‘Impact is important but so is visibility. It is always important to have local media present wherever possible.’
Community Facilitator: Reeta Rönkkö, Community developer
Project: Association for Rural Culture and Education
Website: https://msl.fi/en/etusivu-en/
Location: Finland
Funding: A mixture of local government and grant funding
Goals: Encouraging climate action through a wide range of local trainings and events
Process: Community development-led climate projects that include events and education. Projects are around biodiversity, circular economy, climate entrepreneurship, waste management, waterways, landscapes, rural traditions… smaller actions or educational happenings could be around biocharring, combating invasive species and so on… The Association is well networked and collaborates with villages, NGO´s, LEADER groups, municipalities, rural consulting entities, The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners, environmental centres, universities, and Forest Centres.
Insights: ‘Rural matters’ is one of the leading thoughts behind our work. Historically the idea was that urban did not take rural sufficiently into account. The main motivation today is lifelong learning and progress. The Association has 5E-principles leading the work: education, ecology, economy, emotions and esthetics.
This is a case study from the Community Climate Coaches (CCC) Erasmus+ project, where we highlight the work of one Coach. Find out more about this type of coaching, how to become one and resources for this journey here.
CCC is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme. Proj. ref.: 2020-1-IE01-KA204-066023