Project OUTdoors

Problem Statement: All historic cities have evolved to restrict equitable access to resources and opportunities to their citizens. Addressing the urban issues related to equitable access to green infrastructure and open spaces, women’s safety, and the health and well-being of the citizens is important to achieve a sustainable pathway for city development. This initiative intends to do the same through the lens of heritage. This project is for every fast and busy city resident and those visiting these geographical settings. The repository is an easy-access solution to discover new places, green areas, or heritage sites that will be perfect for your next adventure, a simple outing, or a break day! 

Target Group: 

• Citizens of the project cities (focus on sensitive community groups, such as children, senior citizens, specially abled, economically weaker sections of the society, etc.)


•  NGOs and environmental workers


• Heritage enthusiasts and professionals


• Tourists (local, national and international)


• Urban Development professionals 


• Urban Local Bodies

Proposed Solution: The project focuses on realising the role of heritage in achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals in the context of Indian cities enriched with built and natural heritage (starting with NCR, Pune and Kolkata). The project is a collection of uncommon locations and places you can visit when exploring your city and nearby areas. These consist of natural heritage and built heritage sites, which can help you reconnect with nature and culture, improve well-being and push for more sustainable cities. Through an online repository of heritage sites, webinars and heritage walk/workshops, this project wants to establish clear connections between heritage and SDGs and enable more conversations around preserving our heritage and culture, making heritage accessible to sensitive community groups, realising sustainable infrastructure facilities, and leading to a boost in sustainable economic activities in and around these sites. 

Hub Activities: 

PART 01: Establishing Interlinkages with SDG Impact Areas (06 months)

Blogs/stories/posts and a webinar series on how the City’s Heritage and Culture is connected with the city's physical, social and economic well-being and the relevant UN-SDGs impact areas.

Outcomes:

• A series of 10 social media posts (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn) 


• 10 writing materials/blogs illustrating the interlinkages between heritage sites and SDG impact areas


• A year long webinar series with 3 sessions (2 days long each) to enable deliberations on the thematic areas.

PART 02: Mapping and Documentation - Building the repository on a web platform (02 Years)

Documentation and assessment of a city’s natural and built heritage, Including-small parks, linear greens (river/lake buffers), bundhs, biodiversity parks, and ecological parks; forts, palaces, museums, chattris, religious institutions (temples, mosques, and churches), baolis, etc.- that have small footfall and are only accessed by nearby residents. Furthermore, some local art and craft forms and food can be documented, as they are also a part of the intangible and culinary heritage of the city.

Outcomes:

• Series of 50 (minimum) social media posts (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn)


• 50 writing materials/blogs incorporating location maps, documented info, and experiences curated and published on the project website for each city.

PART 03: Making Heritage Accessible- Heritage Walks (02 Years)

Partnering with multiple organisations to organise heritage/nature walks in the project city. Starting with the NCR, expanding to heritage cities of Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, etc. and then to international cities. To explore the hidden gems with organisations/groups that have already developed expertise in this area. 

Outcomes: 2 heritage walks/per month

Short-Term Goals/Results:

1. 
    Mapping and developing an inventory of min 50 sites (built and natural) for each project cities, to make the locations accessible to the locals and tourists of a historic city.


2. Developing a unified online platform to access City’s Heritage (built/natural/intangible)


3. Organising a year-long (online/in-person) webinar series (1 series/3 months) to – (i) Highlight 12-15 Success Stories (Projects) and potential ideas/solutions for establishing interlinkages between heritage and SDGs, (ii) Enable deliberations with sector experts and professionals to address the thematic areas within the project scope.


4. Publishing 2 pieces of content/per week (posts/blogs/interviews/podcasts) 


5. Organising 2 heritage walks every month, especially for sensitive community groups, such as differently abled, senior citizens, children below age 14, etc. 


6. Developing publications to enable heritage access as the outcome of the webinar series, heritage walks and workshops.

Long-Term Goals/Results:

1. Making heritage and culture accessible to all sections of society, especially the sensitive community groups.


2. Enable and empower people with the knowledge of these locations and why conserving heritage assets is critical to achieving SDGs by 2030.


3. Giving locals (as well as tourists) more options to ‘GO OUT’ 


4. Enable deliberations between multiple sectoral experts and community groups on thematic areas within the project scope.


5. Advocate for health and well-being in relation to City's Green Infrastructure and Heritage assets.

Available Metrics: 

Heritage Walks: Qutub Complex Heritage Walk – 40 Registered Participants from all age groups, Humayun’s Tomb Heritage Walk – 30 School Children from blind school participated in the walk, along with 15 volunteers.

OUTdoors Project Webpage (Link: https://narishakti.in/live/outdoors/?pg=1): Added 21 sites from Delhi NCR with details to access the heritage site (including location and address, site narrative, visiting time, amenities available, child-friendly options, etc.)

Project Outreach: 9 social media posts (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn) on Global Shapers Gurugram Hub handles, illustrating reflections on project launch, collaborations, and project activities (heritage walks, website development, etc.)

Project Meetings: 10 meetings conducted with collaborating organisations for project curation and planning of the project activities.

Shapers Involvement: Total Shapers Participated - 5 Shapers (as coordinators for project activities)

Collaborators:

Successfully established collaborations with 6 different organisations for project activities, including-

• ICOMOS India, 


• Soulful Safaris, 


• Shaleen Wadhwana, 


• Ikhat Foundation, The


• Tradition Heritage & Ecology


• Delhi Heritage Walks N Tale