The Partner-Finding Tool
The project aims to improve rural areas, maintain identity and heritage through promoting local producers and highlight the negative effects of globalisation.
The project aims to highlight the harmful effects of globalisation which took over food markets and moved people away from the not-so-old way of eating - locally and seasonally. The globalisation process has worsened the situation of small farmers and local producers in the supply chain around the world. The free markets, trade and financial liberalisation, result in the emergence of a single global market, which is characterised by unification, which in turn may threaten the national identity and cultural distinctness of individual societies. Another threat is the domination of powerful multinational companies over which other countries have control and on which they have become dependent. Locating investments in new countries is related to the development of the host country's market and does not contribute to the development of the local, state market.
Excessive competition is a source of social rejection on a large scale. One forgets about non-competitive people, companies, cities, for market hegemony they have no value. Globalisation requires countries that want to join the markets to undertake reforms and restructure their economies, which is often not possible due to the lack of funds and state support. Consequently, their quality of life deteriorates. Trade liberalisation and technological improvements are reshaping the country's economy, destroying traditional farming communities, which can lead to unemployment; most longer farmers can no longer keep up with changing industries.
At the same time, it moves consumers away from the source of knowledge about the food we consume. The production of traditional food products (flour, olive oil, jams, butter, cheese), which until now was mainly done by hand, was transferred to industrial plants. The invention of food preservation methods allowed for more extended storage of many products, including unprocessed ones (fruit, vegetables, meat, fish)
In consequence, it affects local producers, who are mostly family businesses, that contribute to sustainable socio-economic development and environmental protection. Moreover, not all of the regions are sufficiently promoted. Project's solution is to create a promotional brochure of Local Producers. This is the key to successfully develop a given area, thus increasing the chances of new jobs, recovery of the local economy, and creating social initiatives. Besides, promoting a region also has a positive effect on its inhabitants, allowing them to appreciate and learn more about their culture, local traditions and strengthen their identity.
The main goal of the project is to show the importance of identity and teach how to preserve it.
Due to globalisation, the importance of cultural heritage is disappearing from our shared consciousness, and young people are getting more and more disconnected from their history. So our participants will gain knowledge of promoting their rural area and through that support local producers and the value of seasonal food. For learning that, they will be asked to create a promotional brochure of local producers in Brtonigla, which, after the completion of the Youth Exchange, will continuously remain in the Info Tourism office. Another goal of the project is to encourage young people to create civic initiatives and develop their creativity.
During the Youth Exchange Participants, due to the daily tasks within a multinational environment, will get to experience, on an individual level, about differences in cultures and mutual understanding. Each participant will come from a different background which has a significant impact on learning respect and empathy. Cooperation of people with varying points of view is about reaching a compromise which is one of the core values the European Union stands on. Experience of Youth Exchange helps people come out of their comfort zone, confront them with cultural diversity and face up them with different cultural contexts. Moreover, participation in a multicultural environment plants a seed of curiosity towards other cultures and has an impact on fostering the mobility of young people.
The main problem we want to tackle is the lack of promotion and information about local producers who through their work, define the region and maintain the heritage of local food and for which Istria is recognised. There is no detailed information about local producers on the website which promote the region. Coming as a tourist for the first time to Istria, it is hard to find local producers because businesses are mostly run in their homes, and there is no information and reviews about the products. The promotional brochure of local producers will be a response to their needs, as most of them, do not have social media or their own websites. Due to their place of residence, age and the rural lifestyle, the technological revolution did not reach here as fast as it did to cities. The relationship between the municipality and Local producers is not supportive enough so the problem should be solved. That is important because those who maintain the continuity of the heritage should be appreciated and supported. Local Producers are harmed by the competition between them and bigger food chains. The process of globalisation led people, especially the younger generation, away from locally sourced goods and to bigger supermarkets which provide no economic benefits to the region.
That is why we want to pass on knowledge and draw young people’s attention to the importance of food quality, which will lead them to make better choices. Above all, the knowledge gained during the Youth Exchange will help the participants address similar problems in their home countries.
Through good promotion, a solid relationship between Local Producers and Municipalities and the connection of the Youth with local goods, unique identities can be maintained.
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Short URL to this project:
http://otlas-project.salto-youth.net/12928