LEADER supports Lithuanian heritage and social inclusion

LEADER offers many opportunities to add value in rural areas, including by developing heritage assets to promote tourism and create employment while preserving culture identity. The benefits from this type of LEADER project can be seen in Lithuania where the Zarasai – Visaginas Local Action Group (LAG) provided funding for innovative visitor facilities at the Monastery of the Barefoot Carmelites in Antalieptė, which created two part-time employment places and safeguarded a full time job in a rural area with limited job opportunities.

Rural cultural heritage reflects the traditions, customs, artifacts and history of Europe’s countryside communities. LEADER is a useful form of funding that can support and conserve this cultural heritage in ways that also help attract tourists, create employment opportunities and stimulate inclusive economic growth. Such a mix of beneficial outcomes has emerged from LEADER funding in north eastern Lithuania in a LAG area that borders Latvia and Belarus.

LEADER investment enabled a social enterprise to develop new possibilities at a 300 year-old monastery for unique cultural tourism offerings involving local food heritage. The project modernised the monastery kitchen and dining areas to help establish a novel all-access catering facility focused on cultural education and tourist tasting services. The project also included a new two-hour educational-tasting programme called ‘The old meals and customs of the monks’. In addition, a new range of food product lines was created for sale using locally-grown fruit and vegetables.

Social inclusion goals are an integral part of the LEADER initiative through its promoter’s specialisms in terms of creating improved conditions for the employment and integration of disadvantaged citizens. Socially vulnerable groups, particularly young people, those with special needs and ex-offenders, have gained new skills and work experience through the LAG’s support for the ‘Renaissance of Antalieptė Monastery’ project.

Lithuanian’s Managing Authority welcomed the project’s productivity and multi-purpose outcomes during the project’s operations between 2019 and 2022, noting that: “By producing goods and providing services, this project aimed to increase social and professional integration and employment for persons who found themselves at a disadvantageous position due to problems leading to exclusion and rejection. The project solves problems of employment and integration of socially vulnerable groups into the labour market, especially young people.”

“The project has been very beneficial for the local community because it created so many different types of useful outcomes. It has made a big difference in helping support the LAG region’s rural tourism sector by upgrading a visitor attraction and giving it more potential to attract more visitor income in the area. The canteen’s tasting-programme for tourists is very unique. It also helps boost demand for local food products and it helps support the monastery’s income so that it can continue its cultural activities. The jobs and job skills that it is providing are important in rural areas where work opportunities can be difficult to find. All these benefits have accrued as a result of LEADER funds provided through the Zarasai – Visaginas LAG.”