DND House – a Place for Children's Participation and Creativity
The "DND House" is an open, inclusive and safe place for children, their interaction, socialization, exchange of experience, development of talents, play and creativity. The result is a continuation of the development of the activities and programs that Zabok SOC has been implementing for 70 years. Although the initiative aims to build a physical meeting place; it has the potential to transform environment, create a sense of belonging and shape ambitions aimed at the future of the community.
Regional
Croatia
City of Zabok
Krapina-Zagorje County
Mainly urban
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
No
No
Yes
As a representative of an organisation
Name of the organisation(s): Društvo "Naša djeca" Zabok (Society "Our Children" Zabok) Type of organisation: Non-profit organisation First name of representative: Jasenka Last name of representative: Borovčak Gender: Female Nationality: Croatia Function: Secretary Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Matije Gupca 53 Town: Zabok Postal code: 49210 Country: Croatia Direct Tel:+385 98 933 2055 E-mail:dnd.zabok@gmail.com Website:http://www.dndzabok.hr
URL:https://www.facebook.com/dnd.zabok Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): #dndzabok #dječjegradskovijeće #dječjiforum #dječjaprava #zabočkimališani #samovolontiraj #zdravoifino #čitajmi #igraonica
URL:https://www.instagram.com/dndzabok Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): #dndzabok #dječjegradskovijeće #dječjiforum #dječjaprava #zabočkimališani #samovolontiraj #zdravoifino
URL:https://www.youtube.com/@drustvonasadjecazabok7504 Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): Društvo „Naša djeca“ Zabok, DND Zabok, Dječji forum, Dječje gradsko vijeće, dječja prava, dječja participacija, Zabočki mališani
The initiative "DND House – a Place for Children's Participation and Creativity" is the natural next step and continuation of activities that have been carried out for 70 years by the Zabok Society "Our Children" (SOC) (Croatian: Društvo “Naša djeca”, acronym: DND). The fact that the Zabok SOC is currently operating in inadequate premises prevents the participation of a larger number of children and the development of new programs, for which there is a great interest in the wider community as well as among its members, volunteers and the children themselves.
The Zabok SOC plays a vital role in the life of the town and region: it provides non-institutional education, organizes creative and practical workshops, various forms of socialization, play therapy and learning programs. The programs are open to all children, without prior selection and regardless of their socio-economic status. In addition to participating in the programs, the children themselves propose, devise and implement new programs and activities. By building the new DND House, SOC will have the opportunity to operate in an appropriate, flexible and multi-purpose space where the existing activities will reach their full potential. More importantly, this will allow for the opportunity to develop and implement new programs and activities.
As a new building, the DND House will raise its visibility, transform its surroundings for the better, activate the public space of the neighborhood and becomes a community center. Its design and architecture are a reference to the local industrial heritage, providing it with new facilities and imbuing it with new meaning. The space is designed to meet the specific needs of children with the aim of creating a safe and stimulating place for the development of children's (civic) participation and creativity. With the construction of the new House, the role of the SOC will become inseparable from the future life of the local and regional community.
Children's participation
Community hotspot
Kids habitat
Active citizenship
Education and creativity
DND House was designed in accordance with the principle of "do no significant harm" and the principles of circularity and sustainable construction as a flexible and multi-purpose space with the aim of sharing spatial resources, minimizing the required surface areas, materials and elements needed for construction. The spaces of the DND House, although clearly defined by future facilities and activities, are flexible enough to accommodate any other and new facilities.
Special attention was given to connecting the interior of the DND House and the exterior, where a lot of the activities also take place. Since the house is of an optimal surface area in relation to the area of the plot, the greater part of the plot is a natural green area: a lawn with local species of high greenery that will preserve or regenerate the local eco-system by applying nature-based feasible solutions. The high and low greenery help regulate the microclimatic conditions of the plot: this allows better soil permeability, natural shading of the building and protection from overheating, as well as natural protection from surrounding noise. In addition to creating a pleasant environment, the surrounding greenery has a positive effect on the energy balance of the building. The building is envisaged to exceed the current nZEB standard, producing its own energy in a rooftop PV system and using heat pumps for heating and cooling. The use of smart sensor systems will additionally guarantee energy efficiency and healthy indoor climate conditions.
Locally available recyclable materials will be used, which will enable a long and sustainable lifespan of the building, particularly in the construction and furnishing of the interior. The rich experience and know-how of local craftsmen will be incorporated into the design and construction of the building itself. With all of the above, efforts will be made to achieve the smallest possible carbon footprint of the building.
In a time of the digital revolution and socializing in digital meta-worlds, it is important to create, revitalize and maintain spaces for physical encounters and socialization. The DND House is an open and safe place for children, their interaction, exchange of experience, development of talents, play, creativity and transfer of knowledge.
