With great success, it was held between 6 - 9 September 2022, the 4η and the last training meeting for the exchange of know-how in Finland, in the framework of the implementation of the Transnational Cooperation Plan «Smart Village Leader Network», co-funded by CLLD/ LEADER.
In the programme «Smart Village Leader Network» participating Local Action Groups (LAGs) from Latvia (Zied Zeme, Pierīgas Partnerība, Jūras Zeme), Finland (Kantri Ry, Pirkan Helmi Ry) and the Network of Municipalities of the Attica Islands from Greece.
A total of 52 representatives from the participating countries met in the Kantri and Pirkan Local Action Groups (LAGs) area, learning about practices that are smart solutions of Finnish villages.
These practices are applied to manage and address key social, environmental and economic issues of concern to local communities.
The Network was represented by a delegation of thirteen (13) people, consisting of beneficiaries of the Local Programme, representatives of institutions and associations of the intervention area, as well as Network staff.
The participants of the training meeting had the opportunity to take part in interactive thematic discussions with practical examples of how to achieve the transition to smart villages.
The first day of the project included the arrival at the venue and accommodation in the Valkeakoski area of Finland, as well as the introduction of all participants through an interactive Finnish introduction process.
On the second day of the programme, seminars and presentations were held on the following topics:
- Smart villages and rural development in Finland,
- Double Transition in the Tampere region of Finland and how it is affected by Smart Villages«
- The «village network» in Finland,
- Presentation of a transnational smart villages project,
The programme then included field visits. More specifically, to the village of Kuohenmaa where the use of geothermal energy was presented in the event area managed by the local village association, population 200 inhabitants. This was followed by visits to the villages of Raudanmaa and Luopioinen.
The third day of the programme included seminars on:
- Health and social services on wheels,
- Ways to promote and make rural villages more accessible,
- Development of local tourism in the Pirkan Helmi region
This was followed by visits to Lastunen Village, Kurki Eco Village and Nuutajärvi Glass Village, where good practices were presented on how to organize a «smart village», «green» living in rural areas and how culture and entrepreneurship are combined in a village whose main activity is glass manufacturing.
The last day included a debriefing workshop on the experiences gained by the participants of the training meeting, suggestions for improvement, reflections and plans for the future of «smart villages».
The Greek representation ensures the networking of Network actors and beneficiaries in order to exchange know-how for the formulation of proposals and smart interventions in the implementation area of the CLLD / LEADER Network of the Attica Islands.
