Suwon City Shares Results of 2023 Community-Building Resident Proposal Contest

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Suwon Special City held a '2023 Community-Building Resident Proposal Contest Results Sharing Session' at the Suwon Convention Center on the 16th and presented awards to outstanding community organizations.

The 'Community-Building Resident Proposal Contest' is a project that supports residents in taking the initiative to solve local problems and facilitating active communication for village development. This year, 49 communities were selected across three types—▲community living labs ▲community autonomous activities ▲community activation—and carried out their projects.

For the 'Community Living Lab' category, ▲Jidong Residents' Autonomy Council (Eastern Village Jidong promoting carbon neutrality—proper food waste disposal) ▲Gwonseon 1-dong Residents' Autonomy Council (food upcycling using local resources) ▲Pajang-dong Residents' Autonomy Council (mini fire station in our neighborhood) were selected as outstanding communities, and for 'Community Autonomous Activities,' ▲Maetan 3-dong Residents' Autonomy Council (beautiful Maeyeoul Eoul Center through close encounters) was selected.

In the 'Community Activation' sector, ▲Filmagri Urban Farmers (creating a community garden in Yeonghwa-dong) △Association for Maehyang-dong (Maehyang-dong flower seed bank) ▲5070 Happy Life (building a mentally healthy community) were selected as outstanding communities.

The results sharing session featured presentations on project progress and outcomes, case presentations of outstanding communities, a community-building contest trivia quiz, remarks from Suwon Special City Mayor Lee Jae-jun, a 'Hope Lantern' lighting ceremony, a talk concert with Mayor Lee, and awards ceremony for outstanding communities.

Meanwhile, the Suwon Urban Foundation held a recruitment for communities to participate in the three project types of the 'Community-Building Resident Proposal Contest' during January and February. After document screening and expert review, 49 selected communities carried out the projects.

Suwon City Mayor Lee Jae-jun stated, "I believe community organizations play a central role in solving urban problems," and added, "Today's achievements were made possible because there were citizens who, even in difficult circumstances, believed in the value of community and upheld it." He further said, "I will steadily support our city to become one where residents are the protagonists."