Contest AGORA 2012

AGORA Platform, supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation announces its fourth Contest "AGORA" for the Most Successful Civic Initiative implemented by a Chitalishte.

The Contest will award practices, projects and initiatives implemented in 2012 that have stimulated civic participation in community problem solving, responded to real community needs, mobilized support for various causes, enhanced the solidarity and trust, and supported building active communities for local development. We expect the submitted entries to focus on the role of Chitalishte as a civic organization and community development center.

The Contest is organized by Platform AGORA in partnership with Ministry of Culture, PRoWay Communication Agency , the University Press "St. Kliment Ohridski", with the cooperation of Sofia Princess Hotel and with the media support of the Bulgarian National Radio, dir.bg, dnes.bg and ngobg.info (Information Portal of NGOs in Bulgaria).

For a second consecutive year in the framework of the Contest AGORA 2012, the Ministry of Culture will award a Chitalishte - Contest participant with a special certificate "Contribution to the Development of Chitalishtes".

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE

Chitalishtes from all over the country could participate if they have implemented by their own or in a partnership civic initiatives for the development of their community. The entry should demonstrate a real and visible result achieved in 2012, regardless of whether it started in 2011. Each Chitalishte may submit unlimited number of entries, however only one will be nominated.

THE APPLICATION

The Chitalishtes applying for the Contest should present their initiatives in the Contest entry form. The Contest entry should consist of the following:

• Information for the applicant Chitalishte - name, address for correspondence, e-mail and phone number for contact.

• Information for the civic initiative, including: name and brief explanation of the initiative, what are the community benefits and how are the citizens/citizen's groups and partners involved in the initiative ( up to 2 000 characters with spaces).

• Photos with good quality and a brief explanation illustrating the initiative (3 photos). ONLY photos in electronic format should be submitted.

PROCEDURES AND ASSESSMENT

The entries will be assessed in two stages.

First stage: The Contest Jury, consisting of 10 members will go through the submitted entries and will nominate 10 initiatives for the final round. The Jury nominations have to meet the following assessment criteria:

• Impact and benefits to the community;

• Level of civic participation and local community activism;

• Originality of the approach;

• Application and adaptability among the Chitalishte network.

The nominated entries will be posted on Platform AGORA's web site, the Contest web site, Facebook profile of the Contest, as well as on the Information Portal of NGOs in Bulgaria ngobg.info.

Second stage: The Contest winner will be chosen by the audience during the official ceremony where the nominated 10 initiatives will be presented live by the Chitalishtes.

AWARDS

The winner will receive a sculpture of the Contest AGORA, specially designed by the author Mariana Kusheva, together with a Certificate and monetary prize, provided by Platform AGORA.

The Contest Jury will also award three initiatives for a specific contribution to the local community development in the following fields: "Solidarity and Humanity", "Most Productive Partnership" and "Art and Culture for Development". The Chitalishtes will be awarded special "AGORA 2012" plates, a Certificate, monetary and material prizes.

Each of the nominated initiatives will receive a plate and Certificate from Contest AGORA 2012.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

In order to participate the Chitalishte should electronically fill in a Contest entry form and e-mail it together with the photos to office@agora-bg.org with the subject line: FOR CONTEST AGORA 2012. Entries submitted on hard copy, by post or courier service will not be considered!

The deadline for submission of entries is February 17, 2013