Druskininkairural Local Development Strategy 2010-2015

DRUSKININKAILOCAL ACTION GROUP

DRUSKININKAIRURAL LOCAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2010-2015

(SUMMARY)

2010

Druskininkai

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. DRUSKININKAI LOCAL ACTION GROUP

1.1. Formation Of The Lag

1.2. Mission Of The Lag

1.3. Values Of The Lag

1.4. Organization Of The Lag Work

II. THE LAG AREA

2.1. Presentation Of The Area

2.2. Activities Of Rural Communities

2.3. Needs Of The Population

III. STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESS OF THE DRUSKININKAI LAG AREA

IV. VISION AND PRIORITIES OF THE LAG

4.1. Vision Of The Druskininkai LAG Territory

4.2. Priorities, Measures And Activities Of The Strategy

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I. DRUSKININKAI LOCAL ACTION GROUP

1.1. Formation Of The Lag

The Druskininkai local action group (LAG) was established in December 2008. Origins of this body go back to the activities of the LAG under the name“Partners Association for Rural Development in Dzukija”. The latter local action group had been founded in 2004 and covered the entire region of Dzukija (4 municipalities), including the rural territory of Druskininkai municipality. After reorganization of this body, instead of one LAG 4 new local action groups emerged – the Alytus district LAG, the Varena LAG, Partners Association for Rural Development in Dzukija (operating exclusivelyin Lazdijai district), and the Druskininkai LAG.

The founding members of the Druskininkai local action group were nine (out of ten) communities and Druskininkai municipality. The Druskininkai LAG operates under the principle of horizontal and vertical partnership. It joins together the rural territory of Druskininkai municipality and its people, unites representatives of governmental, business and non-governmental sectors for dealing with local problems and for rapider rural development.

There are 16 persons in the LAG Board now: 2 of them represent business, 4 represent local authorities, and 10 represent interests of social and economic partners and associations. The Board consists of 7 women and 9 men. One 21-year old member of the Board represents interests of young people. The members of the local action group are professionals fromdifferent fields, and they perfectly complement each other while working in the team of the LAG. The LAG Charter provides that the Board is elected for 5 years.

1.1fig. The Board of DruskininkaiLAG with mayor R. Malinauskas

In the most general sense the purpose of the Druskininkai LAG is to deal with the problems of the rural area of Druskininkai municipality. From the very beginning the local action group has identified the following key objectives of its operation: to encourage local initiatives and partnerships, to improve the quality of life in the represented area, to assist rural communities in implementing their initiatives. The LAGhas set itself the objective ofpreparing and submitting proposals to institutions concerned with rural development, as well as working with a wide range of Lithuanian and foreign organizations.

1.2. Mission Of The Lag

The LAG members have defined the following mission of the LAG:

The main focus is on the residents of the represented territory. Being aware of the fact that residents often lack initiative and confidence, the LAG fully promotes their initiatives to encourage people to dream and to take responsibility for themselves and turn their dreams into reality. People should have confidence to reach this goal, therefore the objective is to disseminate information about activities for the benefit of rural communitiesas wide as possible, as well as other useful information for rural people, and to mobilize local residents for co-operation.

The LAG is aware that one of the key local development issues in Druskininkai rural area is a high unemployment rate and lack of entrepreneurship among people, therefore it has committed itself to contribute to thesolutiontothese problems to the extent of its competence. The LAG does not intend to limit its activities tothe development and implementation of the strategy; it will be constantly looking for funding opportunities to implement as manylocal ventures as possible.

The LAG operation is inconceivable without a network of partners. It plans not only to search for business partners in Lithuania and abroad, but also to promote communication and cooperation within the represented area. If necessary, the LAG plans to do educational work.