The DND house is located opposite the grammar school building. The relationship between these two buildings will activate public use of the space between them and create a neighborhood center. In this sense, the outdoor area around the house with greenery, playgrounds, benches and stands is open and accessible to everyone, without any fences facing the street.
The DND House is organized into two floors. Since the plot is recessed in relation to the surrounding terrain, the first floor is accessed via the stands as the main floor. It is organized around a covered terrace that visually connects all the interior facilities. Children enter the cloakroom and put on slippers – a small but powerful gesture that reinforces the sense of home and belonging. From the cloakroom, they can access a smaller hall for choir rehearsals or the kitchen-room. The ground floor houses multipurpose spaces for various facilities and activities: playrooms, creative workshops, the children's council and forum.
The house is covered with a series of single-slope roofs, which, in terms of design, refer to the architectural industrial heritage of the immediate neighborhood, while in the interior, they create a rich sense of spaciousness and let in diffuse northern lighting. The rich spatial experience of the house, alternating outdoor and indoor spaces, multitude of materials, colors and objects also emphasize the educational character of the space itself; by experiencing and staying in the space, children are provided with insight into the potential of architecture and design in the transfer of knowledge, creation of community and developing imagination.
When designing the new DND House in Zabok, in order to make the program of activities even better and more inclusive, and to address the true needs of the community, we included the local community from the outset. In January of 2022, we started with an initial meeting attended by representatives of the City, County, the Social Welfare Center, regional development agencies, the kindergarten, primary school, secondary school, as well as architects, parents, members of the Zabok SOC and, above all, children, members of the Children's City Council and Forum of the SOC, since children's active participation is particularly important to us.
The conclusion of all 30 stakeholders was that the current premises of the SOC are inadequate and that a new space is required, which would meet all the needs of the current activities but also allow for new ones and be adapted to people with disabilities. We additionally involved the local community by creating a questionnaire for citizens to express their opinions on the way the initiative was to be developed and financed.
The guiding principle of the SOC has always been inclusiveness, regardless of the circumstances and social status of the beneficiaries. The programs we implemented include children of lower financial status, children with disabilities, and children who do not attend kindergarten. We also organize various humanitarian projects to help children in need.
Our main guideline is for the space to become a House that the children, and the entire community, will recognize as their own. This is precisely why, from the very outset, we have involved the local community and, above all, children, in order to create a home tailored to the needs of the children and the community through joint co-creation. A very important objective of the initiative is to strengthen the significance of the Zabok SOC and to put it on a level playing field with educational institutions that are under the competence of the City, County or State.
The local population and community will get a new center which, in addition to being a place of education, will also be a place for socializing. The new home of the Zabok SOC will strengthen the community, kick-start new facilities and projects, address current issues in the community, increase the number of employees and volunteers who will be involved in the center's activities.
Children will develop their potential, and the new center will also be an "oasis" for them: a place where they can feel safe and express their opinions and ideas, which will be respected and implemented. Acting in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the SOC initiates and organizes activities for children.
The new center will provide children with access to cultural and creative facilities such as a children's choir, playrooms, reading rooms, arts and creative, film, drama and dance workshops, which develop children's creativity, creative thinking and expression through play and artistic expression, exercises, storytelling and movement. This will develop children's specific skills, abilities and additional competencies to an even greater extent. The importance of creative and organized work with children in their free time is also one of the ways to prevent addiction and violence among children, and it certainly affects children's mental health for the better.
The DND House revitalizes the built environment and activates the micro-location because it offers a socially engaged program, but also a public (and green) space available to all. A larger residential complex is planned near the location, which additionally highlights the public nature of the space and the creation of a neighborhood center. The House has the potential to transform the neighborhood on several levels: it offers various types of facilities, activates the neighborhood's public areas, builds quality architecture and design, and ultimately changes the image of the location and the entire city.
The initiative primarily began as a grassroots movement on the local level, after which it received the support of the City of Zabok and Krapina-Zagorje County, which provided funds for the creation of the design documentation. This support was of great importance for the credibility and further development of the project, and confirms that the Zabok SOC is a very active organization in the community with extensive project experience. We, therefore, expect financial support from companies, organizations and citizens, as well as the use of financial resources from EU funds. In the development and preparation of the project, we are assisted by the regional development agency and the regional energy and climate agency. This means that NEB values, ambitions and guidelines from the NEB Compass were incorporated into the terms of reference for creating the design documentation.
In the process of developing this project, we have already included and will continue to include in the local working group created for the needs of this initiative all important stakeholders (NGOs, institutions, interested members of the local population) on the local, regional and national levels, who are essential for the successful development of the initiative and who are interested in mutual interaction and learning. Among other things, we presented the initiative to representatives of the County Chamber of Commerce and the County Chamber of Trades and Crafts, who expressed their desire to get involved and help with the implementation of the initiative. This makes it clear that this initiative is not only important for the local and regional social, educational and cultural sector, but also for the economy.
