Italy

Parco Madonie Institution

Based in Petralia Sottana, it is the institution managing the rural and mountainous area of the Madonie, spreading over 160 square kilometer of land.

It includes 15 municipalities and it manages the Madonie Geopark, its trekking and horse riding trails, camping areas, museums, sports initiatives, centres for environmental education and more.

GAM Association – Policies for the territories

Based in Gangi, the GAM Association (Giovani Amministratori Madoniti -Young Madonite Administrators) aims to facilitate the convergence of experiences gained by local administrators engaged in positions of various responsibilities in the local authorities and to acknowledge and fully apply the principles and contents of the “European Charter for the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life”.

Thus, to create a stable network, made up also of professionals with different skills and experiences, which decides in an organic and permanent way to plan, elaborate and implement lasting, integrated and widespread actions to ensure adequate and effective answers to territorial needs.

Presidio Slow Food

The Presidia are communities tirelessly striving to sustain quality production at risk of extinction, protect unique regions and ecosystems, recover traditional processing methods, safeguard native breeds and local plant varieties.

Today, more than 600 Presidia involve more than 13,000 producers in 70 Countries. Sicily, and the Madonie area in particular, register several protected species. Find out about all of them here.

Porto di Terra

Based in Polizzi Generosa, Porto di Terra is a cultural and educational centre for agricultural production based on the principles of sustainability, permaculture, ecology and transition.

Sandra Invidiata - Rural enterprise

Based in Collesano, it is an educational and cultural social farm focusing on the production of natural cheeses, led by female entrepreneur Sandra Invidiata. It is a medium-sized, multifunctional enterprise that has always been attentive to issues of ecology, the environment, organic farming, environmental protection and the importance of food.

The guided tour of the farm centre and its didactic cycle is centred in the production chain “from animals to milk to cheese”. The organisation and structuring of the farm centre enables to clearly illustrate the entire production cycle and the different activities carried out on a livestock farm.

In fact, it is possible to visit the breeding areas, starting with the resting and feeding areas of the animals, the production areas with the milking parlour, the mini-cheese factory and the premises for maturing, packaging and sale of processed products.

In addition, Ms. Invidiata, an agronomist graduate, uses her indoor spaces to carry out a clear and immediate didactic action to illustrate the activities of her farm in a more theoretical setting.

Lithuania

Vikingu Kaimas

“Viking Village” is an open-air museum of experience founded recently for all children, ages and hearts. Here all the items, exhibits and tools can be touched, inspected, tasted, tested (try on weapons, bake pancakes on a campfire, etc.).

Vikingu Kaimas mobile education travels all over Lithuania. Educational programs for students take place in a school classroom or hall, adapted in duration to the lessons. A mini-museum with 100 percent is created for students in the classroom with touching, historical, real exhibits. In education, children learn the history of their ancestors through experience. Viking Village accept guests in groups (from 10 to 50) only after pre-registration, from 1 May until October 30. Individual visitors can visit the Viking Village during open events.

Kaisiadorys municipality

Lying down between two big Lithuanian roads with the ribbon of railway and a bustling motorway, Kaišiadorys district is located in the middle of the heart of Lithuania, between the most important cities: Vilnius and Kaunas. There is the real Lithuania – between the four historical capitals and two largest rivers, moreover, three ethnographic regions meet in Kaišiadorys land.

There is wonderful landscape and plenty of cultural places that attract tourists: the ancient farmsteads, mounds, tumuli, stones, trees, churches, the graves of soldiers, monuments, manors, etc. One of the most attracting places is the open air folk museum of Lithuania in Rumšiškės. Kaišiadorys is the center of diocese. There are 12 churches and many chapels in Kaišiadorys district. Such famous people as the unifier of Lithuanian spirit Cardinal Vincentas Sladkevičius and the President of Lithuanian Republic Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas grew up in Kaišiadorys district. Kaišiadorys is famous for its local entrepreneurship achievements, in particular, in the rural areas.

LOCALI

LOCALI is a place where one can buy products created by the residents of the Academy (it is located in the Kaunas district). We are the first sustainable shopping platform in Lithuania, uniting local producers, growers, developers and members of the community in one convenient place. Buyers will find here the quality goods and services of local developers made with love and care for the whole family, home, gifts, leisure… And the cooperating manufacturers will have the opportunity not only to sell their goods comfortably but also to refinance the socio-cultural life of the community. Let’s create joy together. We do not doubt the successful cooperation between you and us and encourage you to join our various activities.

Kaunas Chamber of Commerce

Kaunas Chamber of CIC as a non-governmental and a non-profit seeking organization is one of the five chambers of commerce in Lithuania. Based on private law with its main goal in supporting the development of companies’ economic activity and representing, and defending the interests of business community. The community is comprised of various businesses, and educational, and scientific, and high technology institutions. Kaunas CCIC has a long-standing reputation for best practices in providing information and consulting services to entrepreneurs.

As part of a national representation of business community, Kaunas CCIC performs opinion surveys of companies in the region as regards business – related legislature. Towards achieving its strategic objectives, Kaunas CCIC has developed a work programme, involving concrete activities and initiatives aimed at improving the business environment in Kaunas region, attracting new investments, promoting export and helping Lithuanian companies in entering European and world markets, improving labour market conditions, enhancing competitiveness of the regional business.