On April 30, 2025, the Druskininkai Local Action Group organized a conference entitled "Partnership for a Sustainable Future" at Leipalingis Manor. This conference was dedicated to reviewing the 2015-2020 local development strategy for the Druskininkai Local Action Group's territory and commemorating the tenth anniversary of the public institution Sūrūs Vėjai. The event was attended by approximately 100 participants, not only from Druskininkai but also from other Lithuanian cities, including Vilnius, Kaunas, Alytus, Varėna, and Lazdijai.
At the conference, dr. Ž. Gedminaitė-Raudonė presented a long-term vision for rural areas in the EU, introducing the rural compass methodology to conference participants and outlining ways to create rural diversity through sustainable and inclusive rural development trajectories.
Activities implemented by the Druskininkai Local Action Group (LAG) over the last decade were fruitful not only in terms of the number of projects undertaken, but also in introducing new activities in the Leipalingis and Viečiūnai municipalities and rural communities within the Druskininkai district. Close ties have also been established with researchers from the Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences and the Institute of Economics and Rural Development, resulting in the implementation of the European Horizon program project "ESIRA - Strengthening Social Innovation in Rural Areas," which started in 2024. Through the project activities, both organizations will contribute to the creation of innovative social economy initiatives in the Druskininkai region, aimed at increasing rural inclusion and strengthening rural development.
More information about the event: https://www.dvvg.lt/konferencija-partneryste-tvariai-ateiciai/
More information about the project: https://www.ekvi.lt/en/scientific-project/horizon-europe-project-esira-enhancing-social-innovation-in-rural-areas; https://www.esira.eu/
Contact:
Dr. Živilė Gedminaitė-Raudonė, zivile.gedminaite@ekvi.lt