New European Bauhaus Prizes 2023

Initiative category

Identify the award category for which this initiative is being submitted
Prioritising the places and people that need it the most

Email user
juventudugena@gmail.com

Basic information
Initiative title
Ugena, the town of happiness

Full initiative Title
"A Virus called Rural Equality and Innovation": leisure, free time and well-being

Please provide a short, catchy description of your initiative to be used in communication towards the public.
Ugena, a town in Toledo, in Castilla La Mancha (Spain), has used leisure and free time as a tool for equality, social transformation and social innovation, implementing spaces, times and experiences of emotional well-being in the different life groups of the municipality (childhood, families, seniors, youth...). It constitutes an instrument of learning, coexistence and social co-responsibility through leisure.
"What drives and drags the world are not machines but ideas"
(Victor Hugo)

What was the geographical scope of your intiative?
Local

Where was your intiative implemented?
Member State(s) and Western Balkans
Spain

If relevant, insert names of region(s)/municipality(ies) involved
UGENA
TOLEDO
CASTILLA LA MANCHA
SPAIN

Does your initiative address mainly urban or rural issues?
Mainly rural

Does your initiative refer to a physical transformation of the built environment or other types of transformations (hard or soft investments)?
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)

Has your initiative benefited from EU programmes and/or funds?
No

Has your initiative won an EU prize with a monetary value awarded?
No

Does your initiative has a minimum level of maturity? The minimum level of maturity is exemplified by stakeholder/ initiative promoter commitment to implement the initiative in practice and a clear methodology /approach.
Yes

On whose behalf are you submitting the application?
As a representative of an organisation
Please provide the contact details for the project promoter (the individual or representative of the organisation authorised to represent the project)
- Name of the organisation(s): Ugena Town Hall
  Type of organisation: Public authority (European/national/regional/local)
  First name of representative: LOURDES
  Last name of representative: GUTIERREZ RODRÍGUEZ
  Gender: Female
  Nationality: Spain
  Function: Councilor for Youth, Participation, Human Resources and the 2030 Agenda
  Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Palace Square, 1
  Town: Ugena
  Postal code: 45217
  Country: Spain
  Direct Tel: +34649653158
  E-mail: juventudugena@gmail.com
  Website: https://www.ugena.es/
Social Media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.)
- URL: https://www.instagram.com/juventudugena/?hl=es
  Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): #juventudugena
In case my initiative is selected as a finalist of the NEB Prizes 2023, I agree to share the name (individual and/or organisation’s), email address, website and social media accounts indicated above with other NEB Prizes finalists. I also agree to publish the name (individual and/or organisation’s), website and social media accounts indicated above next to the public description of my initiative in the channels of the European Commission.
Yes

How did you hear about the New European Bauhaus Prizes?
Social Media

Description of the initiative
Please provide a summary of your initiative
The program "A virus called Equality and Innovation
social" constitutes an essential instrument of
learning and coexistence through equality,
innovation, intergenerational initiatives,
participation, conciliation, values, rights,
empowerment, coeducation, co-responsibility,
transformations and gender perspective.

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with 5 key words.
EQUALITY

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
INNOVATION

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
LEISURE AND FREE TIME

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
UBUNTU

Please give information about the key objectives of your initiative in terms of sustainability and how these have been/will be met. Please highlight how the initiative can be exemplary in this context.
The awareness and sensitization of respect and care for the environment has been very present through different talks in educational centers and with the development of actions that combine health, sport and nature such as "plogging". Likewise, we are energizing with games and various activities in municipal parks with families in order to play, spend time with the family, get to know and take care of the green spaces of the municipality and raise awareness about the importance of caring for the space that we inhabit and transit in the everyday.
This project can be an example for the way to raise awareness and educate through games and sports, two essential ingredients that are part of the essence of people.

Please give information about the key objectives of your initiative in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience for people (through design, positive emotions and cultural benefits) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the initiative can be exemplary in this context.
Emotional well-being, happiness, quality of life are the hallmarks of the different projects that come together in this ambitious and rigorous Equality and Social Innovation project. Equality because it is open to any age and gender, Innovation because it means growing something that did not exist and doing it slowly, reflectively and with the participation of all life groups in the municipality.
Laughter therapy activities with the elderly, talks and workshops on "Self-esteem, Values, Emotions and Social Skills" with adolescents and their families, coaching sessions (we call it "nests") where we personalize and humanize problems and life circumstances, excursions to the nature, recreational spaces with which to combat the sedentary lifestyle and immobility that social networks often entail, among other actions.
This project positively replicates the individual, collective and community health of the population due to the encounter, relationship, experiences that it generates through the different social and educational ecosystems of the municipality.

