High school students of Rezekne and Viļānu familiarise themselves with business opportunities in rural areas
This year, IN October SIA “Latvian Centre for Rural Advice and Education” (LLCC), the Rēzekne Division organised an informative meeting and exchange of experience for pupils within the framework of the national rural network activity “promotion of entrepreneurship in general educational schools”. One of the main objectives of the measure is to increase the level of awareness and interest of students of general education in the field of business development in rural areas.
The event started with an informative meeting held on October 10 in Rezekne, the Eastern Latvian creative service centre “Zeimuļs”. During the informative meeting, school students and teachers participated in a creative seminar, where THE LLCC Rēzekne division provided insight into various support attraction programmes related to the establishment of entrepreneurship in their municipality, the Rēzekne municipality youth affairs specialist Guntis Rasims informed about the opportunities offered by the municipality for young people, while the head of Latgale business incubator “think hotel” Aija vanaga encouraged young people to take the first steps in the business world and use what they already have - knowledge, willpower and ability to operate. In the event of the event, pupils and teachers were invited to listen to the best business idea author presentations who submitted their business plans to the “countryside!” competition. This competition is organised for a third year BY SIA “Latvian Rural Consultation and Education Centre”, enabling young people to create and develop their business ideas as agricultural, non-agricultural sectors. High school students experienced a valuable experience to better present their idea of bringing it to the market by presenting a wide range of ideas, ranging from baking, bread-growing, beekeeping products, and ending with photo/video solutions and advertising, children's clothing embroidery, photo cakes, etc.
After an informative meeting, on 16 October, THE LLCC Rēzekne Division organized an exchange of experience for secondary school students and teachers on Current District. By visiting Carlos's youth association “Pugga”, its representatives shared experience of the opportunities to operate and build a friendly environment around them. Young people have gained valuable experience in how society is able to actively cooperate with the local government, thereby attracting additional funding for the development of various business ideas in their municipality. Commissioner Vorkalis encouraged young people not to be afraid of the unknown, establishing the new business idea “Step up” that these types of competitions and activities are a good resource for the development of the business environment in Carlos District. These are the first steps to raise awareness of entrepreneurship, its specificities and opportunities. In addition, pupils and teachers were invited to the fashion cabin “LAGA”, the owner of which is Gunta Nagle, who also participated in the competition “Fields!” in 2012. Gunta Nagle is 24 years old, graduating from studying a higher education in a clothing design and is able to prove that he can achieve considerable success by focusing on his goal. Gunta Nagle Carlo has created her own fashion cabin with a specially designed logo that offers clothing embroidery for women, basically sewing dresses, a future plan for Gunta is to develop a male T-shirt line. The garments of the Gunta are made with special care, taking into account the wishes of each client and developing an individual design at very affordable prices. Gunta emphasized “it is not important where to see if they are fields, or the city, it is important that the product or service offered is necessary and requested”. Following the visit of the association and the fashion cabin, we went to a “subterranean bakery” where pupils and teachers were introduced to domestic production - the basis of a successful business. The housekeeper of the subterranean bakery kindly showed her bread bakery. While enjoying lunch, young people listened carefully and with interest to the company's narrative, how it was possible to develop marketing so that they could then sell their products as much as possible. The surprise of the pupils was to cook and enjoy aromatic and crunchy pizza. It was very delicious and unusual that everyone recognized the pizza “latmeat tastes” with curds. EVERY “vein” in Barsukova, with the hospitality of his special Latgalian hospitality, was able to prove that food cooked at home, the baked bread itself is a product that will never lose its actuality and will always pamper people with unwritable taste. The event concluded with the annual visit of the grain farm “Jauneglaine”, where the farm owner Kaspars Miezis, who is also the young farmer, kindly showed his farm - the latest technique, the grain storage towers. Kaspara's story inspired pupils that it is certainly not necessary to go away, and that agriculture can be earned and successfully developed, with a clever use of the various measures offered BY THE EU. He denied the young people that agriculture was merely a continuous work. Of_course, the work is and will be, but time is always found for yourself and shared rest with friends.
Thanks to the Rēzekne municipality, Nautrēnu, Kaunatas, Maltas, Dricānu and Viļānu secondary school teachers and students on the interest and active cooperation shown. Thank you, those people who can show this good practice and share their success stories, encouraging everyone to believe their forces!
The information was prepared by
Dace Gedusheva
LLCC Rural Development Consultant