1.3. Values Of The Lag

Knowing that it may be difficult to reconcile different interests and to agree on desired outcomes, the LAG members have established the followingguiding work values:

• mutual understanding (to respect each other,to make decisions inspired byheart,to be tolerant, to seek consensus);
• communication and cooperation (to publicize activities andprovide a broader scope of action, to introduce people to the activities of the LAG and find like-minded people);
• respect of other opinions (everyone has an opportunity to express one’s views);
• representation of interests of the delegating organization;
• search for joint solutions (agreement is a must);
• responsibility (fair performance, assumption of responsibility for actions, proposals, decisions);
• fairness (when making decisions on support allocation);
• teamwork (common efforts to achieve objectives, sharingof the work and the joy);
• effectiveness (to implement the objectives, to complete the planned tasks, to executeengagementson schedule);
• awareness of current situation and objectivity (when giving suggestions and making decisions to rely on well-known and verified information);
• one-pointedness and purposefulness (identification of action priorities, pursuit of results);
• diligence and motivation;
• observance of the win-win principle.

1.4. Organization Of The Lag Work

In 2009, one of the most important tasks of the Druskininkai local action group was to work out a local development strategy. Druskininkai municipality is rankedamong problematic areas, the issues of unemployment and social exclusion are more pronounced in itthan elsewhere in Lithuania. Withthe establishment of theLAG and during thedevelopment of the strategy local people have been provided with a real opportunity to make decisionsregardingthe most rational use of public support, and to improve the quality of life.

For rational distribution ofworkonstrategy development and on its implementationlater, the Board of the LAG has formed five vertical and horizontal committees. Three vertical committees are the leading ones, whereas the horizontal committees include the work of each vertical committee (see fig 1.2.). Such work-sharing helps to avoid duplication of work and ensures supervision ofeach activity by people most competent in theparticular area. Each member of the LAG Boardparticipates in the activities of one of the vertical committeesto the extent of one’s competence; representatives of this committee are appointed to each horizontal committee. Each committee has prepared its work plan. Such work organization distributes responsibility among a number of the LAG members. Thus, autocracy does not occur in the operation of the LAG, teamwork dominates, and command relationships normal for a hierarchical structure, but completely unproductive in public life, are avoided in the activities of the LAG.

BUSINESS AND CRAFTS
Group manager -
Audronė Smaliukienė / CULTURE AND SOCIAL MATTERS
Group manager -
Kristina Miškinienė / INFRASTRUCTURE
Group manager -
Benjaminas Čepas
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Group manager - Kristina Miškinienė
Members: Rūta Kazlauskienė, Alvydas Varanis, Birutė Milutienė
Members:
Darius Matažinskas
Petronėlė-Sigita Radvilavičienė / Members:
Vytautas Gintutis
Ramunė Konstantinavičienė
Gražina Auguvienė / Members:
Rūta Kazlauskienė
Antanas Krancevičius
INITIATION AND COORDINATIONOF PROJECTS
Group manager - Antanas Krancevičius
Members: Vytautas Gintutis, AudronėSmaliukienė, Vytautas Vaikšnoras
Alvydas Varanis
Jolanta Miliuvienė / Jonas Čebatorius
Giedrius Lukaševičius / Algis Bolys
Vytautas Vaikšnoras

1.2 pav. Working Committees Of TheLag

Whencreating the management structure and planning the work, the LAG regarded residents of the territory as itskey priority. Spheres of actions and concrete tasks were distributedwith the intention to encourage the bottom-up initiative of rural population. In other words, people suggest ideas (not afraid to dream!) and start turning them into reality, thereby improving the quality of life.

The strategy has been worked out taking into account the general tendencies of Lithuanian regional development and the requirements of the European Union rural development policy, as well as the objectives of the Lithuanian Rural Development Programme for 2007-2013 "Implementation of LEADER approach".