The Zabok SOC is part of the network of the Union of Societies "Our Children" in Croatia, which expressed its support for the project, and one of the reasons behind this is certainly the potential implementation of the construction model in other areas and cities where SOCs operate.
The facilities of the DND House and the program were devised through surveys, workshops and conversations, by sharing experience and knowledge among the SOC leaders, the local community, parents, architects and children. The combination of informal knowledge, children's wishes and professional guidance resulted in an inclusive program and optimal use of spatial resources.
After this participatory process, the creative development of the initiative and the architectural preliminary design of the DND House was developed in collaboration with architects, SOC leaders and experts (social pedagogues) as well as graphic and product designers. The SOC leaders devised the program of the House, which the architects and designers translated into spatial solutions. Social pedagogues participates in the design of specific spaces such as the play-therapy room.
Engineering professionals, including architects, civil engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, fire protection experts and structural engineers participated in designing the optimal construction, technical and energy solutions.
Members of the local working group formed for the needs of this initiative proactively participated in and supported all the processes and activities. In addition to the above stakeholders, this group also includes representatives of the City of Zabok and Krapina-Zagorje County, public-law bodies, regional agencies, the local economy, city schools and NGOs.
The construction of the DND House will involve participation of local craftsmen. The rich tradition of regional carpentry and locksmith production, furniture and textile coverings will be incorporated into the DND House with a contemporary design expression.
The DND House will be a meeting place, a place for the transfer of knowledge and experience among children (intergenerational) and other present participants, which includes professional guidance experts, educators, artists, parents and members of the local community.
In the SOC, most of the initiatives are kick-started by children, and the development of the new DND House premises is no exception. The SOC has Children's Council and Forum, where children propose and open topics they want to address, influence other children and the community, and kick-start initiatives. The children were also involved in defining the terms of reference, which served as the basis for the architectural design.
The initiative is an innovative step forward in relation to the town and region, as similar projects have not been implemented so far. The House will transform the community, as well as the built environment in a positive way: it introduces versatile and inclusive facilities, optimally uses spatial resources, enriches public space with greenery and trees, and offers a combination of architecture and design with a strong identity. The initiative teaches active participants as well as visitors about the sustainable and high-quality use of space and the implementation of activities. Ultimately, the House encourages children's creativity and innovation, with the children becoming replicators of the knowledge and experience they acquire here.
The activities of the SOC is particularly innovative in the field of informal education and the creation of activities in collaboration with children. Considering that, in formal education, developing handcraft skills in children is increasingly neglected. The SOC has worked on developing informal education programs that address this lack, supplementing and building on formal education. Volunteering has also been recognized in SOC as an important factor of positive change in the community, and a particularly important segment is the involvement of children in volunteering activities. Through informal forms of learning, children are introduced to the values and significance of volunteering. Through civic education, we develop comprehensive skills for volunteering, social solidarity and active citizenship.
Community involvement is the most important element of our initiative that can easily be applied in other towns, cities and other projects. In addition to civil society, this approach can also be applied to local government units and private initiatives.
Given that there is a network of local branches of the Society "Our Children" (106), united in the Union of SOCs across Croatia, it is also important that our initiative can be utilized as a pilot project for other SOCs throughout the country since, unfortunately, most of them face the same issue of a lack of premises where they could carry out their activities. Through the Union of SOCs in Croatia, which organizes Assemblies, Summer Schools and Counseling Programs for the local SOCs, the Zabok SOC would pass on its experiences related to the initiative and construction of the DND House. In this way, it would be an inspiration and incentive to other SOCs in towns, cities and municipalities throughout Croatia to move in the same direction.
We believe that this initiative would be of interest, valuable and applicable in many locations throughout Europe. The entire process, from the creation of the idea to the implementation, methodology and approach, as well as the program of activities, can be implemented in any European country, and the Zabok SOC is interested in cooperation, networking and exchange of knowledge and experience with interested partners.
The most important approach of the initiative is its inclusion of the stakeholders: children, members, Executive Committee and Assembly of the SOC, its volunteers, community, citizens, local and regional authorities and other stakeholders in the entire process from the very beginning of the initiative and the creation of the preliminary design. This approach aims at everyone accepting the initiative as their own and giving their contribution to the design and creation of a new space in their city and county. For the purposes of this initiative and the design and construction of the DND House, these stakeholders formed a local working group. The members of this working group proactively work on, co-create, participate in and actively contribute to the development and implementation of the initiative.
