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News. July 2008.

Summing up the first-year results of the Sustainable Development and Jobs in Rural Areas Program (RURALJOB) funded by the Ford Foundation

July 11, 2008. During a round-table discussion devoted to community development

The modernized boiler plant in Mikhalenino settlement – a fuel reserve for the next heating season is prepared during the summer

At Godina Festival community members learned more about project results

On July 11, 2008, in Varnavinsky Raion a round table was organized to summarize the results of the first year of the project. The discussion was attended by nearly 30 participants – local community activists and members of the project’s Working Group, inlcuding the head of the Municipal Administration, S.Smirnov, and his deputies. A.Volkov from the Fund for Sustainable Development who supervises the implementation of the project briefly reviewed the activities of the past year:

• a survey was carried out in the community to better learn about the current situation and the development prospects for Varnavinsky Raion
• a technique of using wood waste as an alternative fuel in boiler plants was introduced (following the example of the boiler plant in Mikhalenino village)
• a training course in small-business development was conducted for the students and teachers of the vocation school in Varnavino;
• an interregional exposition Povetluzhye: History and Modernity is in the process of being created

At present, a 2008-2010 Regional Development Plan is being designed. After discussing this subject, the participants in the round table put forth their vision of local development:

1. They noted the successful introduction of techniques of using woodwork waste as fuel in boiler plants in settlements located along the thoroughfare (Makarii, Bogorodskoye and Mikhalenino) and proposed to include in the Raion Development Program similar activities for remote settlements as well.
2. Tourism development proposals that came mostly from the local youth will be implemented by creating favorable conditions for investing in the construction of a tourism complex.
3. More attention should be concentrated on creating small shops for processing mushrooms and berries. The participants decided to include these recommendations in the Raion Development Program.

Some of the proposals on development put forth by community members during the survey have already been partially implemented. In Makarii, part of the road was renovated and plans include setting up woodworking facilities (investor - Sibles Company) and building a hog farm; in Varnavino, the local development plan includes building a kindergarten; and in Voskhod, the public bathhouse will be refurbished.