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Quitzow is flourishing: New life in front of the church thanks to civic engagement!
Citizens of Quitzow spend 5,000 euros to design a new recreation area around the church; Support through participatory budgeting and village residents.
Quitzow is flourishing: New life in front of the church thanks to civic engagement!
A lot has happened in Quitzow, a tranquil place, in the recent past. The square in front of the village church was transformed into an inviting place to stay thanks to the commitment of the population. With the help of 5,000 euros from the Perleberg participatory budget, comfortable round benches, new chairs as well as height-adjustable bistro tables and beer benches were created. Mayor Axel Schmidt (independent) informed that after the project was completed, only 3.33 euros remained in the budget. This commitment shows how much the residents care about the collective design of their village.
The project was initiated by Ingo Müller and his wife Anne-Kathrin, with the local agricultural cooperative helping diligently and providing a wheel loader. Many villagers pitched in, laid paving stones around the trees and ensured that the new benches could be set up in July. The celebration to introduce the project took place last Saturday, where coffee, cake and music from “The lost village” lightened the atmosphere.
Importance of co-determination
The mayor Armin Schwarz emphasized the important role of democracy in the village, which is noticeable through such projects. Since 2022, the Romanian Orthodox parish has also been using the Quitzow Church for its services. With its historical substance, which dates back to the 13th century, the church is not only a religious but also a cultural center of the village.
The founding of the village association under the chairmanship of Steffen Krüger, who now counts 58 out of almost 300 residents, underlines the willingness to participate. The association's first project concerns the installation of a power connection for a planned barbecue station, which is to be financed with EU funding from the LEADER program. In the future, display boards are also planned that display speed controls on the village road - a further step towards improving the infrastructure.
Funding opportunities and rural development
But the Quitzower's commitment is not an isolated case. The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture promotes innovative projects to strengthen communities as part of the federal program “Rural Development – Strong Communities for Sustainable Rural Areas”. The feedback from the first funding measures shows positive effects on strengthening communities in rural regions. The funding is aimed at improving the quality of life and creating social meeting places.
The prerequisite is that the village is included in the village development program and has a recognized village development plan. As part of this funding, investments can be made that range from the design of village squares to multifunctional facilities. Depending on the region, the maximum funding amounts are between 30,000 euros and 2,500 euros per project. This financial support is important for the vitalization of rural areas and a sign of the appreciation of the village community.
Quitzow illustrates how village life can be sustainably revitalized through committed citizens and the right support. The numerous upcoming projects show that the village community is striving for future-oriented development in order to counteract demographic change and the challenges of modern times.