Act Local

Creation of new employment opportunities for people living in rural remote areas through designing and piloting village community services

P4 Skilled and socially inclusive region

4.1. More people benefiting from stronger Central Baltic communities

Central Baltic

01.05.2019 - 30.04.2021

€264 787

€209 182

Project Summary:

Persons living in rural remote areas far from city centers are in weaker position to find a job. It is mainly related to family responsibilities and to long distances. There are different groups who have difficulties to find a job away from their home, like families with young children, single parents, persons taking care of their family members, young people with lower education level, seniors etc. In many villages local people are ready to contribute to better living environment. At the same time the cooperation between the municipality government and local NGO's/people is the best solution for ensuring the quality, flexibility and accessibility of public services. Partners will encourage and support local people's cooperation, so they could join their forces for creation of new employment opportunities for themselves. A new solution is designing “community services” needed for local people and for visitors. These can be for example: home care of elderly people, youth work, youth/children hobby and leisure activities, cultural services etc. As all involved municipalities from Estonia and Lavia are locating in regions, which are attractive for tourists, then another catergory of community services could be developed for visitors (community based tourism services). These services can be: providing local food, cultural entertainment, excursions, events, handicraft workshops etc.As a result of the project in Setomaa, Alutaguse, Ape and Engure communities the social-well being of local people living in 17 rural villages has been improved through higher employment. By the end of the project period ca 25 persons living in rural villages have got (mostly part-time) job in their home area related to providing community services to local people and visitors. Ca 10-15 persons are expected to find the job after project end. The provision of the services can be arranged via local NGO's, newly established companies or local people becoming self-employed.

Lead Partner

MTÜ Setomaa Liit

Country: EE

www.setomaa.ee

Partner budget: 89.156 EUR

Amount of ERDF funding: 70.433 EUR ERDF

Project Partners

Engures Novada Dome

Country: LV

www.enguresnovads.lv

Partner budget: 56.845 EUR

Amount of ERDF funding: 44.908 EUR ERDF

Alutaguse vallavalitsus

Country: EE

www.alutagusevald.ee

Partner budget: 68.513 EUR

Amount of ERDF funding: 54.125 EUR ERDF

Apes Novada Dome

Country: LV

www.apesnovads.lv

Partner budget: 50.273 EUR

Amount of ERDF funding: 39.716 EUR ERDF

Achieved results

Project result in category -
Improved community

Act Local improved local employment possibilities in rural areas

The project improvement local labour market opportunities by implementing community service pilots based on local development plans. The development plans and pilots were implemented in four regions – Ape, Alutaguse, Engure and Setomaa.
 
The development plans and pilots were supported by several practical and theoretical trainings which were targeted towards local people. Altogether over 400 participants took part in the trainings.
 
Local community service pilots were implemented in 15 rural village communities in above mentioned regions. Pilots took several different forms based on the local needs which were found through the development process of the development plans. As an example, pilots included local market days, cultural events, recording studio, outdoor cinema and beach volley activities.