies and can be role models for other local government units in this regard. The City of Katowice was also awarded, for the second time, the “Primus” distinction, which is granted to municipalities, poviats and self-governed voivodeships which obtained in the certification procedure the highest number of ranking points among all evaluated local government units.
Meanwhile, the Stanisław Maczek General Secondary School No. 4 in Katowice was awarded the “Educational Excellence” certificate. This is a distinction for schools and educational institutions for units certified in the programme are the governing bodies and which are distinguished by the highest quality of education, a modern management model and significant achievements in educating children and young people, with particular focus on students with special educational needs.

www.lider-edukacji.pl
https://bit.ly/2VGt1V5

Katowice Orchestra Folk University 

An innovative programme of music classes taught in a classroom by external educators. In 2023, it was expanded to include four primary schools in Katowice. The classes are designed not only to introduce children from the third to the fifth grade to the world of music, but also to achieve important social objectives – to learn how to work together in a group and overcome divisions, deepening social cohesion.

The fourth edition of the programme, which lasted from September to December, had its finale at a joint concert on the professional stage of the City of Garden on 14 December 2023, which also featured the well-known band Mitch&Mitch.

The educational experiment has been implemented since 2020 as part of a broader, long-term project Wind Band Culture.

https://www.miasto-ogrodow.eu/strona/koul_2023/mid/874 

Factory of Sustainable Entrepreneurial Practices

Katowice is part of an international project called the “Factory of Sustainable Entrepreneurial Practices”. The project also involves the following cities: Saint-Étienne (France), Sierre (Switzerland), Monastir (Tunisia) and Tamatave (Madagascar). The project consists of activities which address three challenges:

• Exchange of good practices in the field of entrepreneurship – internationalisation. Within this challenge, the International Business Incubator facilitates the organisation of study visits and business missions in the city network that can be carried out by SMEs and start-ups. Companies receive logistics and organisational support as well as a place to work in one of the business incubators of the city network.
• Exchange of good practices and creation of new tools for vocational education. Under this challenge, the main focus is on the exchange of trade schools. Currently, it takes place in areas such as food and hotel industry, as well as widely understood fashion and design. Work is underway to expand cooperation and include other areas of exchange related primarily to green and passive construction.
• Exchange of good practices in the field of social economy and professional inclusion. This challenge involves the exchange of organisations dealing with a broadly understood social economy. Project participants mostly share practices in developing business models for social economy entities.

In June 2023, the City of Katowice and the City of Saint-Étienne signed a bilateral letter of intent to strengthen cooperation within the framework of the project.

So far, thanks to the project, 4 entrepreneurs and 2 trade schools have benefited from networking, including: the Gustaw Morcinek Catering School Complex and the Katowice Silesian Insurgents Centre for Professional Education – Centre for Vocational and Continuing Education. Students took part in exchanges and had the opportunity to prepare professional tasting dinners and fashion shows. The project also focuses on exchanging experiences among entities dealing with social economy and professional inclusion of people excluded from the labour market. In this regard, Katowice collaborates with 3 partners representing the NGO sector.

Innovation in Bits. Play. Code. Connect!

At the end of 2023, a pilot project “Innovation in Bits. Play. Code. Connect!” was conducted in primary and secondary schools in Katowice. The initiative of the Rawa.Ink Municipal Business Incubator made it possible to hold a series of 30 workshops in 6 primary and secondary schools in Katowice for 147 students and 72 teachers by the winner of the 2nd edition of the “Start-ups Mine” competition, i.e. Little Bit Academy. Students were able to gain practical knowledge of video game design, programming and career options in IT and game development industries, while teachers gained knowledge on the use of games in education and new educational tools.

During the implementation of the pilot project:

• participants gained practical skills in programming, game design and the use of modern digital tools;
• game development process stimulated the creativity of participants, encouraging them to express their own ideas and solutions;
• team cooperation contributed to the development of interpersonal, communication and teamwork skills;
• the project inspired participants, opening up new perspectives related to technology and the video game industry.

During the project, students and teachers had the opportunity to use tools such as Roblox Studio (game development and scripting in LUA), Miro and Google Drive. In addition, teachers were familiarised with the possibilities of using ChatGPT (AI) in education.

Initiatives related to the development of video games and education regarding their design and implementation in schools are of great interest to children and young people. They also allow them to take a better look at this field. Investment in modern forms of education brings tangible benefits to the local community, making a valuable contribution to the development of skills and creative potential of the younger generation. Due to the very good response to this initiative among both students and teachers, another edition of the project is planned for 2024.

Practical Lesson in Entrepreneurship

Practical Lesson in Entrepreneurship is a project aimed at equipping young residents of Katowice with key entrepreneurial skills, such as creativity, innovation and the ability to take risks. Teachers can also benefit from is a series of training courses designed to enrich their professional toolkit with modern business tools.

The project consists of three stages. Firstly, students participate in an entrepreneurship lesson focusing on discussions on students’ further career paths. The second stage involves meetings held by entrepreneurs from the SME sector that were invited to take part in the project. The final stage, and at the same time the summary of the project, is the Tournament of Entrepreneurship Knowledge.

The finale of the first edition of the project was the “Tournament of Entrepreneurship Knowledge”, which took place on 18 December 2023 in the Kazimierz Lepszy Auditorium at the University of Silesia. Students representing all participating schools faced off in a business and entrepreneurial knowledge competition. At the closing ceremony, the teams received prizes in kind and awards, which are a testament to their commitment and knowledge.

Nearly 1,000 first and second grades students of eight post-primary schools in Katowice took part in the programme from October to December: the Maria Konopnicka General Secondary School No. 2 with Bilingual Divisions, the Gen. Stanisław Maczek General High School, the Jan Długosz General Secondary School No. 6, the Mikołaj Kopernik General Secondary School No. 1 with Bilingual Divisions, the Complex of Technical and General Education Schools No. 2, the Tomasz Klenczar Technical School No. 15, the Edward Abramowski Complex of Technical and General Education Schools No. 3, and the Home Army Complex of Printing and Mechanical Schools.

“Katowice4GOAL” competition

From 16 October 2023, children and young people from Katowice schools and student sports clubs had an opportunity participate in the first edition of the “Katowice4GOAL” competition. 4GOAL.app is a Katowice-based start-up that created a social networking application that allows users to exchange short football videos. App users can not only post their own progress in football, but also take on challenges prepared by experts. The app has already been received the Mobile Trends Award, and the team participated in the accelerator programme of the Polish Football Association and made it to the top 11 teams. 4GOAL.app is also a finalist in the second edition of the city’s “Start-ups Mine” competition in 2022.

Students from Katowice schools and sports clubs competed in creating tasks for participants of the “Challenge 4GOAL.app”, which were to be simple football challenges such as a training element, a pass or a technical trick. For other residents, the organisers prepared a challenge in the form of a contest, in which they had to recreate a task performed by an expert at a distinctive location in Katowice. If someone did not feel like playing football, they could take part in the third challenge: “Fair Play Fan”. The contest attracted nearly a thousand users who sent interesting and creative videos and rated and commented on them.
The project is an example of how we can use new technologies that are socially responsible and, in this case, encourage the youngest to engage in sports.

 

Gender equality

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 

The achievement of the Millennium Development Goals has contributed to making progress on gender equality and the empowerment of women in the world.  Among other things, equal access to primary education for girls and boys has been achieved. However, in every part of the world, women and girls continue to suffer discrimination and violence.

Gender equality is not only a universal human right. It is also the foundation of a sustainable world in which people will live in peace and prosperity.

Sadly, one in five women aged 15-49 admits to having experienced physical or sexual violence by a partner in a 12-month period. There are currently no laws protecting women from domestic violence in 49 countries. There has been progress in combating harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation. These practices have decreased by 30 per cent in the last decade, but much remains to be done to eradicate them completely.

Ensuring that women and girls have equal access to education, health care and decent work and to participate in political and economic decision-making will strengthen sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity as a whole.

