‘Try always to have a positive spirit, not accusing of something or keeping a competitive approach. Activate, animate, organise village parties, show positive spirit, demonstrate equality to all.’
Community Facilitator: Juha Kuisma
Project: Pirkan Kylät Regional village NGO
Website: https://suomenkylat.fi/
Location: Pirkanmaa Region, Finland
Local context: The population of Pirkanmaa is 520,000, mostly in the industrial city of Tampere. In the rural areas dairy cattle, cereals and forestry dominate.
Goals:
Good quality of life
Reverse the trend of urbanisation
Climate responsible living
Support for youth
Rich social life
Process: Pirkan kylät is a village development NGO with capacity building and rural development projects. It works in about 160 villages. Two projects on climate have been recently implemented; a carbon-sequestrating lifestyle initiative in numerous villages and a climate smart village involving a university.
Insights: Participative meetings, seminars, surveys help with understanding people’s feelings around different topics. Attitudes and positions vary. The younger generation is more open to a broader, integrated approach and climate is an important topic. On the other side there is agri fundamentalism and resistance to change. Some state that climate change is not happening.Too much ecotalk does not work, but too little is not good either; a good balance is needed. Things should be explained in a way that your parents/grandparents can understand. Out here peasant culture is still very much alive, based on simplicity, practicality, intergenerational connection and community thinking.
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
