Training Seminars on Promoting Development of Local Initiatives Held in Minsk and Mahileu

Robotics courses for schoolchildren, remote medical screenings, access to clean drinking water: these are some of the topics of local development initiatives that are already being implemented within the framework of the EU-UNDP project "Support to Local Development in the Republic of Belarus". Training courses to support implementation of local development initiatives on the basis of territorially-oriented development (TOD) approach were held in Minsk and Mahileu last week within the framework of Clearing House programme by ODB Brussels (Belgium).

The primary goal of the courses is to teach members of local communities and regional authorities to establish partnerships and organize cooperation to solve local problems. Best local initiatives will receive financial support within the framework of the EU-UNDP project "Support to Local Development in the Republic of Belarus":  each of five pilot districts of Minsk region (Volozhyn, Cherven, Kopyl, Vileyka and Kletsk) will receive 44.39 thousand euro, and Mahileu region (for Chausy, Slaugarad, Klichau, Drybin and Krasnapolle districts) – 87.5 thousand euro in funding. Maximum amount of donor support for implementation of initiatives to resolve local level problems in Minsk region is 20 thousand euro, in Mahileu region – 25 thousand euro.

WHAT LOCAL INITIATIVES ARE ALREADY BEING IMPLEMENTED?

Based on the results of the 1st Contest of Local Initiatives, an initiative to create a district STEM education center for students in Chausy has already received support in Mahileu region. Andrey Pakhomenka, professor at A.Kulyashou Mahileu State University who came up with the idea, explains that extracurricular STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) courses will help fifth graders learn science and engineering, as well as experiment with robotics. The first STEM education district center in Mahileu region was created on the basis of Chausy Secondary School No. 2. During classes in the center students are expected not only to assemble LEGO robotics kits, study applications of various sensors and design things, but also to learn the basics of programming, develop action algorithms, etc. Using this knowledge, students could, for example, independently design a robot that will water flowers using data from a soil humidity sensor.

According to Andrey Pakhomenka, the initiative has a long-term effect: "The local education department will create an inter-school extracurricular course where children from different schools could participate".

Another example of a successful local development initiative in Mahileu region is long-distance medical counseling for patients.

Thanks to EU-UNDP project "Support to Local Development in the Republic of Belarus", specialists from Mahileu 11 out of 34 local health clinics and paramedic outpatient posts of Mahileu district already can provide long-distance medical counseling and have access to an information exchange network. Based on the results of the 1st Contest of Local Initiatives, laptops and other necessary equipment was purchased for local medical staff within the EU-UNDP project, so doctors have already been connected to the automated information system "Lekar" ("Healer") and can conduct remote commission meetings to confirm a person's disability, without physically going to distant locations.

"The total amount of funding is 13,806 euro, or 18 thousand dollars. Implementation of this initiative began in February this year. This programme has already been implemented in the country, but it is innovative for Mahileu region", says Alyona Katlyareuskaya,  regional coordinator for Mahileu region, EU-UNDP project "Support to Local Development in the Republic of Belarus".

WHAT PROBLEMS EXIST "ON THE GROUND"?

Local problems that were raised by participants of the training included access to clear drinking water for residents of Leschenka, Kazelle, Kalininsky and Peredovoy villages of Mahileu region. According to Natallia Lahutina, Chair of Yanovsky Rural Executive Committee (Krasnapolle district of Mahileu region), village residents used to draw their drinking water from wells that have since become shallow or dried up. Delivering drinking water from other localities is "beyond difficult", so local authorities suggest solving this problem by drilling several holes in the ground and installing "Ruchayok" pumps that are manufactured in Mahileu. By drawing on local resources and engaging local residents, the authorities plan to achieve long-term results in resolving this problem.

Proposals to develop tourism included popularization of the tourist route "Voyage along Ihumensky path" to increase the attractiveness of the museum dedicated to Belarusian-Polish composer Stanislau Maniuszka, which is located in Cherven district of Minsk region.

WHAT SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHILE IMPLEMENTING A LOCAL INITIATIVE?

According to Yuliya Stankevich, consultant of the Clearing House  programme of ODB Brussels (Belgium), while implementing local initiatives it is important to work with local problems that are inherent for a particular territory:  "When you develop an idea for a local initiative, it is important to be guided by the needs and think about the people whose problems you are resolving. The training courses were intense, and the participants worked very hard."

Ihar Sharyi, regional coordinator for Mahileu region, EU-UNDP project "Support to Local Development in the Republic of Belarus", noted that in order to implement an initiative it is important not to overestimate one's resources and to set realistic goals, taking into account unique characteristics of territories: "Territorially oriented development is something that goes "from bottom up", taking into account a variety of aspects and unique characteristics of specific districts, where partnerships are employed at various levels."

More training courses on promotion of local initiatives will be held in Brest, Vitebsk and Hrodna regions in the nearest future.

You can get consultation support on how to develop proposals for local initiatives through the Clearing House programme of ODB Brussels. Request you free consultation here.

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Initiatives to Solve Local Problems Discussed at Training in Vitebsk

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