Stowarzyszenie Bona Fides

Description

Stowarzyszenie Bona Fides is a Polish public-benefit association based in Katowice, working across the whole of Poland. For 20 years it has built and supported groups of residents and local activists. It has trained local government officials in open and effective dialogue with residents and non-governmental organizations. It has also given young people new experience through volunteering.

Its mission is to make Polish villages, towns and cities friendly places to live and open to residents needs. This rests on engaged individuals and on responsible authorities that act transparently and take residents voice into account when making decisions. The association pursues this mission through several strands of work.

It organizes local neighborhood initiatives. It gives legal, substantive and organizational support to local activists. It informs residents about their rights so they can use them effectively when dealing with local authorities and other bodies.

It runs activities that engage young people, offering them development opportunities within its ongoing work. Through the European Voluntary Service, it sends young Poles to volunteer abroad while hosting volunteers from other countries. This lets them gain skills, pursue their interests and learn civic attitudes.

It also works with local government, teaching officials how to run open, effective dialogue with residents and NGOs. It prepares draft legal acts and proposals meant to improve residents quality of life, increase the transparency of public offices and strengthen cooperation between local authorities and citizens. The organization is run by a management board and a council, supported by a team of staff and volunteers, including participants in the European Solidarity Corps volunteer program. It is based in Katowice.