The implementation of a new legal framework for equality in the workplace and the combating of harmful practices against women are essential actions to put an end to gender discrimination occurring in many countries. (Source: UN)

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Elimination of all forms of violence

The City of Katowice provides assistance to people in need in the form of social work. Working with people / families affected by violence focuses on recognising the phenomenon of violence, developing an intervention, social, psychological and legal aid plan, and then implementing it. Social work for people affected by violence and their families is provided by social workers, family assistants, family foster care coordinators, assistants for homeless and disabled people, streetworkers, psychologists, educators, therapists, consultants, mediators. It involves individual specialist counselling, including legal counselling, group forms of counselling and community visits. Due to the need to ensure the safety of victims of violence, the Centre provides shelter for people who cannot stay in their current place of residence due to their dramatic situation and provides assistance in the form of crisis intervention and crisis therapy.

Psycho-educational group for victims of violence. The aim of the course is to obtain support and knowledge about the possibilities of protection and solving the problem of violence in legal, psychological and social terms. There is also an Educational and Correction Programme for people with anger or aggression issues or who resort to violence.

Moreover, the Municipal Social Welfare Centre in Katowice cooperates with the Municipal Police Station as well as representatives of other services and institutions within the Interdisciplinary Team for Counteracting Domestic Violence.

www.mops.katowice.pl

JazzCamp for Girls 

In pursuit of the objective of gender equality, the City of Garden was the first institution in Poland to implement a Scandinavian workshop project in the form of a summer camp for young female students of music schools aimed at developing their skills in musical improvisation. The goal is to promote the performance of improvised music among future instrumentalists and vocalists.

https://miasto-ogrodow.eu/strona/jazzcamp_II/mid/686 

Mayor’s Plenipotentiary for Equal Treatment

Katowice has always been an open, tolerant and multicultural city.

Referring to the past and, at the same time, building a new image of the city in the global world of changes, the Mayor of Katowice pursues a policy of equal treatment that respects diversity and does not discriminate against anyone in public, social or economic life.

In January 2023, a Plenipotentiary of the Mayor of the City of Katowice for Equal Treatment was appointed. Their tasks as defined by internal regulation are as follows:

1. promote the principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination and equal opportunities in social, public and economic life;
2. initiate information and education activities and involve the City in projects and campaigns concerning equal treatment issues aimed at raising awareness of anti-discrimination;
3. cooperate with social partners in identifying cases of discrimination in the City of Katowice;
4. support cooperation of municipal units and non-governmental organisations for equal treatment and developing awareness concerning respect for different social groups and eliminating violations of equality principles.

The Plenipotentiary provides support to the Mayor of the City of Katowice in implementing the equality and anti-discrimination policies in the City. The heads of organisational units of the Office and municipal units have been obliged to cooperate with the Plenipotentiary in carrying out the activities specified in the regulation.

Clean water and sanitation

Ensure access to water and sanitation for all through sustainable management of water resources 

Everyone in the world should have access to clean water. We have enough water on our planet to make this happen. However, due to poor management or poor infrastructure, millions of people, mostly children, die every year from diseases related to inadequate water resources, poor sanitation and poor hygiene.

Water scarcity, poor water quality and poor sanitation have a negative impact on food security and livelihoods. They also limit poor families' chances of getting an education.

Today, more than 2 billion people live in areas where there is a risk of limited access to drinking water.

It is estimated that by 2050 at least one in four people worldwide will live in a country affected by chronic or periodic drinking water scarcity. Drought affects some of the poorest regions of the world, which only increases the occurrence of hunger and malnutrition.                

The last decade has seen a significant increase in access to drinking water and sanitation, with over 90% of the world's population having access to improved sources of drinking water. To improve sanitation and access to drinking water in developing countries, sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, South Asia, East Asia and Southeast Asia, there is a need to increase investment in freshwater ecosystem management and sanitation at the local level. (Source: UN)

 

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Construction of retention reservoirs

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges that cities must face today. High temperatures, increasingly frequent extreme weather phenomena, droughts and cloudbursts mean that we need to adapt urban centres so that, on the one hand, they reduce the negative impact on the climate and, on the other, they are resilient to the effects of such changes. This is particularly important in the management of water and sewage systems.

Activities related to the expansion of the rainwater drainage system aim to ensure proper rainwater management and retention in order to temporarily delay its outflow and relieve receivers. To date, 26 underground rainwater retention reservoirs have been built in Katowice. The applied construction solutions allow for accumulation of part of the rainwater, which can be used by municipal services, e.g. for watering municipal greenery or flushing the sewage network. For this purpose, water collection systems have been installed in the reservoirs.

An additional advantage of reusing water by municipal services is the reduction of tap water consumption, which translates into financial savings for the City. As a result of observed climate change, further needs for the expansion of the rainwater drainage system, including those aimed at rainwater retention, are identified. The implementation of the plans will improve the condition of the natural environment.

The initiatives related to the development of the rainwater drainage network and elements of blue-green infrastructure have been carried out by Katowickie Inwestycje S.A. as part of two stages of the Project called “Governance of the rainwater management system in Katowice – Stage I and Stage II”, co-financed from the Cohesion Fund under the Infrastructure and Environment Operational Programme 2014-2020. The total value of both stages of the Project amounted to approximately PLN 92.4 million, including the subsidy obtained by the Company, which amounted to about PLN 46.8 million. Katowickie Inwestycje S.A. is looking for sources of funding for further investments in the coming years.

As part of the projects completed in 2023, a total of about 9.5 kilometres of rainwater drainage was built, rebuilt and repaired. The total retention capacity of the completed reservoirs exceeded 11,000 m3. The total area covered by the rainwater management system is more than 3 km2. More than 129,000 people are covered by the rainwater management systems.

katowickieinwestycje.pl

“Want a drink? Take a sip of Katowice tap water”

In 2019, in an effort to encourage residents to give up single-use plastic (among others), we launched a social campaign under the slogan “Want a drink? Take a sip of Katowice tap water”. We have engaged local businesses in the campaign, including selected cafes and restaurants which serve free tap water. The City Hall was the first institution to phase out water in plastic bottles and dispensers and install water drinkers. The sign of participation in the campaign is a sticker with the campaign logo.

The campaign is conducted in partnership with Katowice Waterworks. An element promoting drinking tap water was the original water maker (saturator), from which people could drink water, also with juice, on the Market Square in the summer of 2019; the device also appears at many events. According to the idea, the goal-oriented actions should “support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water resources management and sanitation infrastructure”. By drinking tap water, not only do we reduce plastic production, but also we realise what a luxury it is to have access to drinking tap water, while so many people on earth suffer from its scarcity. We are learning to treat mains water as equally valuable as the water we buy in bottles at the store.

katoobywatel.katowice.eu

Let’s Catch Rainwater

Municipal Housing Company (KZGM), as part of the “Let’s Catch Rainwater” campaign, installed more than 30 rainwater tanks in the residential buildings under its management. The tanks can hold an average of 210-350 litres of rainwater which will be used for watering plants in the courtyards and squares adjacent to the buildings. Water scarcity is a serious problem, but every small step towards eco-responsibility matters and through this campaign we want to encourage other managers, homeowners and residents to save water”.

Affordable and clean energy

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Overcoming challenges and seizing numerous opportunities in today's world involves access to energy. It is essential for jobs, security, climate change, food production or efforts to increase national incomes.

New economic opportunities and jobs can ensure universal access to energy, improved energy efficiency and the diffusion of renewable energy. They will also contribute to creating more sustainable and inclusive communities as well as increasing resilience to the effects of climate change.
Today, around 3 billion people lack access to clean cooking fuel and are exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution. In addition, slightly less than 1 billion people do not have access to electricity. As many as 50% of them live in sub-Saharan Africa. In the last decade, some progress has been made in the use of renewable sources of electricity from water, solar and wind power, and the ratio of energy consumed per unit of GDP is also declining.

However, this problem is far from being solved. Access to clean fuels and technologies should be increased, as well as the use of renewable energy in buildings, transport and industry.There is also a need to increase public and private investment in energy and to place greater emphasis on regulatory frameworks and innovative business models in transforming the world energy systems. (Source: UN)

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Katowice Energy Innovation Challenge

In 2022, on the occasion of the World Urban Forum in Katowice, an energy transition challenge was prepared. This is a joint initiative of UN-Habitat and the Rawa.Ink Municipal Business Incubator in Katowice. Thanks to the challenge, start-ups from around the world were able to address energy transition issues using Katowice as an example. The top 3 projects took part in an accelerator programme organised in Katowice and were able to experience the 11th session of the World Urban Forum. During WUF11, there was also a dedicated session “Showcase of Innovative Startups powered by Rawa.Ink”, during which participants presented their energy transition solutions.

