Activating and connecting Pradl East

THE CHALLENGE
As part of the MCI's Master's program in "Social Work, Social Policy & Management", ten students, together with our project leaders Mag.Paul Klumpner and Florence Fritz M.A., spent two semesters researching and working on the topic "Activation and Networking in Pradl East". Young Caritas, in the person of Maximilian Gritsch, the future director of the Caritas Integration House, approached the program with this research assignment that had the aim of further promoting community work. The community work projects carried out by the Integrationshaus are designed to create a network and activation in the Pradl district. For this purpose it is necessary to get to know important key players and to form co-operations.

OUTCOMES
After the definition of the social space "Pradl Ost", a district survey with subsequent mapping, the most important 46 actors were identified. First, a network map was created and analyzed. Taking into account the "size of the network" and "the nature of the relationships", a value of 0.04 was determined, which indicates a low level of networking. On this basis, 23 interviewees were selected and qualitative data on networking was collected. The qualitative survey showed that there is a great deal of interest among the interviewees in stronger networking among social actors in the district. Taking into account the wishes and suggestions of the actors, a first networking meeting was planned and carried out.

The most important, current district topics are "infrastructure", "old age" and "housing". Looking to the future, "structural consolidation" and "integration" play an important role. In terms of strengths and weaknesses, the district under study can boast public transport connections, a quiet location, while at the same time being central and having good local amenities. The weaknesses addressed were the declining cohesion within the neighbourhood, redensification and high rents. The lack of a district center and small-scale structures were also criticized.

The project objective of identifying and activating important actors in the district Pradl Ost and inviting them to a first round of networking was fully achieved. The 23 interviews within the catchment area showed that there is a need and desire for networking, even if this requires time resources and responsibility.