By Rita Kandikó, Fekete Sereg (Hungary)

Around 70 people from different organizations working with culture and/or territorial cohesion issues met together in Nagyvázsony:

– France: UFISC and Music en Territoire
– RIPESS Europe,
– Italy: Solidarius Italia,
– Romania: CRIES,
– Portugal: The LARGO Residências, and GEPAC,
– Bulgaria: Ideas Factory Association,
– Hungary: Fekete Sereg Youth Assocition as a host organisation and 17 partners from National Cultural Institute (NMI), regional youth organization (KÖSZ), National Rural Development Organisation (KIFESZ), Local Action Group from Sümeg, Edelény and Sátoraljaújhely, mayor of municipalities, community development expert…. gathered together in the lovely village of Nagyvázsony (Hungary), to work around territorial cooperation in a rural area for three days. The topic was developed in two workshops, a study visit in the town of Veszpém and the village of Kiscsősz and Horse Carnival in Nagyvázsony.

The conference started with a beautiful poem from Antal Reményi Cultural Center and with an inspiring speech from the mayor of Nagyvázsony. In the speech, the mayor encouraged us to trust in youth, openness, and for solving problems together. “The one who doesn’t trust the youth maybe doesn’t trust the future” – Szabolcs Fábry. After the speech, the founder of the Fekete Sereg Youth Association, Rita Kandikó, introduced us to more about the village and the Fekete Sereg.

The first workshop was set to work in six different areas: rural development, volunteering, youth, community development, cultural activity, and social economy. Everybody chose a topic in which he or she has the most experience and knowledge.

Rural development: On the topic of rural development five projects were collected from Hungary, Bulgaria and France. The projects focus on the development of areas for young people, support for local products and production.

Volunteering: Volunteers, among other things, have cleaned up the village and small stream already XVI times, renovated the local playing field, and supported local events.

Youth: On the topic of youth were shared projects where the voice of young people was brought into the photovoice project. These projects emphasized the sharing of values and heritage with different age groups.

Community development: On the topic of community development participants shared projects that were used on a social level. Current members and welcoming new members of the community, also uniting different generations by young and older people exchanging their experience.

Social Solidarity Economy: On the topic of Social Solidarity Economy were shared experiences about supporting local businesses and social activities, making direct and fair relation between customers and producers, establishing associations which protect and preserve traditional fruits, also how tourism development can have an impact on local employment.

Cultural activity: On the topic of cultural activity were shared projects where culture was used as an educational way to develop artistic life in a rural area and support minorities’ cultural activities in different countries.

The second day was devoted to visiting two places – the town of Veszprém and the village of Kiscsősz. Veszprém will be the European Capital of Culture 2023. The participants visited the office of this important event and listened to a presentation about the preparations. Here they were able not only to listen to the report but also to ask their questions and exchange their experiences.

The title of European Capital of Culture was initiated more than 30 years ago by Melina Mercouri, a Greek-born actress and Minister of Culture, and has been one of the most important projects of the EU’s cultural policy ever since. With their local cultural product, the city and region holding the title will become the focus of European attention, thus improving the image of the city, increasing the efficiency of the local creative industry and its touristic appeal (veszprembalaton2023.hu).

On the last day, participants had a final session – evaluation of mobility was discussed about what new they learned from each other and they made conclusions about did they achieve their expectations.

After that everyone was part of Lovas Farsang/Horse Carnival. This is an annual winter event in Nagyvázsony where horses and their coaches are colorfully decorated !

 

The following mobility of the COOPTER project took place at the beginning of April in Luxembourg… Its report will be published in RIPESS EU May newsletter. To be continued…