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 event brought together representatives from the academic community, local government, non-governmental organizations, and rural communities to discuss the development and promotion of social innovations in the regions. During the seminar, participants presented their experiences, shared ideas, and discussed the challenges associated with implementing social economy initiatives in rural areas.

The event featured presentations from selected social initiative teams, introducing their planned activities and strategies aimed at strengthening social inclusion in local communities. Representatives of the Druskininkai Municipality provided an overview of local policy directions and planned initiatives contributing to the development of social innovations in the Druskininkai region. The discussions actively involved representatives from the Leipalingis, Jovaišiai, Stračiūnai, and Jaskonys village communities, youth organizations, and the non-governmental sector, who shared their insights and experiences in the field of social economy.

The seminar was organized as part of the ESIRA project, whose main goal is to foster the creation of innovative social economy initiatives in marginalized rural areas by strengthening policy coherence and testing innovative solutions that contribute to the formation of more inclusive and sustainable rural communities. The ideas and insights presented during the event will help further develop regional initiatives aimed at promoting social innovation and empowering local residents.