This activity helped position Katowice as a city aware of the need for energy transition and open to building a global innovation ecosystem. It was also one of UN-Habitat’s reference-designed challenges that showed how to start searching for urban innovations.

Municipal Energy Centre

The Municipal Energy Centre in Katowice is an information point whose tasks include day-to-day service of residents of Katowice in the scope of technical advice and available support systems – targeted subsidy of the city budget, Priority Programme: Clean Air, My Heat, My Electricity, Warm Flat, and other programmes; rules for the application of thermal upgrade allowance, provisions of the anti-smog resolution.

Since the launch of the Municipal Energy Centre (MCE), located at 2 Młyńska Street, more than 30,500 in-person, email and telephone pieces of advice have been provided by the end of 2023.

In 2023, as part of the project “Silesia. Blue Sky Restored”, through the activities of the Municipal Energy Centre, children’s workshop titled “Blue Sky Restored” is conducted, focusing on the topic of clean air. The workshop was prepared for students of Katowice kindergartens aged 5 and 6. In 2023, representatives of the Municipal Energy Centre participated (booth preparation), among others, in events titled “Eco-responsible” Forest Family Picnic and “European Funds – New Energy” Family Picnic.

www.facebook.com/MCEKatowice 

Granting of targeted subsidies from the Katowice budget.

The City of Katowice grants targeted subsidies from the city budget for the replacement of heating systems of up to PLN 10,000, but no more than 80% of eligible costs, and up to PLN 6,000, but no more than 50% of eligible costs. Subsidies are granted to natural persons, housing communities, legal persons and entrepreneurs owning residential premises where coal is used for heating purposes. Since 2017, the performance of the above task has been co-financed by the Voivodeship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Katowice (WFOŚiGW).

As of 2021, subsidies for the installation of coal-fired boilers have been discontinued. Instead, the grace period for coal-fired boilers, purchased earlier under the subsidy system, was shortened from 10 to 5 years, with the maximum amount of co-financing for pellet boilers and heat pumps intended for heating purposes being increased to PLN 10,000. As an additional measure, it became possible to sign an agreement for the assignment of the amount of the targeted subsidy to change the heating system. With this solution, the targeted subsidy can be paid up to the subsidy amount directly to the account of the Contractor replacing the heating system and/or installing a renewable energy source.

In early 2022, the Katowice City Council adopted another modification to the subsidy rules to enable the so-called “current financing” of the above tasks.

By the end of 2023, more than 10,000 non-environmental heat sources were subsidised for a total amount of PLN 84.9 million, as well as the installation of more than 1,860 renewable energy sources was subsidised for a total of PLN 11.4 million.

Improving air quality in the City of Katowice by replacing coal-fired heating systems in single-family buildings

The project allows you to replace an old coal-fired heat source (up to class 4) with one of the low-emission systems: heat pump, electric heating, gas boiler or biomass boiler. When changing the heat source, it is possible to apply for funding for the installation of a photovoltaic system, solar collectors, the construction / modernisation of central heating system, as well as the performance of a heat connection and the construction or reconstruction of the existing gas or electricity connection.

The project provides for the possibility of replacing coal-fired heating systems and obtaining 100% funding for the net costs of the new heating system.

As a result of the completed contest, 166 Grant Recipients were shortlisted for the project. The first grant applications were received in September 2022, with the first contracts with Grant Recipients being signed in October 2022.

The grant project funding agreement was signed with the Marshal’s Office on 25 August 2022. The project is implemented under the Regional Operational Programme of the Silesian Voivodeship for 2014-2020, Priority Axis IV. Energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and low-emission economy, Measure 4.6. Clean air, Sub-measure: 4.6.1. Clean air – competition. The substantive implementation of the project is scheduled to take place between Q3 2022 and Q2 2023.

Boiler replacement and thermal upgrading in municipal residential buildings

Municipal Housing Company (KZGM) intensifies its activities and intends to change the heating method in residential units owned by the City of Katowice. By 2030, 50 buildings are planned to be upgraded. The investment will cost around PLN 99 million. Some of the works have already begun.

Silesia. Blue Sky Restored. Comprehensive implementation of the Air Quality Plan for the Silesian Voivodeship

Katowice is one of the cities participating in the LIFE project: “Silesia. Blue Sky Restored”. This is the largest area-wise project in Europe focused on air protection measures. Since 1 April 2022, as part of the project, “Eco-adviser” assistance is available in the Katowice Municipality. The main objective of the project is the efficient and effective implementation of the provisions of the Air Quality Plan for the Silesian Voivodeship, which was adopted by the Regional Council of the Silesian Voivodeship in 2020. The Project consists in the development and implementation of corrective measures which, once implemented, are expected to improve air quality and reduce the adverse impact of air pollution on the health and life of the residents of the Silesian voivodeship. The Project Leader is the Silesian Voivodeship. In addition to the Leader and the City of Katowice, 88 other Partners – including 79 municipalities, cities and counties as well as 9 supporting and substantive institutions – jointly participate in the Project.

 

 

Implementation of the “Clean Air” Programme

On 4 December 2020, the City of Katowice and the Voivodeship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (WFOŚiGW) in Katowice signed an agreement on support for the implementation of the “Clean Air” programme. On 24 May 2021, the Municipal Energy Centre at 2b Młyńska Street opened the MUNICIPAL CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION POINT OF THE “CLEAN AIR” PROGRAMME, which provides get assistance in filling out applications for funding and applications for payment under the “Clean Air” Programme and sending them to the Voivodeship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Katowice. This facility is available to all residents of Katowice applying for basic, increased and maximum subsidies. As part of the Point’s activities, 209 applications for funding were submitted.

Implementation of the “STOP Smog” Government Programme in cooperation with Metropolis GZM

Metropolis GZM, along with 11 municipalities: Będzin, Bieruń, Bobrowniki, Bytom, Dąbrowa Górnicza, Gierałtowice, Katowice, Mysłowice, Sośnicowice, Tychy and Zabrze, is implementing the government programme called STOP SMOG. Within the programme, 210 low-emission projects will be carried out in buildings inhabited by energy-inefficient people in these 11 municipalities. Non-compliant high-emission heat sources in 199 single-family buildings will be eliminated and other initiatives aimed at improving the energy efficiency of buildings will be undertaken.

The purpose of the Programme is to reduce pollutant emissions, improve air quality and increase the energy efficiency of single-family buildings through the implementation of low-emission initiatives (including replacement of inefficient coal-fired boilers or stoves, building insulation, replacement of window and door frames) for the least affluent households. As a result of consultations between the Katowice City Hall, the Municipal Housing Company (KZGM) in Katowice and Metropolis GZM, 25 buildings in the Katowice municipality were shortlisted for the project: 15 privately-owned single-family buildings meeting the requirements of the Act on Supporting Thermal Upgrading and Renovation and 10 single-family buildings that are part of the housing stock of the City of Katowice. As part of the STOP SMOG programme, thermal upgrades will be carried out in these buildings. The programme has been implemented from 2022 and will continue until 2025.

Implementation of the ELENA Project in cooperation with Metropolis GZM

In December 2021, the City of Katowice signed an agreement for the implementation of the ELENA programme with 30 other stakeholders. The City of Katowice has declared to prepare technical documentation for six residential buildings under this project. The substantive implementation of the project is scheduled for 2023-2027.

Air Quality Improvement Council

The Air Quality Improvement Council was established by the Mayor of the City on 30 April 2019. The Council was composed of experts from both the City Hall and external offices (scientists, doctors). The Council’s task is to analyse the effectiveness of municipal grants, protective programmes, educational activities, municipal guard control and to make recommendations for improvements to these activities. Since its establishment, the Council has held 11 meetings. In view of the pandemic period, meetings have been held in the form of teleconferences since 2020.

“#DoNotContaminate” Educational campaign

The #DoNotContaminate campaign was aimed at raising awareness among the residents of Katowice about air pollution, its causes, its impact on quality of life, low emission hazards and how to counteract this phenomenon.