Please give information about the key objectives of your initiative in terms of inclusion (ranging from accessibility and affordability for all to inclusive governing systems, design for all principles or new societal models) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the initiative can be exemplary in this context.
Three key words merge around the happiness that is being generated in the municipality: equality, innovation and inclusion.
Open admission criteria, without any discrimination for all activities, with the creation of a Child and Youth Participation Council that analyzes the inclusion in childhood, adolescence, youth, in the architecture of the houses and streets of the municipality, seeking solutions for everyone, giving the support that each one needs in order to feel capable, autonomous and one more in their municipality.
In addition, an inclusion project is being developed with people with functional and social diversity, in order to provide the spaces, materials and times that allow them to reconcile their needs, difficulties with their work and family responsibilities, for the sake of their own well-being and happiness.

Please explain the way citizens benefiting from or affected by the initiative and civil society have been/will be involved in the initiative and what has been/will be the impact of this involvement on the initiative
Groups and people from the municipality of Ugena with needs, circumstances, life experiences where
may or have converged, there were forms of violence, discrimination and/or gender gaps. Likewise, it will be
open to all life groups (childhood, youth, families, the elderly...) giving them an active role,
civic and social in the phased development of the program.
Likewise, we have a network of associations, local entities, groups with which we are going to generate
exchanges, meetings, dialogues, egalitarian proposals that favor belonging to a philosophy of
intervention, to a territory and to the community.
TRANSCENDENCE
Ocioteca "Family Reconciliation Space":
5 to 10 participants
Ugena Council for Childhood and Adolescence:
25 to 35 participants
Conciliation "JUVENTUDUGENA" (days without school and urban colonies):
150 to 170 participants
Workshop "Self-esteem, Emotions and Social Skills":
20 to 30 participants
Ugena Youth Space 10/17:
120 to 140 participants
Leisure in Municipal Parks:
50 to 70 participants
Excursions:
300 to 340 participants

Please explain how different stakeholders at various levels (local, regional, national, European) were engaged in the design and implementation of the initiative.
We have the support of the Autonomous Community of Castilla La Mancha through support, advice and budget allocation, the local corporation is aware of and has satisfactorily accepted the inclusion of this project in the collectives and social and educational ecosystems of the municipality. Likewise, we received recognition of a national award from the "ALARES" foundation. And, above all, we are very proud that childhood, adolescence, the elderly, and families have warmly welcomed each of the projects in this ambitious program (leisure library, ugena youth space 10/17, excursions, leisure in municipal parks, plogging, emotional well-being workshops...)

Please explain which disciplines and/ or knowledge fields were reflected in the design and implementation of your initiative. Please explain how representatives of these different fields interacted with each other, and what the added value of this process was
The work process followed an active, cooperative methodology between the politicians of the Ugena corporation, local associations, educational centers, health centers and other active agents of the community.
A mapping of needs, interests, motivations was made through conversations on the street, listening to the students in the educational centers, with the participant observation of educators responsible for the program, among all participatory research methods.
Likewise, the project was presented to the community, on social networks and with the gradual implementation of the different projects and activities, we detected difficulties and proposals to continue improving. It is an open, participatory and collaborative process with the entire community. The term "UBUNTU" defines us, I am through others, that is our greatest purpose, to create community.

Please highlight the innovative character of the initiative, when compared to mainstream actions in the field of the initiative
The innovative character is present in the work philosophy, in the design of the program under two key terms such as innovation itself and equality. It is a municipality that was asleep in spaces, times and experience of leisure and individual, collective and community free time. A feeling of ownership of a program has been generated, a way of doing things based on good treatment, active listening and pedagogical tact in everything that is done. As an example, an old warehouse has been converted into a space for young people where they make it their own with their assistance, participation in various activities. It is one more socialization space in their lives.

Please describe which elements of your initiative could be replicated or transferred to other places, groups of beneficiaries and contexts. This may involve, for example, aspects of the methodology, technology, processes, products, learnings, etc.
It is a transformational program that can be replicated in other municipalities in a simple, inclusive and educational way. We are weaving possibilities of collaboration with neighboring municipalities through the organization of talks in educational centers, the organization of activities, sharing activities such as excursions that are open to children and adolescents in the municipalities, we welcome the population of other municipalities in our educational spaces of family reconciliation, for example.
It only requires work, cementing good treatment, respect, pedagogical delicacy and rigorous work among all of them. It does not require a large budget item, just ensuring the presence of educators with sense and social responsibility that allow them to work and dream. No less important, it is to point out that many activities are self-financed with the money we collect from registration for excursions, workshops, for example.

Please describe the methodology or approach used in your initiative.
We use a methodology based on action, participation, listening, collaboration and cooperation between the various socio-educational agents, institutional representatives and target groups to which the activities are directed.
Informal conversations, participant observation, affective and understanding listening, confidentiality, personalization, evaluations (diagnostic, continuous, final, transcendent), sending online questionnaires with which to gather information, are very helpful instruments to continue sowing happiness and emotional well-being in the town.

