borderfuture

The borderfuture project, similar to the previous border(hi)stories project, is part of the Interreg Austria-Hungary programme in cooperation with 2 Austrian (IZ - Verein zur Förderung von Vielfalt, Dialog und Bildung, Wirtschaftsagentur Burgenland) and 3 Hungarian partners (NYUPAN, GYMS- und VAS Vármegye Önkormányzata).

Borderfuture is based on the knowledge of the border(hi)stories project (on the history of the Austria-Hungary border region in the 20th century and the materials developed for it) and will utilise and further develop the results in the long term.

During the border(hi)stories project, it was recognised that interpersonal contacts in the border region are limited and that there are social prejudices among the population on both sides of the border. There was also a need to develop a future perspective in order to learn directly from past experiences and initiate sustainable change.

The declared main objective of the project is to create a "future region" in which citizens, administrations and organisations in the border region are able to think together about a common future and develop a perspective for the future. This is to be addressed and designed as part of the project’s activities (e.g. dialogue events, training sessions, school projects).

This builds on the experience and the success of the previous border(hi)stories project and the existing network of connections in the region. We developed the borderfuture project, which will begin in 2025 and run for 36 months.

As part of the project, a range of activities will be organised to bring people together and strengthen regional cohesion. On the other hand, educational activities that reach all generations (from school children to the elderly) contribute to strengthening democracy and a positive experience of social diversity.

Through the implementation of these activities, intergenerational dialogue, skills in dealing with democracy and social diversity will be strengthened and historical awareness will be promoted: Lessons learnt from the past will inspire and guide future collective action.

The activities of the project are divided into two main work packages.

1. As part of Social/Cultural Regional Development", cross-border school projects, democracy workshops and intercultural trainings are being carried out. Residents on both sides of the border - especially the target group of young people - work together on the basic objectives of the project.
2. The People-to-people activities („living in the border region together, not side by side") focus on direct contacts and encounters that are able to directly connect the population of the border region ("open days", intergenerational dialogue events, media campaigns, etc.).

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