Living space for young people in a bilingual mountain region

Best Practice

Topics

• Governance capacity
• Regional value added, Policies and instruments

Short description

One of the main objectives of the Slovenian Cultural Association SPD Zarja is to open up perspectives and to promote initiatives for a more active life in Bad Eisenkappel/Železna Kapla. The focus is put on the improvement of the socio-cultural and economic living conditions for young people aged between 5 and 20 years. During the last five years about 60 young people could be reached through theatre performances and workshops.

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Project executive

The Slovenian Cultural Association SPD Zarja (red dawn) was founded in 1907 with the intention to promote the use of Slovenian language together with education and culture of the ethnic minority. Today the association’s activities comprise three fields of work (cultural life, education and sport) in eight branches. 360 out of about 3,000 total inhabitants are organised in this association. The youth division consists of a children’s dancing group, the youth choir KLIKA, the tamburizza group TAMIKA and a youth theatre group. Responsible Person: Ošina Wilhelm SPD Zarja Leppen/Lepena 57, 9135, Bad Eisenkappel/Železna Kapla, Austria, willi.osina@slo.at 0043-650-280 75 74 0043-4238-8363

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Participants

Slovensko prosvetno društvo ZARJA: ZARČKI (children’s dancing group), TAMIKA (tamburizza group), KLIKA (youth choir), otroška in mladinska gledališka skupina (children and youth theatre group), športna sekcija (sport division), Glasbena Šola Lepena/bilingual mountain music school, Leppen: Coppla Kaša (Mountain famers’ association Vellach), Platform endangered schools/Gibanje ogrožene šole, Kino Kreativ, SPZ/Slovenian Cultural Board

Objectives

Bad Eisenkappel/Železna Kapla is severely affected by out-migration, the loss of local services and infrastructures (schools, public transport, working places). The nearest urban cultural events (theatres, cinemas, concerts) happen in Klagenfurt/Celovec which is some 45 km away and can be hardly reached by public transport. Thus a local cultural centre would be essential to counteract the loss of local culture and infrastructures. During the last few years plenty of efforts have been made to start interesting events for youths in order to spend their leisure, improve their language skill and social competence. A basic intention of this project is to make life more attractive in Eisenkappel-Vellach/Železna Kapla-Bela. Just German speaking children and families from another cultural background are also invited to take part in the association’s activities.

Activities

2001: 1st Dance and Theater Workshop for youths and children, regular rehearsals of KLIKA (youth choir) and Tamika (tamburizza group), purchase of new music instruments for Tamika, foundation of a bilingual mountain music school in Leppen/Lepena 2002: performance of the youth musical “Čenčarija” in Eisenkappel/Železna Kapla and Klagenfurt/Celovec; several guest performances from Austrian and Slovenian youth and puppet theatres. Musical workshop in Savudrija (Croatia); participation at Super-Trim (7-village-competition) 2003: Mezinčki, children theatre in Eisenkappel/Železna Kapla, Co-organisation of the 1st Eisenkappel/Železna Kapla soapbox derby, organisation of various skiing and tobogganing competitions, joint conception und rehearsal of a bilingual musical, concerts of the music school 2004: Youth musical TV Ajša Najša in Eisenkappel/Železna Kapla, Klagenfurt/Celovec, Feistritz/Bistrica etc.; purchase of a mobile stage; drum workshop 2005: 1st Youth Summer Festival; Publication of Zarjin Vestnik, purchase of a piano for the music school; Musical project "Mlinček", dance workshop in Poreč (Croatia)

Process

no specific methods were used

Results

The participation of non - Slovenian speaking youths and children in the dance and music groups has surpassed all expectations by far. A great open-mindedness towards the other language could be experienced in all the workshops. Many formerly sceptical parents became members of this association through the participation of their small children. Others still remained active when they were grown up after they had taken part in one or the other branch of the association as children. It is intended to further encourage the participation of all groups of population in cultural and educational activities in future. The municipality council of Eisenkappel-Vellach has revised its decision taken five years ago and now voted for putting up bilingual village signs. There is also an unanimous intention to maintain the very small bilingual school of Ebriach/Obirsko.

Evaluation

The fostering of mutual cooperation and understanding between the two ethnic groups is an important means for the recognition of social diversity, social integration and cultural inclusion. This goal is well covered in the project. Supporting infrastructures and innovations, internal and external partnership and the creation of a common local identity without excluding the interests of social, cultural and ethnic minorities one of the core recommendations of QT2 is also well matched by the project. Prejudices between the ethnic groups are combated in order to facilitate a fruitful regional development and to open up new perspectives for the local youth.

Difficulties

Widespread prejudices can be observed amongst local citizens against Slovenian language and foreigners in general. Many problems in youth work derive from the particular history of this bilingual region and incomers stemming from other nationalities. Many events are very much confined to the region due to the poor accessibility of Eisenkappel/Železna Kapla, there is definitely no public transport on the evenings, weekends and holiday

Budget

78000 (Euro)

Financial backer

Membership fees, revenues from activities, contributions from parents, sponsoring, public financial support bestowed on ethnic minorities, voluntary work from association members

Source of information

Competition

Participant at the 2005 Future in the Alps competition

Homepage

in preparation

Comments

Impact on nature and environment

Cultural landscapes can only be maintained as long as people own a virtual perspective for their living in the villages. Environmental protection encompasses the preservation of rural regions for and together with children.

Economic value added

It is difficult to quantify the economic value added since SPD Zarja does not pursue economic interests; anyhow, consumption and added value remain in the village.

Socio-cultural value added

Lingual and social competence will be acquired in a bilingual socio-cultural environment, prejudices against presumed „foreign traditions” will be reduced, people will be motivated to create an attractive living space in a remote region.

Innovative content

Together with young people lingual frontiers will be knocked down, mutual tolerance between farmers and villagers fostered, the various still existing relationships on both sides of the frontier utilised and finally the building of a common Europe facilitated.

Good governance

All workgroups are free to participate in the public meetings of the managing committee. All divisions have an equal right of vote and are permanently informed about all events and decision of the association by the executive officer.

PR impact

All projects and events will be announced by mail shots and posters. The association cooperates with the local tourist office and passes information to the media. Since 2005 a calendar of events "Zarjin Vestnik" is published recurrently. The number of event visitors is enormous regarding this remote rural area: in 2005: 700 visitors at TAMIKA CD presentation; summer nights festival 1,200 visitors; skiing competitions: 120 visitors in each case; cultural events (theatre, concerts, cinema): 300 visitors on the average.

Multiplier effect / networking

The mobile stage (8x7m, roofed) which has been purchased in 2004 may be used by all village associations. This also facilitates cooperation between local associations and economy. SPD Zarja workshops, working groups and events which are well attended are open for all in general. In particular there is an intensive cooperation with the local farmers’ association Coppla Kaša and the Kino kreativ initiative.

Transferability

This natural conduct with plurilingualism may be regarded as a positive scheme. Throughout many decades precious and manifold experiences could be gained by the voluntary work and commitment of the association members which now can be transferred to the initiatives. Many other initiatives have readily taken up some elements of this long-term experiences as well.

Further information