The results of the city’s NGOs Forum have been discussed

Photo by Vitaly Koksharov

Foreign experts met with  Perm  Deputy Mayor Lidiya Korolyova to discuss the results of the city forum  “Community centers as development strategies  and partnerships”.

The municipal Forum held at the Perm Fair brought together  about 300 community centers representatives, municipal government officers, city councilors and experts. Lidia Korolyova noted a high interest of all those present  at the Forum to the presentations and discussions. The foreign guests shared their impressions of the Forum: 

- “ I noticed a high  level of involvement of those who attended the Forum yesterday.  I’d like to stress that  coming year will be very special for Oxford and Perm as we will mark 25 years since establishment of partnership relations between the cities”, said Tim Sadler, Executive Director, Sustainable City, Oxford City Council (UK).

Dave Morrell, Community Centres General Manager, Oxford City Council (UK), was impressed by the visit to “Stakhanovets” Community Center in Perm where he took part in a creative workshop. 

- Participating in the Forum was  a very pleasing opportunity to learn a lot of new and useful things. Now I am looking forward to using your  experience  in my city. I have travelled a lot and  after several  days in Perm it has become one of my favourite places in Russia,” emphasized Zinaida Terekhova, Executive Director of Community Centers Association of the Ulyanovsk Region.

- “France has been using democracy and participation principles in the governance  for over 40 years now; however, we can see that creative approaches are gradually  expiring. During the Forum I came to realise that various approaches can exist in a variety of  forms. Comparing the experiences, I understand that  in France we tend to bring it down to uniformity, while your experience proves that  community associations can be various, and this is  the basis for creativity,” assured Michel Vayssié, Chief Executive of Lille (France).

At the meeting Lidia Korolyova informed the visitors that in the past few years the management of Perm Community centers had changed drastically, involving  many young managers.

- We appreciate the efforts of those who started the local community association, their experience is very valuable and we a happy to see them sharing this experience with the young people. People are at the core of everything , and the task of administration is to provide then with support,” said the Deputy Mayor. 

Closing the meeting, Lidia Korolyova conveyed appreciation from  the Mayor Dmitry Samoilov and   invited the guests  to come over to Perm for future visits.