Learning from Experience

Sharing and Transferring the Best Practice in Rural Development among Women Leaders.

Aims and Objectives

The main aim of the project was to increase the capacity of women leaders (and their organisations), in mobilising citizens to become involved in decision-making and planning processes to support the development of sustainable rural communities.

PLANED (Pembrokeshire Local Action Network for Enterprise and Development) was approached by VOKA (Rural Organisation for Community Activities) in Slovakia to provide expertise to Central European partners. The target group were rural women who, on a local level, would work with non-governmental organisations as volunteers promoting sustainable rural development. Strengthening their position will contribute to community and economic development at local and micro-regional levels in each participating country.

The project also aimed at exchanging best practices and experiences within local communities through study visits, where information could be gleaned about significant aspects of the community, the types of programmes they used and the methods by which they were implemented. PLANED was to provide a good practice model through its methodologies for community engagement e.g. Community Visioning and Plugging the Leaks and providing good practice examples of relevant projects.

Activities and Lesson Learned

An invitation was sent by PLANED to a number of women who were leaders in various fields (arts, community, business etc) as well as being volunteers. Five women volunteered.

An initial meeting was held to identify what the group could contribute, followed by a meeting to review lessons learned from visits to Slovakia and Poland and to plan the Wales study visit and workshops. PLANED staff and volunteers participated in an international meeting in Slovakia (March 2005). PLANED ran a workshop on community visioning and enhanced cultural and community awareness through case studies and examples.

The international meeting in Poland (April 2005) was similar in nature. PLANED volunteers took Welsh crafts and foods to a traditional Easter festival, exchanged experiences, best practices and visited schools, cultural houses and fairs. The international meeting in Wales used participation tools to encourage local people to develop community-based activities. There was a review of the project and PLANED arranged workshops and itinerary on the theme titled “Creating a Community Culture of Entrepreneurship”. Under discussion was community participation in entrepreneurship development, capacity building for local Community and Business leaders and innovative approaches to rural development that would contribute to a more sustainable society, economy and environment for rural areas. It was suggested that this could be done by

1. ‘Plugging the Leaks’: looking at ways of keeping money circulating longer within local economy;
2. Economic Gardening: making the most of existing resources and adding value to events and activities and
3. Planning community events and festivals to generate local economy.

All participates learned the importance of voluntary activity in local development, and how local pride can support local development. Furthermore, it became evident that traditions and heritage are important sources for creating local pride as well as for tourism.

Materials Produced

Partnership organisations/countries

Wales - PLANED (Pembrokeshire Local Action Network for Enterprise and Development) - Development Trust and charity, local groups, Community Forums, Chambers of Trade, St David’s Project – Day Care Centre

Slovakia - VOKA – Rural Organisation for Community Activities, local groups

Poland  - Social and Cultural Association “Granica” and other local groups

Organisations are NGO’s involved in supporting community activities and regeneration.

Learner Involvement

The learners formed a steering committee from the outset and contributed to the overall development of the project including organising the study visit in Pembrokeshire for partners from other countries. Some of their businesses and activities were used as examples of best practice.

Impact

On the organisation
Important issues were identified which the organisation needs to address within its own remit, particularly how to engage and ensure more women become active citizens. The project helped the organisation to appreciate that more needs to be done to encourage young women to become leaders. It provided the experience of organising transnational visits and gave local volunteers first hand experience of visiting other countries and seeing the value of sharing ideas experiences and methodologies in promoting sustainable rural development. The organisation learnt that Partnership Development in the form of forward planning and visioning was essential from the outset. Furthermore, that finding key people in the community was essential and that co-operation, especially between the community and council, can achieve greater things.

On adult learners
Throughout the course of the programme and particularly at international meetings adult learners were encouraged to engage and exchange with people from different countries and learn more about other cultures and customs. Unlike the UK, there is no history of volunteering in Slovakia & Poland except as a compulsory activity for unemployed people so it is seen as low status. Those involved were encouraged to see voluntary activity as an important part of local development; volunteering promotes local teamwork, gives purpose and can help people lead fuller lives. Adult learners learnt that there are many similarities despite borders and that it was useful to share methods and experiences.

Outside Bodies
Local organisations involved in the project enjoyed the opportunity to share their experience with participants from abroad.

Contact Details

Name, organisation and address:

Joan Asby
PLANED
The Old School
Station Road
SA67 7DU Narberth
Pembrokeshire

Telephone no.:01834 860965

Email: joana@planed.org.uk

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