Jutas Picnic and Olympics . Community development on the housing estate
During the project entitled "Jutas Picnic and Olympics – Community Development in the Housing Estate," we welcomed interested participants with open university lectures at Agora and Jutasi Square, a fence drawing competition and pavement chalk drawing competition at schools and nurseries, community games in our building, Jutas photo collection, yoga, Nordic walking, mini picnics in parks, and the three-day Jutasi Picnic and Olympics event. The latter took place over three days at three different locations, each with a different theme. In the park in front of Deák School, we prepared circus activities (acrobatics, acro yoga, juggling, equipment rental, special performances) and experience-based activities. In Kálvin János Park and Táborállás Park, we delighted visitors with sports and movement-related programs, group exercise, running competitions, skill and sports demonstrations, foosball, ping pong, climbing walls, teqball, chess, sports equipment, family and children's programmes as well as gastronomic events.
One pillar of the community development programs is knowledge sharing (e.g., talks on local history, art history and healthy living at the Knowledge Source open university), another is the artistic aspect (e.g., drawing competitions, photo collection, concerts, experiential music-making, collaborative creative processes), and the third is promoting healthy lifestyles (e.g., yoga, Nordic walking, physical activity programmes, competitions).
In 2023, our work expanded and welcomed interested participants with even more diverse programmes, new themes and speakers. During our community-building activities, shared experiences were created and common goals were articulated with the involvement of local residents. We successfully reached all age groups, especially the youth. Many people connected with the modern, experience-based programmes, and the activity levels of schoolchildren and preschoolers exceeded our expectations. Thanks to the events we offered, the cultural, artistic and community life of the residents became more vibrant and meaningful. While taking into account local traditions, innovation, novelty, and creativity were also embraced. The events enriched the community with lasting experiences and served the residents in the long term. Through increasingly strong community involvement and a diverse range of events, we significantly strengthened the Jutas brand.
The programmes primarily attracted schoolchildren, preschoolers and young adults and adults living in the housing estate and the area, but guests also arrived from other towns in the country. We plan to continue several programme elements in the future, including mini picnics, open university lectures and spatial use events.
