Dugnad Vesterbro is an initiative with people from
a local area in Copenhagen, Vesterbro, getting together to solve drug
related problems in their part of the city. It is social design of
solutions to drug problems.
Despite
thirty years of eager efforts to remove hard drugs from the area,
Vesterbro is still the place in Denmark with the most drug addicts and
this creates great problems for residents, businesses and indeed the
drug addicts themselves. Therefore, politicians, residents, social
workers and the police all support opportunities for new solutions.
In September 2005 residents, experts and authorities met in an interdisciplinary forum to put together a diverse catalogue of ideas. They came up with 101 solutions to the problem.
In September 2005 residents, experts and authorities met in an interdisciplinary forum to put together a diverse catalogue of ideas. They came up with 101 solutions to the problem.
A
workshop was then set up called Design Dugnad which brought creative
professionals and drug addicts from the area together to come up with
fresh ideas to this increasing conflict. The workshop provided ideas
for social design relating to the 101 solutions to the problem and
developed concrete proposals for implementation.
The
first fruit of these unusual meetings was the planning and realization
of a Dugnad Center with multiple purposes. The Dugnad Center is a place
for residents of the area to meet with the purpose of creating better
understanding between the different conflicting parties. The drug
addicts that have nowhere to go can meet the people that are tired of
used needles and users fixing openly in the streets. The Center also
provides nursing, conflict mediation, different activities and a place
to stay for the addicts.
The center will open mid 2007.


































