As part of the campaign, a mobile information point called “Smogobus” appeared in the city, where people could learn about the so-called “anti-smog resolution”, the Katowice City subsidy system, the “Clean Air” and “My Electricity” programmes, the offer of the Voivodeship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Katowice (WFOŚiGW) in Katowice, and, above all, submit an application for subsidy to replace their heat source.

From 2020 to 2021, the “Smogobus” went to 59 locations on the city map, and more than 1,000 residents received advice and more than 260 residents submitted their applications to change their heating systems.

AWAIR air quality monitoring

As part of an international project called “AWAIR”, the City of Katowice, together with partners from other European cities, received funding for a task under the “INTERREG CENTRAL EUROPE” programme. A pilot task was carried out, which consisted in the installation of air pollution sensors in selected locations (nurseries, kindergartens, orphanages, social welfare homes) as well as a multimedia presentation of the results on a dedicated Internet platform and in individual unit locations (127 air sensors and 154 multimedia screens). This is the largest air quality measurement system in the country that is owned by a city (0.77 sensor per km2). The cost of the entire project is over € 290,000.

In 2020, as part of the expansion of the system and the implementation of another pilot project, “Indoor air quality monitoring system in selected educational facilities” was carried out. The system consisted in installing indoor air quality monitoring stations in selected buildings. It consists of 9 devices that measure the instantaneous parameters of indoor air. In addition, the monitoring stations register the moment doors and windows are opened in the room by means of mounted reed switches. The sensors have been installed in Municipal Kindergarten No. 85, Primary School No. 33, and a branch of the Municipal Nursery on Uniwersytecka Street. The installation cost of these devices is PLN 120,500 gross.

As part of implementation of the AWAIR Project, a cooperation agreement was also signed with the town of Mikołów, Siemianowice Śląskie, as well as with WFOŚiGW, ŚZGiP, and UMP, which made it possible, among others, to make a dedicated presentation for cities showing the current level of air quality based on the State Environmental Monitoring. As part of the project, a website was created on which people can observe the current state of air quality in the city: www.powietrze.katowice.eu

Monitoring system for energy and water carriers with control options in public facilities of the City of Katowice – SMIS

In 2021, the target energy management system was implemented, which is an upgrade of the building energy carrier monitoring system that has been in place since 2012. Ultimately, 71 public buildings will be covered by monitoring by mid-2024. The implementation of the system was preceded by an inventory of the buildings, which allowed, among others, to determine the total cost of implementing and maintaining such a system. The aim of the project is to monitor the full energy situation in public buildings and analyse them to optimise energy and water consumption while maintaining optimal comfort. The functioning of the utility and water monitoring system includes, among others, selected electricity meters, heat meters, water meters, controllers of heating substations, controllers of air handling units, controllers of boiler rooms, and additional air parameters sensors in public buildings. The implementation of the entire project consists of 2 main stages carried out over a period of 4 years and includes the implementation and launch of the central IT system in 2021, and the operation and expansion of the system from 2022 to 2024. The first stage mainly involved the supply of software for the central IT system to enable the use of the installed equipment. Additionally, the first stage included the retrofitting of buildings to the necessary extent to enable the operation of the building control service and the launch of an operator station at the Katowice City Hall. The second stage mainly involved the provision of monitoring and control services for selected buildings by an external company through the implemented system to optimise energy and water consumption, as well as a service consisting in updating and expanding the system with new functionalities, along with an e-service for real-time visualisation of measurements and providing warranty technical support throughout the system’s operation period. As part of the implementation of the above system, appropriate building automation systems are being designed in all buildings subjected to thermal upgrade and those planned for thermal upgrade in the coming years, including comfort sensors, building control and measurement equipment, and automation system for monitoring and controlling heating and ventilation systems. The total cost of the project from 2021 to 2024 is slightly over PLN 1 million. A new bidding process for further development of the system is scheduled for 2024.

Increasing electricity generation from renewable sources in public facilities in the City of Katowice.

As part of the task in 2023, pre-design work was carried out, including: inventory of the facilities, technical condition appraisals, conceptual studies including the selection of PV installations to meet the needs of each building, functional and utility programmes, and estimated implementation costs. The aforementioned work was carried out with respect to 7 selected facilities, namely:

• Katowice City Hall at 4 Młyńska Street
• Katowice Municipal Cemeteries at 9 Murckowska Street
• “Bogucice-Zawodzie” Municipal House of Culture at 44a Markiefki Street
• Jantor I and Jantor II ice rink at 10 Nałkowska Street
• District Employment Office at 14 Pośpiecha Street
• “Słowian” Municipal Sports and Recreation Centre at 99 1 Maja Street
• “Szopienice” Municipal Sports and Recreation Centre at 16 11 Listopada Street
  After obtaining EU funding, construction and installation work is planned for 2024-2025. In 2024, further pre-design work is also planned for the following facilities:
  Prof. A. Kamiński Youth Palace at 26 Mikołowska Street
  Registry Office at 12a Wolności Square
  “Szopienice-Giszowiec” Municipal House of Culture at 28 Hallera Street

As part of the City of Katowice’s 2024 budget, there are plans to provide photovoltaic installation for the International Congress Centre building, the SPODEK building, and the area of the City Stadium in Katowice, which is currently under construction.

Implementation of the “Warm Flat” programme.

The task is performed by WFE, WKŚ and BZE. The programme aims to improve air quality in residential premises located in multi-family buildings by replacing sources with solid fuel and improving energy efficiency (mechanical ventilation, replacement of windows and entrance doors as complementary projects).

Implemented in the form of a subsidy, the programme is addressed to municipalities which, under the Programme, may receive a subsidy from funds made available by the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW), and then grant subsidies to so-called ultimate beneficiaries, i.e. natural persons holding a legal title under ownership or limited property right to residential premises (usufruct, easement, pledge, cooperative ownership right to premises, mortgage).

The intensity of funding granted to Ultimate Beneficiaries depends on their income or the income of those living in their household and was set at:

• basic level (up to 35% of eligible costs) – up to PLN 17,500,
• increased level (up to 65%) – to PLN 26,900,
• maximum level (up to 95%) – up to PLN 39,900.

It is assumed that 124 people will benefit from the Programme between 2023 and 2024, and its cost will amount to PLN 3,106,800.

Construction of a network of publicly accessible charging points for electric vehicles

Katowice is implementing comprehensive e-mobility solutions to improve air quality. As a leader among other Polish cities, Katowice has more than fulfilled the obligation imposed on municipalities under the Act on Electromobility and Alternative Fuels. In 2019, 87 charging points (40 stations) were set up across the city, with more being put into use in 2020. In total, there are now as many as 147 available charging points, i.e. 69 stations. Charging stations are located in Downtown, at transfer centres, in the vicinity of major public facilities, along major routes and in the areas of the largest housing estates.
The construction of the charging network has a positive impact on the possibility of developing a fleet of electric vehicles in the city, the number of which is growing every month.

In 2019, the Driving Change Together declaration, the result of the Polish Presidency of COP24, was signed. The declaration concerns partnership for the development of electromobility. In addition, the growing number of electric buses, as well as electric cleaning vehicles, taking care of cleanliness in our city, are additional efforts toward clean and accessible energy.

The charging stations map is available at: https://eipa.udt.gov.pl/ 

Purchase of low-emission vehicles

As part of intensified long-term activities, the City of Katowice is taking steps to permanently reduce pollution levels.
One of the measures taken in this regard is the purchase of low-emission vehicles, the purpose of which is to reduce emissions from means of transport.

In 2018, PKM Katowice purchased 5 new articulated electric city buses at a net cost of PLN 13,245,000.
In 2019, PKM Katowice purchased 5 brand new single-unit low-floor green city buses with electric drive, with a net contract value of PLN 12,450,000.00.
In 2020, 5 new low-floor green city buses with electric drive and 5 brand new green articulated buses were purchased, with a total net contract value of PLN 25,388,850. It also purchased 25 units of new eco-friendly, single-unit, low-floor city buses for a net total of PLN 22,850,000.
Moreover, in 2021, PKM Katowice Sp. z o. o. bought 5 new diesel-powered articulated buses with a net value of PLN 6,244,000.00 and 5 diesel-powered single-deck buses with a net value of PLN 5,265,000.00.
In 2022, PKM Katowice purchased 17 units of single-unit hybrid buses with a net value of PLN 29,580,000 and 5 articulated hybrid buses with a net value of PLN 11,265,000.
In 2023, 8 new ecological CNG-powered city buses were purchased for a net amount of PLN 12,592,000.