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II. THE LAG AREA

2.1. Presentation Of The Area

The territory of the Druskininkai LAG includes Druskininkai municipality lying in the southern part of Lithuania, except the town of Druskininkai with its population of more than 6000. However, the life of people living in the LAG area is closely linked to the town of Druskininkai, the oldest and largest convalescent area in Lithuania. The vision of the future of the Druskininkai town is formulated in the strategic action plan of Druskininkai municipality – "a modern and distinctive international resort, providing high quality health, tourism, recreational services and ensuring high quality of life". The implementation of this development vision is undoubtedly related with the development of both wards of the municipality – Leipalingis and Vieciunai.

Thus, the LAG territory includes the wards of Vieciunai and Leipalingis, and it covers an area of 446.73 km2. According to the Department of Statistics of the Republic of Lithuania, at the beginning of 2009 there were 7997 inhabitants living in the rural area of Druskininkai municipality. The Druskininkai LAG is one of the smallest LAGs in Lithuaniaby the area and number of representedpopulation.

Actually 69.2 percent of the municipal territory is covered by forests, a built-up area makes 2.4 percent, waters make 2.4 percent, roads 1.9 percent, agricultural land 20.2 percent, other land 3.8 percent. The Nemunas river flows across the municipality from the South to the North, and there are 49 lakes lying within the territory.

The territorial integrity of the LAG is ensured not only by geographical factors making Druskininkai an attractive resort, but also by other social, economic and ethno-cultural aspects of local development. The rural area of Druskininkai municipality is a border area with unique natural resources and comparatively rich historical and cultural heritage and a vibrant ethnic culture – the local dialect, customs, traditions and identity. Rural areas face similar problems of local development. Against the background of the achievements of Druskininkai as a resort, the backwardness and the gap between the administrative center and rural areas are obvious. According to many quality-of-life parameters – per capita income, employment, accessibility of services, the level of infrastructuredevelopment– the resort is far ahead of the rural areas. On the other hand, rural areas have a huge untapped potential to develop that can be unfolded by continuousand sustainable development of the whole Druskininkai municipality.

The Druskininkai LAG argues that the development of Druskininkai rural area could be viable and sustainable, if links between the resort development and rural development were strengthened. Improvement of quality of life in rural areas, economic diversification and the ability to perform new rural functions, i. e. provision of recreational, cultural, environmental and other services relevant to modern society wouldhelp local residents and would encourage further development of Druskininkai resort. The LAG envisions an important mission of updating the region: to shape a community capable of tackling complex present day problems,and to integrate the old cultural tradition of the region into the modern life of the resort.

2.2. Activities Of Rural Communities

Most of the rural community-based organizations located in the rural area of Druskininkai municipality are relatively "young", establishedrecently. Only Ricieliai rural community was registered in 2002. Most communities were registered in 2007 and 2008, currently there are 10 rural communities in the LAG area.

A survey of the community-based organizations revealed that in most cases they have focused on cultural activities. Most often it wascelebration of traditional holidays – Midsummer Day, Christmas, Shrove Tuesday, Mother's Day, Pentecost, St. John's, Autumn Festival. For perpetuating the traditions and memory of the outstanding people of their land, the communities of Leipalingis, the Left Bank of the Nemunas, Ricieliai published studies of their regional histories. Druskininkai municipality was one ofthe support sources for community projects.

The main problem facing rural communities is the shortage of facilities, or poor condition of available ones. Actually half of the communities have no place for meeting together, therefore it is very difficult to run activities. Often there are no public premisesthat could be repaired and adapted to the communityneeds. The communities already possessing facilities complain of theirpoor condition, and point out the necessitytorepair or renovate them as soon as possible. Anotheroperational problempointed out by the communities is the poor condition of public spaces (communities would like not only to develop the sites and make them suited to sports or recreation, but also to possess a landscaping equipment for maintaining public areas). The communities also indicated that it was difficult to operate because people lackedinvolvementand willingness to communicate and to collaborate.

