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Development village Velika Preska
Published on 31 January 2019
Slovenia
Zahodna Slovenija
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
Velika Preska is a small village having around 50 inhabitants. It is positioned in the local community of Polšnik (around 700 inhabitants) in the rural area in the center of Slovenia.
Velika Preska has been facing a challenge how to retain population due to a very low activity level of social, cultural and economic sector. At the bottom line it has not been attractive for youth to live in. Majority of young generation was migrating from this area to the cities.
Already back in 1994 Representatives of the Local community Polšnik recognized this problem. They have decided to initiate a systematic development process. They had mapped the area on available humen resources, existing companies, potentials for local entrepreneurs and for the development of non-farming activities on the local farms. Afterwards they set the local development strategy: education about and promotion of responsibility and innovation at the level of each individual and encouraging entrepreneurial opportunities (with workshops and meetings). In the next period they have encounter the growth of a new enterprises, new non-farming activities on farms and set of active local civic society organisations. They have achieved that local actors started working together and bulding up community through active local civic society associations. But the most important achievement was, that enhanced activities in the local community generated base for networking activities with other local communities and entrepreneu
Velika Preska has been facing a challenge how to retain population due to a very low activity level of social, cultural and economic sector. At the bottom line it has not been attractive for youth to live in. Majority of young generation was migrating from this area to the cities.
Already back in 1994 Representatives of the Local community Polšnik recognized this problem. They have decided to initiate a systematic development process. They had mapped the area on available humen resources, existing companies, potentials for local entrepreneurs and for the development of non-farming activities on the local farms. Afterwards they set the local development strategy: education about and promotion of responsibility and innovation at the level of each individual and encouraging entrepreneurial opportunities (with workshops and meetings). In the next period they have encounter the growth of a new enterprises, new non-farming activities on farms and set of active local civic society organisations. They have achieved that local actors started working together and bulding up community through active local civic society associations. But the most important achievement was, that enhanced activities in the local community generated base for networking activities with other local communities and entrepreneu
Resources needed
1) Local innovative leaders and motivators,
2) External experts, who are bringing knowledge,
3) Financial resources for infrastructure investment, for the external experts and for HR costs. It is estimated that necessary yearly funds are starting from a approx 10.000 EUR to a approx 100.000 EUR.
2) External experts, who are bringing knowledge,
3) Financial resources for infrastructure investment, for the external experts and for HR costs. It is estimated that necessary yearly funds are starting from a approx 10.000 EUR to a approx 100.000 EUR.
Evidence of success
Active local civic society associations:
- Tourist association Polšnik
- Association of ladies and young women Polšnik
- Cultural association Pavla Voje Polšnik
- Association of Exiled people Polšnik
- Sport club Polšnik
- Association of volunteer firefighters Polšnik
- Red Cross Polšnik
- Hunter Club Polšnik
In 2012 European Association for rural development and village renewal (ARGE) recognized Velika Preska for special achievements in several areas of village development.
- Tourist association Polšnik
- Association of ladies and young women Polšnik
- Cultural association Pavla Voje Polšnik
- Association of Exiled people Polšnik
- Sport club Polšnik
- Association of volunteer firefighters Polšnik
- Red Cross Polšnik
- Hunter Club Polšnik
In 2012 European Association for rural development and village renewal (ARGE) recognized Velika Preska for special achievements in several areas of village development.
Potential for learning or transfer
General trend is that rural areas are facing problem of not being attractive for your people to stay in the local area after primary or secondary school.
Velika Preska is the example where we can learn about the importance of social connectivity, communication among members of the local community, encouraging the sense of belonging, plus dedication to progress can on a mid-term achieve a positive shift in the people's opinion; from "nothing is happening here and nothing can be changed" to a lively and inclusive environment.
We can see the biggest opportunity to transfer the lessons learned from the process of building up the community and trust among people (know-how), what are necessary steps, how to approach these steps and how to involve people. The core lessons are the importance of cultural and social integration versus disruption, importance of cooperation among people in small communities and providing knowledge (workshops on differnet topics) to stimulate new local leaders
Velika Preska is the example where we can learn about the importance of social connectivity, communication among members of the local community, encouraging the sense of belonging, plus dedication to progress can on a mid-term achieve a positive shift in the people's opinion; from "nothing is happening here and nothing can be changed" to a lively and inclusive environment.
We can see the biggest opportunity to transfer the lessons learned from the process of building up the community and trust among people (know-how), what are necessary steps, how to approach these steps and how to involve people. The core lessons are the importance of cultural and social integration versus disruption, importance of cooperation among people in small communities and providing knowledge (workshops on differnet topics) to stimulate new local leaders
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Local community Polšnik
Slovenia
Zahodna Slovenija
Contact
Project manager