Decent work and economic growth

Sustained and inclusive economic growth can drive progress, create decent jobs for all and improve living standards. 

COVID-19 has disrupted billions of lives and endangered the global economy. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects a global recession as bad as or worse than in 2009. As job losses escalate, the International Labor Organization estimates that nearly half of the global workforce is at risk of losing their livelihoods.

Even before the outbreak of COVID-19, one in five countries – home to billions of people living in poverty – were likely to see per capita incomes stagnate or decline in 2020. Now, the economic and financial shocks associated with COVID-19—such as disruptions to industrial production, falling commodity prices, financial market volatility, and rising insecurity—are derailing the already tepid economic growth and compounding heightened risks from other factors.

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Factory of Sustainable Entrepreneurial Practices 

Katowice is part of an international project called the “Factory of Sustainable Entrepreneurial Practices”. The project also involves the following cities: Saint-Étienne (France), Sierre (Switzerland), Monastir (Tunisia) and Tamatave (Madagascar). The project consists of activities which address three challenges:

• Exchange of good practices in the field of entrepreneurship – internationalisation. Within this challenge, the International Business Incubator facilitates the organisation of study visits and business missions in the city network that can be carried out by SMEs and start-ups. Companies receive logistics and organisational support as well as a place to work in one of the business incubators of the city network.
• Exchange of good practices and creation of new tools for vocational education. Under this challenge, the main focus is on the exchange of trade schools. Currently, it takes place in areas such as food and hotel industry, as well as widely understood fashion and design. Work is underway to expand cooperation and include other areas of exchange related primarily to green and passive construction.
• Exchange of good practices in the field of social economy and professional inclusion. This challenge involves the exchange of organisations dealing with a broadly understood social economy. Project participants mostly share practices in developing business models for social economy entities.

In June 2023, the City of Katowice and the City of Saint-Étienne signed a bilateral letter of intent to strengthen cooperation within the framework of the project.

So far, thanks to the project, 4 entrepreneurs and 2 trade schools have benefited from networking, including: the Gustaw Morcinek Catering School Complex and the Katowice Silesian Insurgents Centre for Professional Education – Centre for Vocational and Continuing Education. Students took part in exchanges and had the opportunity to prepare professional tasting dinners and fashion shows. The project also focuses on exchanging experiences among entities dealing with social economy and professional inclusion of people excluded from the labour market. In this regard, Katowice collaborates with 3 partners representing the NGO sector.

Katowice Entrepreneur Package

The Rawa.Ink Municipal Business Incubator coordinated an assistance campaign for entrepreneurs as part of the implementation of the Katowice Entrepreneurship Package, which was launched in spring 2020 and operated until September 2021. KEP involves rent and lease exemptions, a 50% exemption from the waste collection fee, the establishment of a Crisis Advisory Point in cooperation with the Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the possibility of cancelling, spreading into instalments or deferring the date of payment of property tax at the individual request of the entrepreneur, for a period of one month, if the entrepreneur has observed a significant decrease in revenue, and also exemptions from fees for the use of permits for the sale and serving of alcoholic beverages at points of sale (catering business). During the two editions of the Katowice Entrepreneurship Package, the City granted the eligible entrepreneurs with exemptions and discounts amounting to over PLN 15 million. To enhance competencies enabling effective competition in the domestic and foreign markets and to develop the business activities of Katowice entrepreneurs in the current economic conditions changed by the pandemic, the Katowice Entrepreneurship Academy project was created within the Katowice Entrepreneurship Package. The Academy was launched at the end of 2021 and continues to this day. The academy consists of a series of training courses for Katowice entrepreneurs to help them maintain jobs and previous company turnover. A total of more than 180 entrepreneurs were trained in the Academy from 2021 to the end of 2023.

Promotion of entrepreneurship

The City grants one-off funding to start up a business, refunds the costs of equipping or retrofitting a workplace. Applicants may obtain funding amounting to over PLN 40,000.

https://katowice.praca.gov.pl/ 
https://katowice.praca.gov.pl/rynek-pracy/ 

Rawa.Ink Municipal Business Incubator

Established in 2019, the Rawa.Ink Municipal Business Incubator supports activities aimed at accelerating the development of a new economy based on technological innovations developed thanks to endogenous entrepreneurial and R&D potential, by creating attractive conditions for the development of entrepreneurship with particular emphasis on SMEs and start-ups. Rawa.Ink is expected to help build a platform for cooperation between the local government, universities, businesses, and the local community. Rawa.Ink is also a place supporting people who want to start their own business. The key aspect of the activities is to help newly established or operating companies by providing a place to start and run a business on market conditions, as well as to gain a wide access to the developed support instruments in the development of entrepreneurship and implementation of innovations. 2023, Rawa.Ink led the following projects: Startup Mine, Katowice – City of Professionals, Factory of Sustainable Entrepreneurial Practices, Katovisions, Practical Lesson in Entrepreneurship, Innovation in Bits. Play. Code. Connect.

https://rawaink.katowice.eu/ 

InfoshareDEV Katowice

The Infoshare Foundation is the organiser of the largest technology conference in Central and Eastern Europe. In 2023, the City of Katowice became engaged in organising the InfoshareDEV conference, which gathered more than 500 technology enthusiasts at the International Congress Centre on 24 October 2023. The conference was primarily intended for the IT and ICT sectors. The conference also included a partner workshop for the sector related to video game development (game dev) and e-sports industries. Graduates had the opportunity to learn about the requirements and competencies necessary to work in these industries by taking part in discussions with representatives of companies operating in Katowice. This activity showed that Katowice has been consistently focused on the growing market of gaming-related industries for years.

Katowice Gaming and Technology HUB

In the Nikiszowiec district, on former industrial areas, a Katowice gaming and technology hub is being developed. It will be a shared space for technology companies, game producers, as well as e-sports community involved in organising competitions, tournaments and broadcasting gaming events. The idea of the hub is to bring together representatives of new technologies in one place and attract more companies by meeting their requirements and enabling further development. On nearly 10 hectares, the area of the decommissioned heavy industry will be replaced by a place influencing the development of the high-tech sector, with new jobs in a rapidly growing industry.

Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Inclusive and sustainable industrialization, together with innovation and infrastructure, can unleash dynamic and competitive economic forces that generate employment and income. They play a key role in introducing and promoting new technologies, facilitating international trade and enabling the efficient use of resources. 

However, the world still has a long way to go to fully tap this potential. Least developed countries, in particular, need to accelerate the development of their manufacturing sector if they are to meet the 2030 target, and scale up investment in scientific research and innovation. 

Global manufacturing growth has been steadily declining, even before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic is hitting manufacturing industries hard and causing disruptions in global value chains and the supply of products. 

Innovation and technological progress are key to finding lasting solutions to both economic and environmental challenges, such as increased resource and energy-efficiency. Globally, investment in research and development (R&D) as a proportion of GDP increased from 1.5 per cent in 2000 to 1.7 per cent in 2015 and remained almost unchanged in 2017, but was only less than 1 per cent  in developing regions.

In terms of communications infrastructure, more than half of the world’s population is now online and almost the entire world population lives in an area covered by a mobile network. It is estimated that in 2019, 96.5 per cent were covered by at least a 2G network.     

The coronavirus pandemic has revealed the urgent need for resilient infrastructure. The Asian Development Bank notes that critical infrastructure in the region remains far from adequate in many countries, despite the rapid economic growth and development the region has experienced over the past decade. The Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific highlights that making infrastructure resilient to disasters and climate change will require an additional investment of $434 billion per year. This sum may need to be even greater in some subregions, such as the Pacific small island developing states.     