The community-based organizations maintain high expectationsregardingactivitiesrun by the Druskininkai local action group. Rural communities are informed that with the implementation of the LEADER approach in the country completely new development opportunities for their activities appear. Each community has delegated its members to the Board of the LAG, and they actively participated in the local strategy development. Rural people are actively engaged in the debate aboutthe problems of their region and their possible solutions. During the strategy development the communities offered action proposals for the Druskininkai LAG;the net worth of the proposals amounted to more than 3 million Lt. The survey showed that village renovation projects, i. e. adaptation and renovation of public buildings, development of public spaces, improvement of water qualityare in the greatest demand. The communities have pointed out that they would continue organizing traditional festivals in future, but these activitiesshould be financially supportedas well.

2.3. Needs Of The Population

The strategy decisions on the use of public funds were based on population needs. For this purpose the local action group: 1) conducted a sociological survey of the population, 2) arranged meetings with local residents, 3) interviewed community organizations.

During the sociological survey 395 residents from both wards of the LAG area (close to 5 percent of all population of the LAG area) were interviewed.The LAG arranged 11 meetings with local residents, and nearly 260 people attended. All 10 communities operating in the territory of theLAG answered the questionnaire about community action and its issues.

Strong points of the residential area. Nearly every fourth resident surveyed by the LAG pointed out thebeautiful nature and scenic landscape as the biggest advantage of their residential area. The forests full of mushrooms, beautiful lakes, the Nemunasriver, fresh air were the advantages most frequentlymentioned by the respondents. Almost one fifth of them top rated the serenity dominating in their living environment, as well as the cleanliness and orderliness. Ten percent of the respondents indicated the two already mentioned aspects. Seven percent of all respondents think the local history, customs and traditions are worthy of pride. The same number of respondents indicated that they were proud of the diligence, hospitality, kindness and courtesy of Dzukija people, as well as theircapacity to form a community.

Weak points of the residential area. The greatest number of respondents,a quarter of them pointed out that the basic drawback of the area was the difficulty to find a job. More than 17 percent regret the lack of active community life, almost 13 percent indicate the lack of public spacesadapted for sports and other gatherings, 11 percent state that there is no place for various community gatherings, about the same number of respondents indicated that there were neither facilities nor friends to spend leisure time with.

The most serious problems of the residential area. Nearly half of the surveyed residents, 40 percent think that the largest issue of the residential area is the neglected infrastructure: unpaved, bumpy roads, absence of sidewalks, playgrounds, water supply and sewage system, poor quality drinking water. Unemployment was the second most frequently mentioned concern(13 percent of all respondents). Young people believe that the acutest problem is the unavailability of jobs (21.1 percent of surveyed youngsters), whereasthe second importantproblem is the lack of public spaces (18.8 percent), and the third issue is the absence of facilities and friends to spend leisure time with (17 . 2 percent).

Marginalized areas. Table 2.1 provides spheres ofaction most targetedfor public support,asregarded by the population involved in the sociological study. People rated a total of 26 spheres of action (1 – needs minimum support, 5 – needs maximum support). The table provides the spheres of action that have scored more than 4.1 points; hence, according tothe people, these issues should be addressed urgently.

Table 2.1.Assessment Of Spheres Of Action

Sphere of action / Average scoring
Improvement of employment opportunities for students and youngsters / 4,5
Cleaning of water, construction of bathing places and other recreational facilities / 4,4
Management of cultural events, sports and leisure time,
running of community festivals / 4,4
Management of public places (squares, parks, sports facilities)in villages / 4,3
Fostering and promotion of regional traditions / 4,2
Repairand adaptationof public buildings
to the needs of local population / 4,2
Ensuring safety of people and property / 4,2
Promotion of healthy lifestyles and preventive health care / 4,2

Respondents were also asked to point out three most important spheres ofaction that ought to be given public support. The respondents pointed out various positions, therefore the first three positions have been calculated mathematically, by introducing different weight coefficients. These findings suggest the following preferences of the population living in the Druskininkai LAG territory:

1. Improvement of employment opportunities for students and youngsters;

2. Establishment of a Community Home according to thelocal needs, implementation of other community-building measures;