April 1, 2026 The Institute of Economics and Rural Development of the Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences together with the Druskininkai LAG organized an away meeting for MAP (Multi-Actor Platform) members of the ESIRA project (Enhancing Social Innovation in Rural Areas) in the Druskininkai Municipality and Lazdijai District. The event was attended by project partners, representatives of local action groups, local government, business, and non-governmental organizations, with the aim of discussing the development of social economy initiatives and their significance in rural areas.
During the meeting, participants visited ongoing regional projects – “Jurio baldai,” where business development and the creation of economic value in the local region were presented, and public organisation “Oazė senjorams” in the Lazdijai district, where a new senior care home is being built and a social business model focused on the well-being of older residents is being developed. Discussions analyzed the operational models of these initiatives, their social impact, and opportunities to contribute to the strengthening of local communities. It was emphasized that such initiatives can effectively address the lack of social services, promote employment, and create additional economic activities in rural areas.
This MAP meeting served as an important platform for knowledge exchange and strengthening cooperation among representatives of different sectors. The discussion of best practices and their potential application in other municipalities lays the groundwork for the further development of social innovation. The outcomes of the event contribute to the achievement of the ESIRA project’s objectives – strengthening the social economy and promoting community empowerment to create more sustainable and resilient rural areas.
Project start date: 1 January 2024
Duration: 4 years
Budget: 4 499 840,00 EUR
Coordinator: University of Burgos (Spain)
15 partners from 8 countries, piloting 9 regions.
More information about the project: www.esira.eu
The project is implemented by:
Dr. Živilė Gedminaitė-Raudonė, tel. (+370 5) 2617 978, e-mail zivile.gedminaite@ekvi.lt;
Dr. Rasa Melnikienė, e-mail rasa.melnikiene@ekvi.lt
Dr. Rita Lankauskienė, e-mail rita.lankauskiene@ekvi.lt;
Dr. Vitalija Simonaitytė, e-mail vitalija.simonaityte@ekvi.lt.
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