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Start-ups Mine

“Start-ups Mine” is a competition aimed at selecting young, promising and innovative companies from Katowice. The competition also made it possible to identify the local start-up environment and is an important element in building the innovation ecosystem in Katowice. As part of the competition, the best companies also participate in a short acceleration programme with mentors who are business experts or incubation managers associated with start-up organisations. During all editions of the competition, 30 innovative projects originating from Katowice received mentor support, with over 100 start-ups having participated in the three editions in total. The prize pool of each edition amounted to PLN 330,000 gross, including a two-year office lease contract at the Rawa.Ink Municipal Business Incubator. The total prize pool of the 3rd edition amounted to PLN 1 million.editions, Katowice start-ups will receive a total of one million zlotys of support.

www.kopalniastartupow.katowice.eu 

Title of “Innovation Leader”®

In 2023, the Rawa.Ink Municipal Business Incubator was awarded the title of Innovation Leader® in the “Innovative Institution” category. The nomination included all activities undertaken as part of Rawa.Ink – starting from training, workshops and advice for SMEs, through activities for business internationalisation, and ending with activities for start-ups and cooperation with innovators and the innovation ecosystem. During the certification, attention was paid to activities for entrepreneurs which have been carried out consistently since 2015 by the Department of Small and Medium Enterprises in the Department of Investor Services of the Katowice City Hall, and since 2019, as part of the implementation of the project Rawa.Ink Municipal Business Incubator.

Katowice Gaming and Technology HUB

One of the key investments being implemented in the City of Katowice is the Katowice Gaming and Technology HUB. On the site of the decommissioned “Wieczorek” coal mine, as a result of reclamation of the contaminated area and revitalisation of historic buildings and development of the site according to current standards, an infrastructure will be created that will bring together entrepreneurs from the new technology industry. This special complex, mainly intended for the gaming industry and the companies associated with it, aims to support innovation, provide favourable conditions for SME development, attract new companies in the industry and consolidate potential in one place. This will provide access to shared infrastructure such as research laboratories or recording studios, as well as enable exchange of good practices to stimulate development.

IoT Innovation Showroom

In order to facilitate access to technology and increase the availability of solutions for those interested in technologies related to the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, in 2021, the first IoT Innovation Showroom in Poland was created. The showroom is a cyber-physical space available at the Rawa.Ink Municipal Business Incubator (17a Teatralna Street). It is an excellent opportunity, not only for the IoT sector in Poland which can showcase its achievements, but also for local governments and SMEs to learn about the technological innovations and solutions that they can use right now. The IoT Innovation Showroom also aims to integrate tech companies and provide opportunities for testing proposed solutions and training. In the centre of Katowice, you can see, among others, how satellite information helps cities in responding to meteorological factors and how sensors inform residents about the current air quality in the city. The IoT Innovation Showroom also allows you to take a closer look at cyber security technologies, and the topic of artificial intelligence. The Showroom is consistently supplemented with new solutions in cooperation with the Polish Cluster of the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence – SINOTAIC. The network of IoT Innovation Showrooms is being consistently developed by the SINOTAIC cluster, which have been established in Gorzów Wielkopolski, Gdynia, and Opole. Two so-called “living labs” in Kamienna Góra and Jelenia Góra are also available for Showroom visitors.

www.showroomiot.pl 

City Break app

The new Katowice City break app is now available. Explore and discover the beauty of our city.

Tourists visiting Katowice and our residents can use a new application, City Break, which, once downloaded to mobile devices, will guide them through Katowice’s most important tourist attractions. It allows users to explore selected Street Art works, functionalist architecture on the Modernism Trail, or immerse themselves in the post-industrial atmosphere of magical Nikiszowiec. Another functionality is “Katowice beboks” – app users are encouraged to have fun exploring the city space while searching for these friendly creatures. In addition to the standard audio guide function, users can also take part in quizzes to test their knowledge of the attractions they have discovered. The app is available free of charge for Android and iOS devices.

Linki:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pl.audiotour.katowice_umk_miasto 
https://apps.apple.com/pl/app/katowice-city-break/id6459475814?l=pl 

Developing, updating and monitoring the implementation of the “Local Revitalisation Programme of the City of Katowice for 2016-2023”

Revitalisation is the process of bringing degraded areas out of crisis through comprehensive, integrated actions for the local community, space and economy, which are territorially concentrated and carried out by revitalisation stakeholders based on a municipal revitalisation programme.

Pursuant to the Revitalisation Act (Journal of Laws of 2021, item 485, as amended), the “Local Revitalisation Programme of the City of Katowice for 2016-2023”, adopted by resolution of the Katowice City Council No. XLVII/1043/22 on 28 April 2022, was in effect until 31 December 2023; the archived version of the programme can be found in the Bulletin of Public Information – BIP.

The city planned to continue the revitalisation process and at the end of 2023 initiated efforts towards adopting a resolution on the designation of degraded area and revitalisation area and the adoption of a municipal revitalisation programme (MRP). In the revitalisation process, it is extremely important to involve all stakeholders. At each stage of the work aimed at developing MRP, consultations were planned in accordance with the Revitalisation Act.

The Municipal Management System – Katowice Spatial Information Infrastructure (MSZ-KIIP)

Katowice has implemented Municipal Management System – Katowice Spatial Information Infrastructure (MSZ-KIIP). It is estimated that as much as 80-90% of the information used in public administration relates to space and can be located on a map, e.g. based on address details, geographical coordinates or plot number.

Thanks to the data collected in the MSZ-KIIP system in the form of thematic layers (such as: plots, buildings, roads, local zoning plans, address points, etc.) it is possible to analyse information about a specific area in an interdisciplinary manner.

In 2023, the MFA-KIIP system was accessed externally 124,497 times, which shows an increase in interest in the MFA-KIIP system compared to previous years.

https://emapa.katowice.eu/mszkiip/ 

Naprawmyto.pl

Naprawmyto.pl is an application which residents can use to easily identify any defects in the city in three thematic categories: infrastructure, greenery, and safety & security. To date, out of over 33,697 reported problems, more than 25,560 defects have already been repaired since spring 2018, but apart from efficiency it is equally important to be able to follow or comment on the reported issues and to propose solutions, as well as to ensure direct contact between residents with officials. Innovation in this case, therefore, refers not only to the use of an innovative tool, but to the very formula of cooperation and communication with residents. The app is also largely used by residents of the most degraded districts that have equal access to and easier contact with municipal services (application, e-mail, telephone).

The application was created by non-governmental organisations and is also used by other Polish cities as an open source tool. However, Katowice achieved record results both in terms of the number of reported issues (user activity) and the number of resolved issues.

https://naprawmyto.pl/katowice 

“wCOP tree” application

The application is a simple and quick way to indicate locations for new trees in the city. Its name refers to the world’s largest climate conference, the UN Climate Summit, the 24th edition of which was held in Katowice in 2018. To date, we have planted over 1,000 trees using the application.

Katowice Intelligent Monitoring and Analysis System 

Established in 2016, the system currently consists of 362 cameras, including 49 cameras recording vehicles on main traffic routes. The cameras are located in public places, including family activity zones, after consultation with residents and relevant services responsible for safety and order in the city. The monitoring system is distinguished by the use of video analytics to detect specific events in areas under CCTV surveillance. The system is used continuously by municipal services, including the Police, which directly increases the level of security in the city. Since 2021, the system’s functionality has been enhanced with a service cooperation platform, which enables residents to monitor in real time, through a dedicated portal, air pollution levels, traffic congestion, and the water levels of rivers within the administrative boundaries of Katowice. Thanks to local government funds and residents who are actively engaged in Participatory Budgeting, the system is gradually expanded with new camera points.

https://bip.katowice.eu/kismia 

Reduced inequalities

Reducing inequalities and ensuring no one is left behind are integral to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

Inequality within and among countries is a persistent cause for concern. Despite some positive signs toward reducing inequality in some dimensions, such as reducing relative income inequality in some countries and preferential trade status benefiting lower-income countries, inequality still persists.

COVID-19 has deepened existing inequalities, hitting the poorest and most vulnerable communities the hardest. It has put a spotlight on economic inequalities and fragile social safety nets that leave vulnerable communities to bear the brunt of the crisis.  At the same time, social, political and economic inequalities have amplified the impacts of the pandemic.

On the economic front, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased global unemployment and dramatically slashed workers’ incomes.

COVID-19 also puts at risk the limited progress that has been made on gender equality and women’s rights over the past decades. Across every sphere, from health to the economy, security to social protection, the impacts of COVID-19 are exacerbated for women and girls simply by virtue of their sex.

Inequalities are also deepening for vulnerable populations in countries with weaker health systems and those facing existing humanitarian crises. Refugees and migrants, as well as indigenous peoples, older persons, people with disabilities and children are particularly at risk of being left behind. And hate speech targeting vulnerable groups is rising.

