How would you spend $50,000 to assist newcomers in Victoria?
Did You Know: Close to 20% of Victoria’s population is composed of immigrants or refugees. Many face significant social and economic barriers to integration into Canadian society.
To help alleviate these challenges, the City of Victoria and the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA) have come together to establish the 2020 Participatory Budget initiative.
What is Participatory Budgeting?
Participatory Budgeting is an innovative, democratic process that gives the entire community the opportunity to participate and to decide how to invest a portion of the City’s budget. This initiative is part of the City of Victoria’s citizen engagement plan. The 2020 Participatory Budget focuses on projects that work to improve life for newcomers in Victoria.
If you have an idea for a project, initiative or event that could enrich and enhance the lives of newcomers to Victoria, this is your opportunity! The Participatory Budget Steering Committee invites you to submit proposals. Eligible project proposals will be voted on by the public later this summer. Proposals can be for some, or all, of $40,000, with an additional $10,000 set aside for programs requesting $2000 or less.
What kinds of projects are eligible?
In past years, projects have included a series of workshops to learn about up-cycling and altering unwanted clothes, an art and recreation program for underprivileged youth, and a ‘Perfect Parenting’ program for young parents. Basically, the project must address the needs of the community and have tangible results.
Projects can be proposed by either individuals or community organizations and must have strong community support.
Proposals and Project Submissions
More details on proposal submissions can be found on the City of Victoria Participatory Budgeting webpage: https://engage.victoria.ca/participatory-budgeting/. The webpage includes links for the two-step application process and the Participatory Budgeting Rulebook; please review the Rulebook before starting your application. Support for development of proposals can be found through Virtual Participatory Open House sessions to be held on July 7 and July 11, 2020, and through the Outreach Team ([email protected]).
Given that we are living in a time of physical distancing, virtual projects are encouraged!
Get your ideas in by 4 pm July 31st, 2020!
