druskininkai
LithuaniaApart from the national State Progress Strategy “Lithuania 2050” and National Programme for boosting social inclusion and combating poverty, Druskininkai municipality address the issues of inclusion of vulnerable groups via Druskininkai Municipality Strategic Development Plan for the years 2021-2029. The Druskininkai Local Action Group (Druskininku VVG) is also implementing the local development strategy for their rural areas. The following topics are identified as local priorities: Innovative solutions for the provisions of services (internationalized inclusive tourism services), new digital tools (platform and apps), inclusive business model innovation, social resilience for the mitigation of labour seasonality, diversified farming.
NEWS/OUTCOMES
SAVE THE DATE AND CALL FOR PARTICIPATION: ESIRA Scientific Dissemination Workshop and CoP Session
The ESIRA project is pleased to announce the upcoming Scientific Dissemination Workshop & Community of Practice (CoP) Session, taking place on 17 December 2025 at 10:00 CET, online on MS Teams. Under the title “From Collaboration to Action: How Multi-Actor...
RURAL INNOVATION TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT 10TH EMES CONFERENCE WITH A PANEL ON RURAL SOCIAL ECONOMY
A team of researchers from the ESIRA and SERIGO Horizon Europe projects presented their findings at the 10th EMES conference. Coordinated by Luca Koltai (HÉTFA Research Institute), the panel featured contributions from scholars at the University of Burgos, Euricse,...
THE FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY WAS HELAD IN POLAND
The fourth General Assembly of the ESIRA project (Enhancing Social Inclusion and Rural Areas) took place from October 15 to 17, 2025, in Orelec, in the Bieszczady Mountains, Poland. The event was hosted by the local partner, the European Rural Development Network...
EL HUECO AND EL COLLETERO SHOWCASES FOR RURAL SOCIAL INNOVATION UNDER ESIRA PROJECT
As part of the training activities carried out by the European ESIRA Project, focused on promoting social innovation in rural areas, on Friday, September 12, nearly 50 rural development practitioners took part in an intensive workday aimed at identifying and learning...
RURAL LAB IN DRUSKININKAI: STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES THROUGH SOCIAL INNOVATION
On 29 August, the Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences (LCSS) and the Druskininkai Local Action Group (LAG) jointly organized a rural lab titled Social Economy Initiatives in Druskininkai. The event brought together representatives from all ten local communities,...
THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE ESIRA PROJECT HELD IN NORWAY
The third General Assembly of the ESIRA project (Enhancing Social Inclusion and Rural Areas) took place from May 20 to 22, 2025, in the Norwegian town of Kongsvinger. The event was hosted by local partners the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (INN), and...
BREAKING THE CYCLE OF RURAL DECLINE: ESIRA LAUNCHES ITS FIRST POLICY WORKSHOP
How can we reverse the cycle of rural decline? How can social economy actors be part of the solution? These were the central questions explored today, 29th of April 2025, during the first policy workshop of the ESIRA project, titled “Breaking the cycle of rural...
ESIRA MAP MEETING IN VIEČIŪNAI: HOW TO STRENGTHEN SOCIAL INNOVATIONS IN RURAL AREAS?
The Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences, Institute of Economics and Rural Development, in collaboration with the Druskininkai Local Action Group, organized a MAP meeting "Strengthening Social Innovations in Rural Areas" on February 26-27, 2025, in Viečiūnai. The...
REGIONAL REPORT: DRUSKININKAI, LITHUANIA
The main aim of this report has been to collect information regarding the situation of rural areas and the communities residing in each of the participating regions in the ESIRA project. These reports will serve as the basis for the “Benchmark study on social...
SAVE THE DATE! BREAKING THE CYCLE OF RURAL DECLINE: ESIRA POLICY EVENT ON 29TH APRIL 2025
Rural communities across the European Union face a self-reinforcing cycle of decline. The lack of jobs and reduced access to essential services, such as healthcare and education, drive outmigration, particularly among young people. This, in turn, weakens local...