With its wide-ranging activities of creative work with children, SOC makes a significant contribution to the development of cultural growth and creativity in children and non-institutional education, as well as in the field of promoting a healthy lifestyle among children. High-quality and well-devised extracurricular activities primarily foster positive values, teaching them respect, the rights of individuals and diversity.
The years-long activities of Children's Forum and Council of the SOC have brought about positive changes in society with regard to children as they develop cooperation and friendship among children through activities that contribute to the familiarization with and understanding of children's rights. They raise awareness about the importance of peace, educate for mutual understanding and cooperation, non-violent conflict resolution, intercultural learning, multiculturalism and concern for sustainable development. Given that they are more informed and educated than their peers, the children from Children's Forum and Council have the opportunity to pass on this knowledge to other children and adults who make decisions at the local and national level.
It is often said that children represent the future, and it could be said that an active community can only be created through the involvement of children, considering that parents are prepared to do anything for their children, as do teachers, pedagogues and other stakeholders. Mayors and county prefects also tend to listen to children: children have the ability to unite adults. This initiative addresses all global challenges through applied local solutions precisely because it raises awareness among the youngest and teaches them to grow into responsible and active citizens who are ready to deal with climate, health, social, economic and all other global challenges.
Through active children's participation and volunteering, we teach them values of solidarity, humanity, tolerance and acceptance of diversity. Children and young people have the opportunity to express their opinions and ideas, feel equal to adults and are given the opportunity to respond to the needs of the community. This is an excellent way for children and young people to become productive and active members of the community during their childhood. Such inclusion has wide-reaching long-term effects since it creates future citizens who are aware of themselves and their environment, their needs and possibilities, as well as needs and possibilities of the community. The Zabok SOC brings children up through its participatory involvement and volunteering activities, and former members of the Children's Council and Forum become leaders of the center's activities, programs or assistants in workshops.
The new DND House has the physical appearance of a school and acts as a trigger for the transformation of its surrounding. Devised, designed and hopefully constructed in cooperation with the community, it also teaches children what is beautiful and sustainable, teaches them a conscientious attitude towards space, resources, the environment, people and other living beings, thereby promoting the values of NEB.
The "new House" would raise the quality of the existing activities and programs and make them even more interesting for both children and parents. Through workshops on sustainable development, children are continuously made aware of the 17 global goals of sustainable development so they can act proactively and design and participate in volunteering projects: planting flowers and trees, collecting waste, painting and graffitiing of neglected concrete walls.
So far, the facilities of the DND House have been designed through workshops, conversations and surveys, and have then been turned into the architectural terms of reference. The participation of the wider community in the preparation of the terms of reference created a positive atmosphere and a sense of identification with the project itself. In line with the terms of reference, the architects created the preliminary design of the DND House in December 2022. A more detailed plan is enclosed in the response to next question.
In the coming period, the project will be presented to the local businesses and craftsmen whose support is expected in its financing. A financing strategy for the implementation of the project is currently being developed at several levels: we plan to approach businesses who could support the project through larger donations. Also, our plan is to encourage the community to participate with smaller donations. With the help of the regional development agency and available resources from EU grants.
Once the new House is built, the plan is to develop new programs and additional facilities in addition to the existing programs and activities, which will meet the children's needs, such as a play therapy program, dance and drama workshops, cooking workshops, circus art workshops, architecture and urban planning workshops for children, landscape architecture and eco-garden projects, workshops teaching various instruments, learning assistance, foreign language workshops, birthday celebrations, etc.
Through the methodology, programs and activities that the Zabok SOC implements in its daily work, and which will be implemented in the new DND House, it contributes to the development of new competences. This is aligned particularly with the GreenComp European Sustainability Competence Framework, which we use in our daily work. The programs and the educational process support learning to adopt and master all 12 GreenComp competences (valuing sustainability, supporting fairness, promoting nature, systems thinking, critical thinking, problem framing, futures literacy, adaptability, exploratory thinking, political agency, collective action, individual initiative).
Pedagogical practices that can be effective in the development of competences that are established in the GreenComp framework and are particularly used in the daily work of the Zabok SOC include: active learning, transformational child-centered learning contexts - based on the design and the project, gamification, role playing, analysis of real cases from the local context, project-based learning, nature-based approaches to learning and collaborative approaches.
Considering that GreenComp is not prescriptive, but provides a conceptual reference model that can be used by all those involved in lifelong learning with different goals, we also use it to achieve the following activities and goals:
• To inform community stakeholders about the importance of learning for environmental sustainability
• To devise learning opportunities aimed at developing sustainability competences
• To create an offering of educational programs for the education of children
• To prepare teachers, volunteers and professional staff who work with children
• To sensitize policy makers, especially at the local and regional level, as well as stakeholders from the economic and educational sectors, to include in the development of their policies and programs the application of competences for sustainability and improve them.