Please explain what kind of global challenges the initiative addresses by providing local solutions
The main challenge is to maintain the support of the Plan Corresponsables de Castilla la Mancha, it is an election year and we do not know if they will continue with this type of public policy.
Another challenge is to follow and improve individual, social and community emotional well-being through the program. We are confident that the good initial reception and its evolution in the following months have been very positive and have had a great impact on the lives of the inhabitants of Ugena.
We will remain attentive to maintaining what is good, improving what can be improved and undertaking new leisure and free time actions that allow all members of the rural community to be nurtured with positive emotions and quality of life.

Please detail the scope of progress in the implementation of the initiative. This can include already demonstrated results/outputs related to the chosen Prizes category, and the already achieved benefits from the initiative for direct and indirect beneficiaries. This can also include a development plan of the initiative, with a particular attention to the steps envisaged in the year following the application, and including envisaged results and benefits from the initiative
We have these sources of funding that determine its scope and duration over time, we trust that the rural municipality of Ugena will grow in order to increase recipients and resources.

TRANSCENDENCE:
Ocioteca "Family Reconciliation Space":
5 to 10 participants

Ugena Council for Childhood and Adolescence:
25 to 35 participants

Conciliation "JUVENTUDUGENA" (days without school and urban colonies):
150 to 170
participants

Workshop "Self-esteem, Emotions and Social Skills":
20 to 30 participants

Ugena Youth Space 10/17:
120 to 140 participants

Leisure in Municipal Parks:
50 to 70 participants

Excursions:
300 to 340 participants

Please provide documents that demonstrate the maturity level of the initiative and commitment to implement the initiative in practice (e.g.: evaluation report, final or mid-term initiative report, certification, publications, building permit, grant agreement, letter of support, partnership agreement, etc.)
Web link
Web link
- https://www.instagram.com/juventudugena/?hl=es
If relevant, please describe how your initiative contributes to developing new competences, especially in the context of the European competence framework on sustainability.
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Please attach at least 6 high resolution images or visual representations of your initiative to your application.
If you would like to upload additional documentation, please upload or write below.
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By submitting your application you confirm that you are the copyright owner of the images provided and that they can be used by the European Commission for the purposes of promoting the New European Bauhaus on all platforms (websites, print, social media and other).
Yes

By ticking this box, you declare that you are not in in one or more of the exclusion situations foreseen under Article 136 of the Financial Regulation.
Yes

By submitting this application, I declare that I am not related to the entities subject to EU restricted measures under Article 29 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and subject to Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU)1, and entities covered by Commission Guidelines No 2013/C 205/05), which are not eligible to participate in any capacity.
Yes

By ticking this box, you declare that all the information provided in this form is factually correct, that you assume sole liability in the event of a claim relating to the activities carried out in the framework of the contest, that the proposed initiative has not been proposed for the New European Bauhaus Prizes in any other category or strand and that it has not been subject to any type of investigation, which could lead to a financial correction because of irregularities or fraud.
Yes

By submitting your application, you guarantee that you are the author or have the rights to proceed with the application and to authorise the use of the initiative and that you have obtained any necessary consents, licenses or assignments from third parties and included copyright notices when necessary
Yes

By submitting your application, you understand that all the applications that meet the eligibility requirements will be shared for the purposes of the selection processes, and notably published on the secured platform prizes.new-european-bauhaus.eu and for the purposes of the promotion of these on the New European Bauhaus website and/or other European Commission communication channels. In this sense, the applications would be widely available. Applicants should ensure that they present their initiatives, initiative, in such a way that they could be shared without giving rise to intellectual property related concerns. If your submission is selected as one of the finalists, it will additionally be shared for the purpose of the public vote that will take place. The European Union is granted a licence to use and share your application with the general public and the official external experts for the purposes of the selection process, including the voting. The European Union has the right to use the images and visual materials and the description provided in the application for communication purposes related to the contest and beyond. Rights granted comprise the right to store, reproduce, display, publish and communicate or distribute copies in electronic or digital format, including, but not only, through the internet. Unless you have disclosed your name, the European Commission has no obligation to share your name when using or disseminating your contribution to the public. The European Union cannot be held responsible in case any submitted initiative, initiative is found to infringe third party’s rights. The European Union shall be neither responsible for the use that third parties may do of the applications or related content.
Yes

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that you read and understand that the ‘Guide to Applicants’ of the NEB Prizes 2023, available online in the website of the NEB Prizes 2023, is an integral part of this application form and that it must therefore be observed when completing and submitting your application.
Yes