“Sidrabrasa” launched a project for a debate and reasoned opinion

This year, the “Latgale NGO Project Programme” was supported by the “responsibility” of the Rēzekne Rural Women's Society “Sidrabrasa”: civil society initiatives and population participation projects in Latgale planning region between at least three provincial/urban areas. The project has a number of objectives: 1) to update the participation of women in local community decision-making processes; 2) to crystallise the issues raised by 6 local communities and to jointly seek solutions; 3) to open new opportunities for project participants in the development of communication skills based on active living position, a reasoned and factual analysis of events; 4) to improve the exchange of information between the local governments involved in the project and their residents.
Latgale will sell more than half of the population receives information from the Russian mass media of the neighbouring country. This information alienates people who live in the information room of another country, the objectives and values of the Latvian state, divides and reduces the activity of the population in decision-making processes in their own government and in their own country. This situation can be affected by public-active people who are able to express their views in a reasoned manner by participating in the work of local authorities. Therefore, for an active person, it is important to learn two things, listen and express your opinion.
The “responsibility” project came as a result of the women's discussions, as we came to the knowledge that the decision-making process with knowledge alone is not enough, even more important to use its language as an instrument, to understand the methods of presenting the intended speech to the audience, and to express their idea how to interact with the participants. So, in order to influence Latvia's rural policy, it is important to know the facts, but it is even more important to express its opinion in a reasoned order by structuring and dynamising its opinion. For this purpose, it is planned to create a debate competition within the project, which starts six teams with five members each, as well as team supporters. In the framework of the project, women are learning the art of debate. The debate raises issues that are topical for local governments. The project prepares women's active participation in decision-making processes in their own government. It is important to understand that “good” or “bad” decisions are not taken in municipalities, it is important that the decision is reasoned and justified by what part of society it brings. The project will help to explore the essence of the decision-making process, to see the substance of the case from “on” and “against” positions, as well as to understand the reasons for cooperation or co-operation between the municipalities and citizens.
The following activities will be performed within the scope of the project:
First activity - seminar already took place in the guest house “Green Island”, Rezekne municipality;
The second activity, six events “we learn to debate”, each of which will participate in 15-20 local government women, will take place in the Rēzekne municipality IN Sakstagala and Kaunatas parish, Viļānu in the municipality - Dekšāres parish and Viļānu in the social support centre “hope”, in the city of Rezekne - in the association “world in our home” and in collaboration with the association “creative media studio”, in the premises of the municipality of Rezekne.
The third activity “debate forum” will take place in the guest house “Green Island”, Rezekne municipality. It will discuss the issues of local government and the decisions taken. The fourth activity will be the preparation of the booklet “debate art”.
Anita Matisane
Member of the Management Board of the project manager and RRLSB Sidrabrasa