Let’s Agree
In 2015-2016 LFMI commenced a series of courses for local communities and NGOs on ways to establish sound and meaningful discussion and to reach a peaceful agreement with one another.
Why?
Every day Lithuania sees new roads constructed, new factories and houses built, and new businesses established. This does not only create new individual entities and buildings, but also builds communities and requires that we all live as neighbors and community members in a functioning society. We all share the same community and environment. For this community and environment to flourish, we must learn to agree with one another.
Our towns and villages make many decisions that shape the environment in which we live, and in particular this refers to decisions relating to our property – our houses, land or forest. Citizens are also taking more and more initiatives. However, there is ample evidence that people often lack knowledge, understanding, self-confidence and skills that are needed for a meaningful dialogue on municipal issues among community members and different stakeholders.
What was our goal?
Through our initiative Let‘s Agree (Lith. Su(si)tarkim) we aimed to equip members of local communities with necessary skills to engage in sound and meaningful discussions and reach peaceful and constructive agreements with other community members.
What did we offer?
- WHAT? Free workshops
- WHERE? In 15 Lithuanian municipalities
- ABOUT WHAT? Participants learned how to analyze and assess local public policy decisions, constructively participate in municipal policy debates and effectively communicate their ideas and opinions.
- EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL Free illustrated public policy analysis and communication handbooks and case studies
Who was involved?
The training is intended for local communities and non-governmental organisations from 15 municipalities in Lithuania. Learning tools were disseminated to other residents of Lithuania.
Who did we cooperate with?
The Environmental Centre for Administration and Technology helped us to investigate the environmental aspects and principles of sustainable development for use in the course. The Norwegian NGO Idebanken worked with us to share the best practices and the practical solutions for sustainable economic development that have proven to be effective in the Nordic region.
Who funded this initiative?
This initiative was supported by Lithuania‘s EEA Financial Mechanism NGO program.
The Kingdom of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, have created the European Economic Area (EEA) and Norwegian Financial Mechanisms in order to solve the economic and social disparities in the EEA.
EEA Financial Mechanism support is designed for 15 countries (the 12 new European Union countries, including Greece, Spain and Portugal) and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism is designed to support the 12 new EU member states.
More: www.eeagrants.com
