Spring School of Healthy Cities 2013 took place in Trebon, having great participation of municipal representatives

The Spring School of Healthy Cities took place in Trebon on March 20–22, 2013. It was attended by 80 participants – representatives of municipalities and regions, local action groups and professional organisations. This popular event with more than a 10-year tradition is in particular intended for politicians and coordinators of international Healthy City and Local Agenda 21 programmes and was opened by introductory seminar. The event presented interesting topics from the field of strategic planning in the cities and municipalities and also featured appearances by David Tichy and Filip Tittl – architects from the Centre of Housing Quality – with a concept of neighbourhood housing. Jaroslav Martinek of Transport Research Centre presented news related to the National Strategy of Cycling Transport Development along with the intention to create a network of cities that would support exactly this type of transport in a systematic way. Olga Skochova of the citizens' association Kvas that deals with strategic planning in the field of culture and creative engagement of the public, drew attention to culture as a frequently underestimated area of municipal development and to the project of Culture-Friendly City. Interesting projects have been introduced by the mayor Jiri Houdek (in the photograph) and vice-mayor Terezie Jenisova in Trebon – a founding member of Healthy Cities of the Czech Republic.

The second day of Spring School was dedicated to practical trainings for both, the beginners and advanced. For beginners there was prepared a training block dedicated to the subject of "Communication with the public", whose participants practiced the basic principles of communication and presentation. The block for advanced among other things focused on argumentation of topics, such as enforcement of coordinator's work position in the office, approval of financial support for the topics following the public proceedings, establishment of strategic steering committee and monitoring of progress to sustainable development etc. Practice of work with DataPlan system and individual consultations with those interested from the municipalities took place on the final day of the school.

The programme, presented presentations, photo documentation and video from the above stated event is available here.

Coverage from the Spring School of Healthy Cities at Czech Television here.

The event is a part of HCCZ Project „Strategic Management in Communities – Quality and Effective", which is financed from the funds of ESF through the Operational Programme of Human Resources and Employment and CZ state budget.

Local Action Groups (LAG) belong among new members of HCCZ

Local Action Groups (LAG) unite the representatives of citizens, non-profit organisations, private business sphere and public administration, collaborating in the development of the country. First local action groups joined the Healthy Cities of the Czech Republic in the course of the first quarter of 2013: LAG Blansky les – Netolicko, LAG Opavsko, LAG Rozkvet zahrady jiznich Cech and LAG Vodnanska ryba. The Healthy Cities of the Czech Republic also collaborate with National Network of Local Action Groups. The entry of particular LAG into HCCZ brings further possibilities of collaboration and sharing of best practice among municipalities and whole regions. 

According to Marta Krejcikova, coordinator of this LAG, the main motivation of LAG Rozkvet zahrady jiznich Cech to join HCCZ lay in further extension of possibilities to enforce the progress in regional development from the bottom up in active manner. "For as long as 10 years, LAG Rozkvet has been trying to motivate the local inhabitants to engage in development activities, help the local initiatives and provide space for effective collaboration of municipalities, local entrepreneurs and non-profit organisations. Commencement of realisation of the common project "We Enjoy Health", owing to which more than 20 outdoor health centres (outdoor mini gyms) will be created in the South-Bohemian country in the following year, presented the direct impulse for entry of LAG Rozkvet zahrady jiznich Cech, LAG Blansky les Netolicko and LAG Vodnanská ryba to HCCZ," states Marta Krejcikova of LAG Rozkvet zahrady jiznich Cech.

The annual meeting of national networks of Healthy Cities took place in Copenhagen and brought numerous inspirations

Working meeting of European Networks of Healthy Cities took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, on March 13–15, 2013. 16 countries have been represented by 24 persons - national coordinators or other contact persons for the WHO Healthy City Project in individual countries, representatives of Danish Healthy Cities or workers of the European WHO Office in Copenhagen and Belfast. In addition to the host country, the event introduced representatives of the Healthy City networks from Great Britain, Israel, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Croatia, Latvia, Russia, Turkey and Baltic Association of Healthy Cities.

The event's programme among others included trainings and lectures on the subject of communitiy resilience, human rights and equal opportunities. The representative of the European WHO Office seated in Copenhagen, Dr. Agis Tsouros, who is also director of the new division of this important international institution (Division of Policy and Governance for Health and Well-being) introduced the newly adopted international document Health 2020, concentrated on its main contributions and implementation into practice in collaboration with Healthy Cities and their networks in individual countries. He also invited all to the prepared conference of Healthy Cities, which is to be held on June 20 - 22 in Izmir, Turkey.

The programme of the meeting accentuated the share of best practices and networking between the individual Healthy Cities´ associations. The coordinators discussed about the implementation of Health 2020 Strategy throughout Europe and the role of the networks and the cities, also about concrete activties such as the issue of volunteering and involvement of youth etc. The role of the networks and their services for individual cities and the possibilities to share good examples in practice was the main output and purpose of the meeting.      

The General Meeting of HCCZ approved the Annual Report 2012 and voted the new Council

The Spring meeting of HCCZ General Meeting took place in Jihlava on April 24, 2013. Representatives of member municipalities and regions have been informed at the meeting about the progress of WHO Healthy City and Local Agenda 21 international programmes, about collaboration on the national and international level and about the services offered by the association to its members. The presentations by Petr Svec, HCCZ director, evaluated the affairs of 2012, consequently, the members approved the Association's Annual Report for 2012. The report describes the realised events, activities and projects, services for members or collaboration with partners. The General Meeting was also significant due to selection of association's leadership and its bodies - the Council and Revision Committee. For the following two-year election period, HCCZ council will include representatives of the cities of Hodonin, Chrudim, Koprivnice, Kromeriz, Letovice, Litomerice, Vsetin, municipality of Bolatice and Vysocina Region. The revision committee will comprise of the representatives of Steti, Sub-region of Drahanska vrchovina and Krizanky municipality. Petr Hermann, representative of Litomerice, remains the association's chairman, vice-chairmen Petr Reznicek, mayor of Chrudim and Martin Hysky, councillor of Vysocina Region.

Before the very start of meeting, there was an information and discussion section on the subject of "Support of physical activities in the cities" that introduced suitable activities for the cities and possibilities of professional collaboration with the Department of Recreology at the Palacky University in Olomouc. An interesting presentation and offer of collaboration for all Healthy Cities and Regions were presented by Zdenek Hamrik, head of the above stated department.

Conference of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network 2013 will take place in Izmir

The young in action? This holds true in the Healthy Cities