TOOL DETAILS
Title
Social Business - a new opportunity for rural areas, international conference of LAGs in Lithuania
Tool category
& type
Events:
Keyword(s)
Awareness raising, Citizen participation, Communications, Economy, Entrepreneurship, Local Action Group, Networking, Rural economy, Socio-economic
Summary
International conference was attended by over 130 participants, mainly LAGs and rural community-based member organizations, but also Agriculture and Social Security and Labour, the National Paying Agency, the State Tax Inspectorate and Universities representatives. During the event, participants learned more about concepts like corporate social responsibility in the benefits of the rural communities, the importance of rural people in employment, and about community participation. Although social business is a relatively new concept in many countries, experiences from other European regions were shared: Estonia, Ireland and also social business pioneering projects in Lithuania. Also, the participants jointly developed a conference declaration regarding strengthening the social business project and presented it to the public for feedback.
Country
& RDP Region(s)
Lithuania
Main purpose
The aim of the conference was to inform about social business and to promote this new concept for small rural communities’ development to the LAG representatives; to support them in finding out what kind of activities are possible, in which format and with what benefits for rural areas.
Related
tools used
website articles, presentations of reports, field visit to a social enterprise
Target audience
EAFRD Beneficiaries:
Rural Development Stakeholders:
General Audience:
Technical information
The 3 days event included also a one day trip to a social enterprise in Lithuania - Food Bank. Reports on social businesses were presented during the conference and they are downloadable on the Lithuanian LAGs website. Some of presentations are also in English Language. The entire event stresses the specific of the social business - does not seek to maximize profits to its shareholders, but the company's profit is only a means to strengthen its social mission.
Date produced
13-15 November 2012
Cost range
up to €4 999
Publisher/
Organiser
Leader Lithuania
Distribution & Promotion
Leader Lithuania through its website and participant Lithuanian LAGs through their own websites
Name of organisation
Leader Lithuania
Type of
organisation
Local Action Group
Image(s)
Name of contact person
Marius Kairys
Address
Universiteto g. 8A, LT-53341 Akademija, Kauno r.
Telephone
+370 37 397 565
