Lūznavas Manor is a co-operation of collaborative project partner organisations in Slovenia

Based on THE EXPERIENCE of Lūznavas manor, by encouraging inspiration and educational events for people with reduced opportunities and cooperation with social entrepreneurs, at the end of February, Lūznavas Manor manager Iveta Balzer took part in the event of the implementation of inclusive projects and possible co-operation partner organisations in Slovenia.
From 25 to 29 February of that year, in Slovenia, Laško, the event “Inclusion Matchmaking – Find European Partners for Inclusion Projects” was held with the aim of supporting and promoting the implementation of inclusive projects and a possible co-operation partner organisation in the European Union (EU) programmes “Erasmus +: Youth in Action” and “European Solidarity Corps”. Since the current activity OF Lūznavas Manor has focused and participated in various types of cooperation and support projects and events, among which extensive experience, through inspiration and educational events for people with reduced opportunities and cooperation with social entrepreneurs, as well as in day-to-day work involving workers with reduced mobility, the event supported BY THE EU-funded and youth international programme agency had the opportunity to participate in THE Lūznavas Manor Manager for Iveta Balzada.
In order to achieve the objective of the event more effectively, the participants were invited to send their organisation profile/presentation to the organisers before they met the online platform “Padlet”, so that, before meeting 39 participants from 13 countries, they had the opportunity to consult the organisations represented and their directions. An unifying element for all organisations – non-governmental and public authorities, schools, youth centres – was a socially inclusive activity. Iveta Balzer acknowledges that the meeting of the project partner organisations itself was also a form of social inclusion, where all conditions were ensured that participants with different limited opportunities – hearing, vision, speech, movement, etc. – would participate in the same activities, as well as being part of the organizer team.
In the course of the event, coach Henk Persyn, Dagna Gmitrowicz, Umberto Dorus Geerts, gradually gained a more thorough understanding of socially inclusive projects within three days, aware of the exchange of young people, the draft initiatives, the stories of volunteering experience, such as Marja koren from Slovenia, being attached to a wheelchair, adopted a courageous decision to go to Estonia and carry out voluntary work there. In the course of the programme, organisations from Slovenia shared their examples in the implementation of socially inclusive projects, as well as the actors themselves, in line with the interests of organisations, sought new project cooperation partners with similar interests and areas of activity. It is a positive surprise that representatives of Icelandic non-governmental organisations and the work of their organisations, in which people with reduced opportunities with assistant support themselves act as coaches, trainers and consultants to other persons who need support for integration at school, university, find employment opportunities, participate in international projects. Iveta acknowledges that the seen led to reflection and questions, whether and how much Latvian society is solidarity, the environment and infrastructure are adapted to all members of society, how socially protected and reliably felt by people with reduced opportunities.
In view OF THE role OF Lūznavas manor as Ambassador of Social Entrepreneurship in Rēzekne District, a project working group with partner organisations from Estonia, Bulgaria and Slovenia was established at the time of the meeting, which aims at building cooperation projects in the field of social entrepreneurship in rural areas, as well as learning the elements of socially inclusive circus that can be learned by any interested party, regardless of physical capacity, talent and previous experience.
At present, Lūznavas Manor is also involved in the cooperation of the youth international programmes agency and the municipality of Rezekne, in the framework of the international strategic partnership project “Europe goes Local – Supporting Youth Work at the Municipality Level” organised by the national level project “Work with Youth”. Erasmus +: Youth in Action and the European Solidarity Corps as instruments in the long-term strategy of the municipality. In this cooperation and on the basis of the shared interests of the partner organisations at the Slovenian event, a further work is currently being carried out on the preparation of an inclusive project.
In response to the stabilisation of the global situation in the near future and the implementation of projects at the Rēzekne District, the Manor of Manor is grateful to the host organisation of the event – the Slovenian National Agency FOR MOVIT, the youth international programme agency in Latvia, the Rēzekne Municipality Maltas parish council for support for the opportunity to participate in the event. “In implementing socially inclusive projects, it is a long-term contribution to the development of the local community and, in general, joint and several society, where the list of priorities is respectful of dignity and concern for each other, responsible business and environment-friendly action,” so as to look at the experience so far and consider the possibilities of the future, Iveta Balzer adds.
 
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