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

“Katowice Senior in the City” Programme for 2022-2027

The Programme is dedicated to senior residents of Katowice who are over 60 years of age. Its main objective is to improve the quality of life by providing these people with access to appropriate forms of support. The implementation of various projects within the programme is aimed, among others, at counteracting loneliness and marginalisation of elderly people, managing their free time after retirement (e.g. by developing skills and personal interests), increasing the activity and participation of elderly people in social life, pro-health and educational or physical culture activities.

In 2023, the City of Katowice continued its cooperation with TVS Television that consisted in purchasing a senior-oriented programme called: “Silver Katowice”. The programme is implemented as part of a broadly understood senior citizen policy. The content of individual episodes is related to current events concerning senior citizens of our City. In 2023, 26 episodes were aired, for a total amount of PLN 169,800.00.

“Blue Umbrella – Violence Prevention Programme for the Elderly and People with Disabilities” under the Justice Programme of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021.

The target group of the project is the elderly (65+) and people with disabilities, caregivers and families of elderly people and people with disabilities, local communities living in the project area and representatives of services and institutions, employees of day social assistance centres. The project included a seminar, educational and informational meetings for the elderly and people with disabilities and their caregivers, and training for professionals.

Sustainable cities and communities

The world is becoming increasingly urbanized. Since 2007, more than half the world’s population has been living in cities, and that share is projected to rise to 60 per cent by 2030. 
Cities and metropolitan areas are powerhouses of economic growth—contributing about 60 per cent of global GDP. However, they also account for about 70 per cent of global carbon emissions and over 60 per cent of resource use. 
Rapid urbanization is resulting in a growing number of slum dwellers, inadequate and overburdened infrastructure and services (such as waste collection and water and sanitation systems, roads and transport), worsening air pollution and unplanned urban sprawl. 
The impact of COVID-19 will be most devastating in poor and densely populated urban areas, especially for the one billion people living in informal settlements and slums worldwide, where overcrowding also makes it difficult to follow recommended measures such as social distancing and self-isolation. 
The UN food agency, FAO, warned that hunger and fatalities could rise significantly in urban areas, without measures to ensure that poor and vulnerable residents have access to food.

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

KATOcitizen

KATOcitizen project is a social innovation which consists in building civil society and engaging residents in actions for the sustainable development of the city. The city acts as the initiator here, providing tools and reasons for joint engagement, creating actions and campaigns and launching applications, for example, for reporting and fixing problems or planting trees in places indicated by users. Residents together with the city can sow meadows and build community gardens, clean and practise zero waste, hang nesting boxes and feeders. The project also included the completion of Katowice’s first parklet on Teatralna Street and the decoration of electrical boxes with an artistic graffiti promoting the city’s modernist architecture. The project partners include, among others, non-governmental organisations, municipal entities, local entrepreneurs, and artists. The project won the Transformative Action Award for transformative action of the year 2020, and was also a finalist in the 2020 Innovation in Politics competition in the ecology category. In the same year, it also received an honourable mention in a competition organised by the Polish Press Agency: “Innovative Local Government” in the large cities category.

https://katoobywatel.katowice.eu/

Get a Bike 

Bicycle Capital of Poland

Katowice joined the competition for the title of Bicycle Capital of Poland for the first time in 2023, which was inaugurated by Bydgoszcz. More than 600 residents covered 137,299 kilometres. Various groups participated in this fun activity, including officials, employees of companies and institutions, schoolchildren, students, journalists, councillors, and active neighbourhood groups. 

In the building at Market Square 13, in the official bicycle room, a gallery of vintage bicycles belonging to Wojciech Mszyca started its operations. 

In 2023, Katowice joined in the celebration of European Mobility Week for the 13th time. The main theme of the activities planned by the Promotion Department was the slogan “Katowice on 5!”, which refers to one of the guidelines of the European Commission, encouraging people to try to cover a distance of 5 km as often as possible by bicycle or on foot, instead of a car. This time we focused on Car Free Day, which falls on 22 September every year. We also continued the previous year’s campaign under the slogan “Get a Bike”. As part of the campaign, we distributed plant seedlings to people who rode their bikes to work and came to the mobile point at Market Square 13 on Car Free Day (22 September) or earned a special badge in the Active Cities app. During the morning rush hour, the police gave lollipops to drivers in the 30 km/h Zone under the slogan “Slow Down!”. There were also workshops with the creators of the Stop-Fon app, a prototype of which operates at 10 pedestrian crossings in Katowice. The City’s Bike Ambassador is Prof. Ryszard Koziołek, Rector of the University of Silesia, who goes to work at his university on a bicycle.

We initiated a collection of bikes for refugees from Ukraine who settled in Katowice. As part of the “Bikes for Start” campaign, residents of Katowice donated more than one hundred bikes, scooters, rollers and accessories, which, after service, became an equipment rental base. The bikes were used not only for fun and recreation, but also for transportation purposes: commuting, shopping, etc.  

Bike paths

The popularity of single-track vehicles, not only for recreational purposes, is growing. Therefore, the bicycle infrastructure – including bike paths and bike rental stations – is constantly expanded. Currently, there are 125 bike docking stations in the city, with 1010 vehicles being available to residents. Since 2015, 52 kilometres of new bike paths have been built in Katowice at a cost of PLN 45 million.

Thanks to this, Katowice is getting closer to achieving its goal of connecting all districts with a network of safe bike paths. The largest investments in recent years include the construction of bike paths: along Francuska Street (700 m, at a cost of PLN 3 million), in the area of Gospodarcza, Pułaskiego and Dolina Trzech Stawów streets (1400 m, at a cost of PLN 1.1, million), along Szopienicka Street (2400 m, cost: more than PLN 4.5 million), connecting the area of the 30 km/h Zone with CP Brynów with a bike path on Jankego Street and Route 1 (1400 m, cost: almost PLN 1.9 million), connecting along Lotnisko Street (1100 m, cost: more than PLN 1.6 million). In addition to bike paths, numerous amenities for cyclists are being created, such as a series of bike crossings, an exit near Ziętek traffic roundabout, a contraflow on Kozielska Street, and bike lanes on Sokolska Street. In the coming year, construction will begin on the first velostrada (“bike highway”) in Katowice with a length of 4.4 km, which will connect Giszowiec with Brynów. Additional roads will connect, for example, Burowiec with downtown and Katowice with Mysłowice.

Metropolitan Bicycle

In 2024, Metropolis GZM launched the Metropolitan Bicycle (“Metrobike”) system.  Metrobike bike is the largest system in Poland and the third largest in Europe. The bikes are available in 31 municipalities of the GZM area. The system comprises a total of 7,000 bicycles and almost a thousand stations, the majority of which are located in Katowice. Metrobike, as an element of the GZM transportation system is also included in the fare – each passenger with a season ticket can use Metrobike free of charge for 60 minutes a day. This is the only solution of its kind in Poland. The bikes can be rented using a special application for the Metropolitan Bicycle System - METROBIKE. It is also possible to rent a bicycle through the Nextbike app (as in the previously existing city bike systems in Silesia).

Katovisions

Katovisions is a project aimed at selecting CSR leaders among SMEs which invest, create and implement innovative tools and solutions that benefit local communities and the natural environment. The competition is designed to recognise and promote socially responsible companies. SMEs that have implemented a corporate social responsibility project are eligible to enter the competition. The awards are given to companies that invest, create and implement tools and solutions that benefit local communities and the natural environment.
In 2023, the competition was held for the fourth time. In this edition, projects and activities implemented from October 2022 to mid-September 2023 were evaluated. The projects submitted for the competition were shortlisted to include the best projects that create space and conditions for sustainable social and economic development. The jury, composed of representatives of local non-governmental organisations and City Hall employees in charge of social projects and entrepreneurship, decided to award three projects with the Award of the Mayor of Katowice Marcin Krupa, the title of Socially Responsible Company, and a financial prize:

• The first prize of PLN 3,000 was awarded to the Łukasiewicz Research Network – EMAG Institute of Innovative Techniques for the project “Modern and friendly technologies supporting people with disabilities in functioning in the society”, which involves creating a Sensory Experience Laboratory, Audio Movie Application and Avatar 2PJM – sign language interpreter;
• The second prize of PLN 2,000 was awarded to Samsic Polska Sp. z o.o. for the project “Planet 2030/ECObySAMSIC” aimed at reducing the carbon footprint through, among others, promotion of circular economy and collection of electronic waste.
• The third prize of PLN 1,000 was awarded to Gastro Mar S.C. M. Milner R. Kucharski

for its charitable activities, helping refugees from Ukraine, cooperation with the Order of Malta and organising Christmas Eve for the poorest.

