Erasmus+ visit of French rural development practitioners
A visit by professional practitioners from France under the Erasmus+ programme, which supported a full week (06 03 2024 to 09 03 2024) of lectures at the Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy, Faculty of Bioeconomy Development, Department of Business and Rural Development Management, field research and workshops in Valkininkai, Varėna district.
6 of March was dedicated to lectures. Jocya Bade, from the youth and adult vocational training institution MFR Richerenches, and Thierry Leroux, a resident of the village of Saint Marguerit Lafigere and vice-mayor of the local municipality, shared with the large gathering of undergraduate and postgraduate students of the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development, as well as with the researchers, their practical experience of developing a micro-area by means of experimenting with the participatory learning approach, an innovative way of transferring knowledge and competences. The detailed and visual presentation, open and interactive communication showed the participants the implementation and development side of the three-year rural change management and locality project, the development side, the impact on territorial development, and the possibilities of continuity.
On 7 of March, field research and workshops were held in and around Valkininkai small town.
Three groups of researchers carried out historical, socio-economic and natural heritage exploratory research on the town of Valkininkai and its surroundings, forming a team of creative researchers looking for territorial solutions.
Since early morning, the first group of the project researchers, led by Valdas Kavaliauskas, together with the guests from France Jocya Bade, an expert in environmental protection and biodiversity, and Thierry Leroux, the vice-mayor of the Sainte-Marguerite-Lafigère municipality, travelled around collecting data, trying to speak to the people of Valkininkai, to answer the question – “What are the Valkininkai forests, rivers and lakes telling us”.
The second group of researchers, consisting of MSc students in Rural Development Administration and participants of the Horizont program ENABLES project and local community leaders, carried out a field study on social infrastructure facilities and economic actors. The researchers were assisted by Danutė Blažiulionienė, the chairperson of the community organisation, and Jolanta Molienė, the manager of the cultural centre, to get to know Valkininkai. Collecting data, they visited the Valkininkai Cultural Centre, the library, the church, the community centre and the small town square.
During lunch, the two research groups discussed their findings and shared their impressions in the open air, at the White Mountain campsite in Užuperkasy. After lunch, the two research groups joined together for group work. They visited the social infrastructure and economy of Valkininkai, looking for signs of sustainability, social, economic and environmental links, elements of rural development, interacted with business representatives, listened to their experiences and challenges.
In the afternoon, the third research group “History of Valkininkai”, led by historian dr. Žygimantas Buržinskas, started.
In the evening, all three research groups and the local community met at the Valkininkai Cultural Centre for a workshop: to discuss the data collected, and to look for ways and means to strengthen the vitality of the area. Prof. Dr. Vilma Atkočiūnienė shared her experience on how she managed to “speak” Valkininkai, gave her insights on the observed spaces, social infrastructure objects, and offered suggestions on how to solve social, marketing and economic issues, as well as on how to meet the challenges of development of the area.
The historian dr. Žygimantas Buržinskas spoke about the historical significance of the region and looked for possible links with the present.
Jocya Bade, together with the research group “What Valkininkai forests, rivers, lakes are telling us”, presented their insights into the strengths and weaknesses in the fields of environment, biodiversity, and the opportunities and threats of the current situation. Jocya stressed the importance of integrating natural sciences into the education system and shared her experience from France.
During the discussion, dr. Audronė Ispiryan highlighted the common challenges in biodiversity and the ways to address them through ongoing projects. Using the Horizon ENABLES (Education and Nature Based Solutions) project as an example, she discussed with researchers and local community members the current challenges in Europe in these areas. All participants actively participated in the discussions, offered their insights and observations, and consulted foreign practitioners, professionals and scientists on the development of the Valkininkai region, tasting local traditional cuisine.
8 and 9 of March were devoted to the territorial analysis of Norvydiškės village and discussion of the results of the visit.
The steering group of the ” Pameistrių namai” place making project, together with its French partners, discussed the project’s prerequisites and possibilities, as well as the experience of building wood-burning stoves and managing the forest with horses. These experiences are relevant in the forested and mountainous area of Saint Marguerite Lafigere.
Valdas Kavaliauskas, a Master’s student in the Rural Development Administration programme, was one of the most active in initiating and organising the visit of the internship professionals to Lithuania. We would also like to share his reflections. “After our experiential visit to Saint Marguerit in November 2023 and the material presented by Jocy and Thierry during their visit on 6-9 March 2024, the relationship between people (permanent residents, migrants and tourists) and the territory, through a sense of ‘attachment’ and ownership of cultural and natural heritage, seemed to me is of particular importance for micro territorial development. And how does this lead to mobilisation or passivity, or complete indifference to the development of a place?” – Valdas Kavaliauskas said.
V. Kavaliauskas also noted that “there is a deep-seated desire on Thierry’s part to change this relationship and to re-establish (or create) a mutually mobilising relationship. He sees in this the meaningfulness of the participation of the students of the J. Bade School and of us, future professionals of Rural Development in Lithuania, to positively “destabilise” the negative atmosphere from the outside and to find a common point de passage to create a meaningful future. Very similar issues are present in the villages and small towns of our country, and during the workshop in Valkininkai (Varėnos district) this was very evident in the interactions with the local population. J. Bade, as a particularly talented and sensitive educator, shows us the development of the transfer of knowledge, understanding and practical application of competences and the development of personal-value education of young people. She gives meaning to this process”.
Through workshops, discussions with the local community and foreign practitioners, directions for further and more detailed research of the local area were identified. During the discussion of the visit, the following directions for further possible cooperation emerged: to build on the experience of French colleagues to develop the theme of practical transfer of skills and competences; to participate in the Erasmus programme. Erasmus mobility visits are foreseen: a visit of postgraduate students and researchers from the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development of the Academy of Agriculture, VMU in Saint Marguerite Lafiger (autumn 2025); a visit of the MFR youth group in Valkininki (2024); a visit of the MFR youth group in Valkininkai (2024). Autumn); cooperation in the study of micro-territorial development experience – Master’s thesis research in the areas of Valkininkai and Saint Marguerit Lafigere (Erasmus learning and postgraduate practice) (2024–2025–2026); development of a technological heritage exchange programme between the two areas (Erasmus internships, mobility projects 2025–2026).
