"You only need to look at where we are on the globe and check the thermometer on the window to see that we're as Nordic as any of the Nordic countries!" said Valga County Governor Margus Lepik at the signing of a cooperation agreement between the county government and the Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM) for 2011. Local newspaper the Valgamaalane viewed the event and the cooperation of the NCM as signs of the continued support shown by the Nordic countries for the region.|
Rainer Kuutma, chief specialist on external cooperation with Valga County Government, says that the extension of the agreement means, amongst other things, that the county government will receive funding that will be used to finance small projects designed to promote the Nordic countries. Endla Schasmin, director of Valga Public Library, received support in 2010 for just such an undertaking. "In July and August the local children had the chance to enrol in a summer reading programme which came to an end in September with a literature seminar," she explained. "There were all sorts of events connected to the 55th anniversary of the publication of one of Astrid Lindgren's most famous books. I think we managed to encourage a lot of kids to read more, and to educate them a little in terms of literature." Olev Kaasik, the general manager of the non-profit organisation Paju Pansionaadid, says that social workers from Tõlliste municipality studied the welfare systems of Finland and Sweden in 2009. Their trip inspired him to apply for support from the county government in 2010 to invite acquaintances from Sweden to come and outline the basis of Nordic social work to Valga County social workers. "We found out how enormous care homes had been shut down in Sweden and got some great ideas about how to make our system more people-friendly," he said. Also attending the information day were Jaan Bachmann, director of the Association of Farmers of Valga County, and Hans Heinjärv, director of the Valga Business Club, who said that such opportunities to obtain information locally were very welcome, the Valgamaalane wrote. The full article can be read in the print version of the Valgamaalane dated 1 February 2011. |
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Valgamaalane: Agreement confirms continued support of Nordic countries
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Beth Sundström, who only took up the post of director of the NCM Office in Estonia a few weeks ago, says that the cooperation between the Nordic countries and Estonia - which will soon be marking its 20th anniversary - has been very successful, writes Valgamaalane journalist Sirje Lemmik. "Finland is our presiding country this year, and they place a lot of focus on green ways of thinking, so this year we will be concentrating more on environmental cooperation and economical behaviour," Sundström explained. Tiina Hallimäe, a senior specialist on enterprise with Võru City Government, says that the support the city's timber and furniture manufacturers received through the mobility programme allowed them to take a six-day trip to timber industry competence centres in Denmark and Sweden last November. "The support covers transport and accommodation expenses, and applying for it and reporting back on it couldn't be easier," she explained. "The advisors are very helpful and friendly, too." |
Jaanus Raidal, a representative of the non-profit organisation the Otepää Development Group, talked about their involvement in the support programme for Baltic Sea region NPOs. "With the support we received we've been able to launch a joint project between Otepää, Toksovo and Vihti municipalities which revolves around the organisation of waste removal," he said. "We're carrying out seminars and training days, and sharing our experience. Those in Russia are interested in the experience of Estonia and Finland in this area."