An honourable mention went to the “Deszczu Kropelką” Foundation for its Charity Boutique project.

As part of the fourth edition of the “Katovisions – Socially Responsible Company” competition, projects could be submitted by the companies themselves, as well as NGOs and residents. The awards were presented on 17 November 2023 during the conference “CSR not only for large companies. Good practices, examples, and motivations” organised at the Rawa.Ink Municipal Business Incubator in Katowice.

Reconstruction of critical road sections (DK81, DK86), improved traffic flow in the city and made it safer for its users – both motorists and pedestrians. The total value of the project is PLN 303,150,933.64, with funding from the European Regional Development Fund amounting to PLN 244,185,084.45.

Construction of transport hubs in the districts of Ligota, Brynów, and Zawodzie, allowing drivers to leave their cars – for the price of a public transport ticket – relatively close to the city centre and to travel by bus or tram.

International Bus Station

In 2020, the “Sądowa” International Bus Station was opened at the very heart of the city, which facilitates transfers between trains, buses, trams, and even bikes.

Katowice Intelligent Transport Management System

In order to improve traffic flow and reduce the inconvenience caused by excessive vehicle traffic, the Katowice Intelligent Transport Management System was implemented, thanks to which public transport vehicles will have priority at crossings. In order to counteract social exclusion, acoustic devices are being installed as part of traffic signal upgrades to support the movement of visually impaired and blind persons. One of the components of the ITS system is a web portal for obtaining information on traffic conditions. The available data include traffic volume, parking space occupancy, and current weather conditions, including air pollution. The portal also includes an intermodal trip planner that allows users to plan trips using the most optimal means of individual and public transportation on a specific route. 

Project value/funding: the total value of the project is PLN 85,689,470.34. The value of ERDF funding is 85% of the project value.

GREEN BUDGET

Katowice invests in the renewal of existing green enclaves and creation of new ones by engaging residents in these activities. A tool which helps residents fulfil their needs related to broadly understood ecology and environmental protection is the Green Budget, which allows them to turn their ideas into action. Facts (2023): in the four editions, out of 715 applications submitted, a total of 347 tasks were selected for implementation.

DIGITAL MUSEUM

In order to popularise cultural resources, a digital form of selected museum objects held by the Museum of the History of Katowice was made available on the Internet.

Conservation of Monuments

Every year, the City subsidises conservation, restoration, and construction works of the most valuable monuments of Katowice.

In 2020, subsidies were granted from the city budget in the amount of: PLN 849,996.43 for works at 8 historic objects.

In 2021, subsidies were granted from the city budget in the amount of: PLN 889,093.42 for works at 7 historic objects.

In 2022, a total amount of PLN 997,004.00 was transferred for subsidies for conservation, restoration, and construction works at 8 historic objects in Katowice.
In 2023, subsidies in the total amount of PLN 800,000.00 were granted for conservation, restoration, and construction works at 8 historic objects located in the City of Katowice.

“The Action Plan for Cities. Model Locality” (PDM)

In 2021, Katowice was qualified for the programme “Action Plan for Cities. Model Locality” (PDM), which is an integral part of the WUF projects. The PDM is also an implementation instrument included in the new 2030 National Urban Policy, which is currently being developed. The PDM’s mission is to mobilise cities to take bold action towards sustainable transformation and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals at the local level. Katowice submitted its project titled: “Time for Szopienice – Changing Our Cities for a Better Future”. As part of the project, a spatial development concept for the area of Powstańców Śląskich Square in Katowice will be developed based on the results of study and design workshops, conducted by student teams from economics and architecture faculties. The proposed solutions that take into account expectations of the local community will serve as the basis for further actions and plans of the City in this regard. They will be also used to develop a municipal revitalisation programme for Katowice. 

Responsible consumption and production

Worldwide consumption and production — a driving force of the global economy — rest on the use of the natural environment and resources in a way that continues to have destructive impacts on the planet. 
Economic and social progress over the last century has been accompanied by environmental degradation that is endangering the very systems on which our future development — indeed, our very survival — depends. 
A few facts and figures:

• Each year, an estimated one third of all food produced – equivalent to 1.3 billion tonnes worth around $1 trillion – ends up rotting in the bins of consumers and retailers, or spoiling due to poor transportation and harvesting practices.
• If people worldwide switched to energy efficient light bulbs the world would save US$120 billion annually.
• Should the global population reach 9.6 billion by 2050, the equivalent of almost three planets could be required to provide the natural resources needed to sustain current lifestyles.

The COVID-19 pandemic offers countries an opportunity to build recovery plans that will reverse current trends and change our consumption and production patterns towards a more sustainable future.
Sustainable consumption and production is about doing more and better with less. It is also about decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation, increasing resource efficiency and promoting sustainable lifestyles.
Sustainable consumption and production can also contribute substantially to poverty alleviation and the transition towards low-carbon and green economies.

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Climate action

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Life below water

The ocean drives global systems that make the Earth habitable for humankind. Our rainwater, drinking water, weather, climate, coastlines, much of our food, and even the oxygen in the air we breathe, are all ultimately provided and regulated by the sea. 

Careful management of this essential global resource is a key feature of a sustainable future. However, at the current time, there is a continuous deterioration of coastal waters owing to pollution, and ocean acidification is having an adversarial effect on the functioning of ecosystems and biodiversity. This is also negatively impacting small scale fisheries. 

Saving our ocean must remain a priority. Marine biodiversity is critical to the health of people and our planet. Marine protected areas need to be effectively managed and well-resourced and regulations need to be put in place to reduce overfishing, marine pollution and ocean acidification.

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Selective waste collection matters. Just because something goes into the bin does not mean that it can no longer serve us. On the contrary: in the vast majority of cases, waste can be recycled or reused. It can also be used to recover valuable raw materials whose deposits are dwindling so rapidly. For example, hygienic tissues, toilet paper, mugs, pots, earrings, baskets, handbags and even furniture or clothes can be made out of waste! So why cut down beautiful, healthy forests for paper since it can be produced from recycled paper?

 

 

Life on land

Nature is critical to our survival: nature provides us with our oxygen, regulates our weather patterns, pollinates our crops, produces our food, feed and fibre. But it is under increasing stress. Human activity has altered almost 75 per cent of the earth’s surface, squeezing wildlife and nature into an ever-smaller corner of the planet.

Around 1 million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction – many within decades – according to the 2019 Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service. The report called for transformative changes to restore and protect nature. It found that the health of ecosystems on which we and all other species depend is deteriorating more rapidly than ever, affecting  the very foundations of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide. 

Deforestation and desertification – caused by human activities and climate change – pose major challenges to sustainable development and have affected the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. Forests are vitally important for sustaining life on Earth, and play a major role in the fight against climate change. And investing in land restoration is critical for improving livelihoods, reducing vulnerabilities, and reducing risks for the economy.

The health of our planet also plays an important role in the emergence of zoonotic diseases, i.e. diseases that are transmissible between animals and humans. As we continue to encroach on fragile ecosystems, we bring humans into ever-greater contact with wildlife, enabling pathogens in wildlife to spill over to livestock and humans, increasing the risk of disease emergence and amplification.

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Peace, justice and strong institutions

Conflict, insecurity, weak institutions and limited access to justice remain a great threat to sustainable development. 

The number of people fleeing war, persecution and conflict exceeded 70 million in 2018, the highest level recorded by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in almost 70 years. 

In 2019, the United Nations tracked 357 killings and 30 enforced disappearances of human rights defenders, journalists and trade unionists in 47 countries.

And the births of around one in four children under age 5 worldwide are never officially recorded, depriving them of a proof of legal identity crucial for the protection of their rights and for access to justice and social services.

KATOWICE CITY ACTIVITIES

Partnerships for the goals