AUTONOMOUS CENTRE -‐ ACT

AUTONOMOUS CENTRE -‐ ACT

MISSION

Autonomous Centre - ACT is an association of citizens that are using information, counseling, training and other forms of support for the development of civil society, eco-social economy, free culture and socially engaged art.

VISION

A society with equal access to resources, knowledge and information where each individual is important, responsible and work proactive for the benefit of society and nature.

generator of positive social change

Insufficient usage of global connections and ownership of resources (both material and information), which is a consequence of the struggle for power and capital, is causing at various levels differences in quality of life of individuals; selective access to information, knowledge and technology; environmental degradation; creation of social classes and the stagnation of development of the society as a whole.

sees a solution to the problems in equal opportunities for all

especially in decision-‐making processes -‐ where prerequisite is a strong and well-‐developed civil society. The concept of eco-‐social economy, which includes social justice and sustainable use and protection of natural resources, should be introduced as an alternative to neoliberal capitalism, which is proven to be harmful to the majority of the population and the Earth as a whole. The third condition for sustainable development is that the entire social heritage (culture) becomes public domain and is used for the benefit of local communities and society.

wants to use development projects, by using innovative methods

to flexibly respond to the problems and needs of local communities and regions. Through the involvement of all stakeholders in the community, and by sharing knowledge and experience in the region, the Autonomous Centre -‐ ACT acts locally, but also creates universal concepts that, together with the results, gives back to the community for further free use and supports anyone interested in further development of these resources.

uses different methods of training, counselling and informing

in its work and tries to empower key stakeholders in the development of a particular area. A bottom-‐up approach is used very often – both in terms of content (solving the causes of the problems) and in terms of stakeholders (empowerment of target groups and thus making them able to contribute to solving problems and their causes). Not only this way we operate long term, but there are also multiplier effects as the empowered stakeholders develop their own projects and activities, they create new collaborations and partnerships and they become recognisable in their community. In the project implementation processes we find the exchange of knowledge and experience very important, just as important as the distribution of work in partnerships with stakeholders from all sectors and with stakeholders from other countries.

in 2011, eight years after it was founded, has seven employees

project managers, project assistants and finance manager. Besides the work on projects in the association, the employees are actively involved in local, national and regional partnership initiatives, advocacy coalitions and policy networks. The employees own continuing education, as well as their personal and professional development, is very important within the organisation. The organisation in their work applies the principles of good governance for civil society organisations, and since 2007 has implemented the Quality assurance system for non-‐profit organisations -‐ SOKNO.

is one of five centres of support for the development of social entrepreneurship

in Croatia (as a part of the Forum of Social Entrepreneurship -‐ SEFOR), and coordinates one of five regional networks of specialised civil society organisations – JAKO Programme – which is a part of a comprehensive Programme of regional development and strengthening capacities of civil society organisations at local and regional levels implemented by the National Foundation for Civil society development. From its very beginnings Autonomous Centre -‐ ACT has developed a unique archive of independent self-‐publishing publications from the region, which constitutes only one part of the rich holdings of the Library and reading room “Tabula rasa”. The library has recently opened the door to the Volunteer Office of Međimurje County, and a new Office for the development of trans‐disciplinary and new media culture is soon to be opened.

through the previous year has mostly financed its projects through pre‐accession EU funds

and national donors / sponsors were used as co-‐financing. An important part of ensuring the organisational financial sustainability is achieved by providing training and consulting services, and through various entrepreneurial experiments, activities of social enterprises ACT Printlab Ltd. (http://printlab.hr/), ACT Konto Ltd. (http://act- konto.hr) and social cooperative Humana Nova (www.humananova.eu) of which the Autonomous Centre ‐ ACT is both a founder and a member. Within the next 2‐3 years the social enterprises consortium portfolio will be complemented by a eco‐social agricultural cooperative, a restaurant with organic/ bio-dynamic food, a centre for education and employment of persons with disabilities and a credit union.

is a member of the following networks/alliances/initiatives:

Clubture Network -‐ http://www.clubture.org/

Croatian Youth Network -‐ http://www.mmh.hr/

ESENSEE -‐ Eco Social Economy Network South and East Europe -‐ http://www.esensee.org/

Social Entrepreneurship Forum -‐ SEFOR

ECAS -‐ European Citizen Action Service -‐ http://www.ecas-‐citizens.eu/

Stanica M.I.R. -‐ http://stanicamir.org/

Croatian Network for Cooperation in the Euro-‐Mediterranean

OUR FIRST SEVEN YEARS IN NUMBERS /2003-‐2010/:

* 67 successfully implemented projects * organised a total of 1 086 events -‐ 330 workshops/ trainings, 123 lectures, 1 conference, 21 public forums, 61 public action, 151 screening, 13 festivals, 85 concerts, 18 music evenings/ parties, 4 video music evenings, 37 literary programmes, 2 plays, 3 performances, 23 exhibitions, 44 presentations/ promotions, 58 learning exchange programmes, 2 open LAN parties, 71 internet radio broadcast, 39 excursions * published 28 publications (books, journals, reports, manuals, newsletters, newspapers) + 48 issues of our e-‐newsletter *35 300 direct beneficiaries * approximately 26 220 volunteer hours * approximately 29 310 working hours * 305 500 € in total revenues * active cooperation / partnership with more than 200 national and international organisations * a dozen of our own, programme and project websites

http://actnow.hr/

http://programjako.info/

http://tabularasa.hr/

http://slobodnifestival.info/

http://actfest.info/

http://esco-‐project.info/

http://www.twinningcities.eu