BORDERLANDS LEADER

1. BORDERLANDS LEADER 17.09.2010, Kozard, Hungary

2. LAGs in Estonia • Borderlands Leader is one of the 26 LAGs operating in Estonia, to manage EU LEADER programme. • 24 LAGs are receiving 2007–2013 Leader measure project support applications for the implementation of their strategies. • 2 LAGs prepare the local development strategies of their territories (start to implement their strategies) • Leader programme covers 98% of Estonian rural area.

4. BORDERLANDS LEADER • Established in spring 2006; • The general aim of the LAG is to promote life along the eastern border of Estonia; • LAG population (1st of January 2010): 10 603; • LAG area: 1063 km²; • LAG is formed by the area of seven municipalities (Räpina, Orava, Värska parish, Misso, Mikitamäe, Meremäe, Piirissaare) from 3 different counties; • Number of members is 94 (31st of August 2010): 7 rural municipalities, 59 entrepreneurs and 28 NGOs.

5. Structure of the organization General Assembly (94 members) Projects Assessment Commission (21 members, 7 at once) 7 Project Consultants Council (23 members) Strategy Group Board (Chairman of the Board) • Office: • Project Manager • Project Assistant

6. Strategy • Aim of the strategy- to stop depopulation in LAG territory. • Priorities: • Development of new technologies and knowledge to increase competitiveness of production and services; • Improving the living environment. • Measures should solve the problems of the majority of population. • Longstanding effects of strategy implementation are expected to be: • Local economy will improve; • People’s income will increase; • Quality of life in rural areas will improve; • Entrepreneurship activity will be stimulated.

7. Organization´s activities … … that help to achieve the aims of the strategy. • Providing information for project funding applicants and beneficiaries. • Providing advising system to project applicants and beneficiaries: • 7 Project Consultants – conformity with the strategy; • Office – technical advice. • Introducing Leader programme to local people and organizations – potential new members of the organization. • Co-operation with other LAGs in Estonia: • Project “Peipsimaa”; • Project “MaitsevLõuna-Eesti”.

8. Photo: Raivo Tasso • FARM MARKET • INITIATORS: 4 LAGs and local entrepreneurs from South-East of Estonia – created an organization called “DELICIOUS SOUTH ESTONIA”. • ORGANIZATION: coordinating the work of the farm market. • LOCATION - the biggest shopping centre in South Estonia. • PRODUCTS - handicraft, organic food, herb medicines etc.

9. Information days 8 in 2009, 5 in 2010 so far.

10. Training days Project writing course

12. Study tours/visits Latvia-Lithuania in 2008 Finland in 2009

13. Seminars/conferences Summerseminar 2010: the coming of Euro and the influence to rural areas.

14. Website, newletters, local media Web site: www.piiriveere.ee E-mail: piiriveere@piiriveere.ee

15. How to apply for LEADER projects in Estonia? • Provide information; • Organize the receipt and evaluation of applications; • Approve the conformity of the project application to the strategy of the local action group and to the measure. LAG ARIB • The Agriculture Registers and Information Board (ARIB) makes the financing decision.

16. Measures In Borderlands Leader area it is possible to get funding to projects from the measures named below : M1 - Increasing possibilities for hobby activities; M2 - Creating and preserving valuable milieu; M3 - Improving the level of services; M4 - Developing tourism through presentation of heritage culture; M5 - Use of sustainable energy based on local resources; M6 - Involvement of less developed communities.

17. About the projects … • 2 project application rounds in year 2009 and so far 2 in year 2010. • 174 project applications (113 approved, 50 rejected and 11 withdrawn).

19. The examples of implemented projects

20. NGO VANAAJAMAJA – the enlivening of local clay building tradition www.vanaajamaja.ee info@vanaajamaja.ee • Organization established in 1998 . • Local architectualheritage – research, preservation, restoration and teaching. • Aim of the project – to enlive the local clay building tradition. • 5 training days: • 1. The features of clay building, tour. • 2-3. The restoration of clay walls. • 4. The restoration of wood structures in clay buildings. • 5. The plastering of clay walls.

22. Who are setos? • The project is all about giving the modern touch to traditional seto cuisine.

23. The content of investment: • Acquiring necessary equipment for catering service – tents, tables, chairs etc. • Creating a web page; • Designing the logo of the trademark.

24. Project outcome: the provision oftraditionalseto cuisine in modernway - as a cateringservice: • summer days of enterprises; • Formal events; • Traditional weddings; • Etc.

25. They provide the whole package: service, equipment, food, entertainment. www.setoresto.ee (under construction) info@setoresto.ee

26. SETOMAA (Seto land) is divided between Estonia and Russia. • Historically PETSERI has been the centre of Setomaa. • Small area - ? km2 • NGO Setomaa Tourism was established in 2006. • 30 members. • Aim – to develop local tourism.

27. 2 projects: • The development of Setomaa´s cultural tourism: • The mapping of cultural tourism (demand and supply); • Merchandising and testing of tourism packages; • Roundtable for local entrepreneurs in tourism; • Creation of marketing strategy for tourism packages. • The development of Setomaa´s web service: • The analysis of web service; • Training for using the web: • The organizing of web; • The application of socialmedia´s network; • The spread of information in foreignlanguages; • The adding of interactive web map; • The translation of web materials: • The application of integrated design principles.

28. Thank you for your attention!