Several committed tenant representatives in Siemensstraße 21-55, an area in the north of Vienna predominately comprising of municipal housing, initiated the association ALIWA in 2017. ALIWA (an acronym of the founding members’ names) is supported by wohnpartner as well as the district government in its attempts to increase well-being and a local identity. The wohnpartner run community centre (BWZ), provides ALIWA with a base for residents to meet and share experiences and a platform from which they can participate in tenant-led activities.
Inspired by wohnpartner’s way of working, ALIWA aims at bringing people together through events and projects. ALIWA aims many of its activities towards children and young people, understanding that they are the future of the area as well as seeing them as connectors for all generations in a richly diverse neighbourhood. A football match for young people and a carnival celebration for children were notably the highlights of the early part of 2018
Another focus of ALIWA’s voluntary work is the nurturing of a local identity by conveying historical consciousness. With the help of contemporary witnesses, old photographs and maps, ALIWA is discovering the history of the local council estate which was built in post-war Vienna for and with the help of local residents. The findings will be showcased in an exhibition in 2019. This exhibition about the area’s history will also be complemented with aspects of contemporary life, aiming to foster intergenerational dialogue.
ALIWA is a prime example of how wohnpartner has been able to empower municipal housing residents to form independent associations to promote community cohesion on a voluntary basis.
