Kempodium, Allgäu Self-sufficiency Centre (Kempodium, Allgäuer Zentrum für Eigenversorgung)
Kempodium is an innovative community platform. In the framework of hobby workshops, courses, school projects, children’s workshops, bazaars, cultural events a second-hand shop and through opportunities for involvement in decision-making, people can become active in various crafts and at the social and cultural level. They also discover and make use of the resources of the region. The scheme promotes the civil society, social communication, the regional identity and a feeling of belonging, and builds social capital.
Project executive
Kempodium is run by a non-profit organisation called Kempodium e.V., Kempten, which was founded in March 2002 to promote the craft, cultural and social skills of the people in town and country, a do-it-yourself approach and self-sufficiency, the regional identity, and the development of a sustainable style of life and economic activity. The membership mainly comprises the professional and voluntary actors, users and other supporters.
Participants
anstiftung ggmbh, Local Agenda 21, Zweckverband für Abfallwirtschaft (waste disposal co-operative), Feneberg Lebensmittel (foodstuffs), Stadtteilbüro Thingers (neighbourhood office), Volkshochschule Kempten ('adult education centre), Berufsfortbildungszentrum (vocational training), Berufsbildungszentrum (vocational training), Stadt Kempten (municipal authority), Kinderschutzbund (child welfare), Stadtjugendring (municipal youth organisation), Forstverwaltung (forestry office), Tauschring Cambodunum (barter club), BioRing Allgäu (organic produce), parish offices, schools and kindergartens, Diakonie (welfare), STRATUM, Bundesvereinigung Kulturelle Jugendbildung (youth work), Netzwerk Eigenarbeit (do-it-yourself), LEADER-Aktionsgruppe Regionalentwicklung Altusried-Oberallgäu e.V. (regional development), Kempten University of Applied Sciences.
Objectives
The objective is to help increase people’s appreciation of the region and its resources through social networks, a culture of trust and mutual support, and opportunities to participate in decision-making. Kempodium encourages people to find meaningful activities and to become aware of the region and local space for the experiences and opportunities for participation it offers. At the same time, individual needs are related to the need for moderation in the use of natural, social and cultural resources. The intention is to offer people attractive experiential fields for a sustainable style of life in which renunciation is replaced by a do-it-yourself and do-it-together approach as the door to the advantages of this style of life. Do-it-yourself, barter, sharing, and discovering and using regional resources empower the individual to experience and experiment with a sustainable life style. Shaping your own world, creating useful and beautiful things, and involvement in a system of human dimensions create close ties to one’s living space.
Activities
So far 9 different projects have been developed: 1) collaboration with volunteers, 2) self-organised cultural events (dances, exhibitions, theatre, concerts, readings), farmers markets and handicraft fairs, bazaars for bicycles, books, gardening and games, and seasonal events, 3) extensive programme for children: children’s workshop, children’s cookery class, holiday centre, children’s birthdays, 4) supervised use of professional workshops in wood and metal-working, ceramics, wool, paper and stone as well as sewing and cooking, 5) full programme of courses in all workshops for beginners and advanced, 6) intensive cooperation with education providers for school projects, practical classes and vocational training, 7) communicative café, 8) second-hand shop for furniture, the home, crockery and books, 9) (rental) facilities for group activities and private parties.
Results
In 2004 alone Kempodium was used in one way or another 24000 times, and its popularity is growing. Over 200 people make use of the workshops for courses and their own work. No fewer than 2300 children attended the kids’ workshops. The second-hand shop attracted an average of 80 callers per day. 35 school classes participated in a school project. 25 different events were organised, mainly on a volunteer basis, with a total audience of 10,000. They included the “Move your body” no-smoking disco, “Dance in May”, concerts, readings and exhibitions of the work of regional artists, improtheatre with follow-up workshops, “African Night”, an art mart and the first daring steps by lay actors in front of a real audience. A total of 20 groups and initiatives meet in the framework of Kempodium. More than 5000 people came to the various private parties. Over 40 volunteers are active on a regular basis, planning and organizing projects and events.
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