Programme
FULL PROGRAMME HERE: PREPARE Gathering 2016 Programme
Tuesday, 13 September
- Early arrivals. For those participants who arrive early at Tirana airport (Albania) till 15.00 and all participants arriving from Ohrid airport (Macedonia), or travelling through Macedonian border.
15.00 – 19.00 Getting to know Korçe region – walking tour in Voskopoje village.
Korçe region has wide areas of highly cultivable and fertile land, varied eco-systems and habitats, protected areas, high biodiversity levels, healthy climate, many historic-cultural resources and handicraft and ethno-gastronomic characteristics. Moreover, it is one of the most important in Albania regarding rural development, with good opportunities for agro-tourism. It is a cross border area, with borders to Macedonia and Greece.
20.00 Dinner and getting to know each other
B. Late evening arrivals. For participants arriving in Tirana airport from 16.00 to 20.00, shuttle minibus will pick up and take participants to hotel accomodation in Permet.
C. Late night or early morning arrivals. For participants arriving very late in Tirana airport on 13th, or early on 14th, there will be hotel accomodation in Tirana, followed by pick-up from airport on 14 September.
Wednesday, 14 September
09.00- 19.00 Travelling workshops
Starting points are Permet for Group 1; Tirana for Group 2 for those who arrive very late on 13 September or early on 14 September; and Voskopoje for Group 3 and 4,
Group 1
Consortium “Pro Permet” and Slow food Convivium in Permet District supports the development of the territory by promoting typical agro-food products and crafts, reception and accommodation facilities, and preservation of the environment.
Time: 09.00 – 19.30 Route: Permet – Petran- Kelcyre –Leskovik Erseke- Voskopoje
Points of Interest:
- Cheese factory “Bunker”. Meet with Altin Meshini, National Coordinator of the Consortium; Tasting of factory’s products. The rich and numerous pastures of the area and early tradition of milk processing have a positive influence on the quality of the products.
- Winery “Bejko”. The winery surrounded by vineyards is constructed in a traditional style and offers typical and quality products.
- Gliko Manufactory – member of the Consortium and Slow Food.
- Artisanal processing of organic products.
- Dinner – Restorant Antigonea, member of the Consortium and Slow Food. The restaurant features typical local dishes.
- Return to Voskopoje, Korçe. The road goes through breath-taking scenery.
Group 2
A community-based agro-tourism cluster in the Belsh Municipality – as a way to ensure economic advancement and better self-employment opportunities for women
Time: 09.00 – 19.30 Route: Tirana – Belsh – Elbasan – Pogradec – Korçe – Voskopoje
Points of Interest:
- Dumra area, the karst pearl of Albania (there are 84 karst lakes in an area of 194 km2)
- Local apiary, winery and small livestock farm at Marinez Forest. Family farming located at the forest and lake shore.
- Meet the members of Amateur Fishermen’s Association.
- Cheese factory “Gjoleka Family” – member of the agro-based cluster. Tasting Stopani cheese – a typical local cheese.
- Traditional handicraft. A woman artisan who hand-makes the local traditional costumes.
- Dinner – Local restaurant, member of the agro-based cluster.The restaurant features typical local dishes. A showcase with agro-processing local products – naturally from Belsh
- Return to Voskopoje, Korçe.
Group 3
Assist the process.
“Discover the bottom” of what you love: Opportunity to get in contact with local producers and assist the production process : meeting with the farmers, visits to the fabric and production processing – The Product.
Time: 09.00 – 19.30 Route: Voskopoje –– Plase – Mollaj – Korçe – Voskopoje
Points of Interest:
- a) Tasting the “Best Albanian Wine 2015”- Visit to the Vineyard / Rilindja Winery – wine production process / Wine tasting
- b) Visit to the “Ferdinand Ali” company – growing apples and processing. Heading to the Apple organic juice production Fabric
- c) Production, Harvesting, Tasting – Morava Honey Farm
- d) Korca Beer Fabric
- e) Dinner to local restaurant
Group 4
“Made by hands”
Handmade / handcraft work, rugs, stonemason, iron and wood craft – everything behind the old tradition! Discover the interest in crafts, inherited from generation to generation.
Time: 9.00 – 19.30 Route: Voskopoje – Shtylle – Vithkuq – Voskopoje
Points of Interest:
- Handcraft work, rugs – Lindita Berdilla
- Iron and wood craft – Tika Nikolla and Gjergji Joga
- Stonemason – Qazim Bezhani
- Livestock farm
- Rungaja stream
- Ceramic handcraft, wool processing
- Dinner to local restaurant
Evening – all groups arrive back in Voskopoje
20.00 International Buffet Dinner and Trade Fair of local products brought by participants in the Gathering, in order to reveal and celebrate the diversity of Europe
Thursday, 15 September
from 8.00 Breakfast
9.00 to 11.00 Opening and First Plenary Session
Greeting from organising team, and from Mayor of Korca
Self-introduction by all participants
Introduction to the theme and the programme
Members of PREPARE partner organisations present case studies of successful networking in rural areas
11.00 to 11.30 Coffee break
11.30 to 13.00 First session of 5 simultaneous multi-national Workshops.
Main theme of this first session
Strengthening the capacity of CSOs and CSO Networks to participate actively in policy planning and implementation, to build a strong civil society in rural areas, and to enhance regional development through networking and cooperation.
Provisional list of specific sub-themes to be addressed by individual workshops
- Encouraging the formation and activity of civil society organisations (CSOs) at local and regional level; identification of key people; ways to involve members
- Creating and strengthening national networks of Civil Society Organisations, including the trust building and setting its’ role in the national processes of rural development
- Building the organisational capacity of CSO’s and CSO Networks, including governance, business planning, fund-raising etc.
- Effective networking within and between CSOs, including effective methods of the exchange of information and good practices, activities and best methods used for networking with members and other CSOs
- The role of CSOs and CSO networks in rural and regional development – programmes, projects and day-by-day working.
Each working group will have a facilitator to guide the discussion; an introductory speaker, who will open the debate by offering a practical example from her/his experience; and a rapporteur (chosen among the participants in the workshop), whose role will be to synthesise the ideas emerging in the workshop and to report to the subsequent plenary session.
13.00 to 14.30 Lunch
14.30 to 16.00 Second Plenary Session.
This session will be focused on the main theme of the first session workshops, namely
“Strengthening the capacity of CSOs and CSO Networks to participate actively in policy planning and implementation, to build a strong civil society in rural areas, and to enhance regional development through networking and cooperation.
The session will be structured according to the sub-themes addressed by individual workshops. Each sub-theme in turn will be opened for discussion through a short report from the sub-theme rapporteur, followed by general discussion on that sub-theme. The later part of the Plenary Session will be devoted to a broader debate upon the main theme stated above.
16.00 to 16.30 Tea Break
16.30 to 18.00 Second session of 5 simultaneous multi-national Workshops
Main theme of this second session
“Building the partnership of CSOs and CSO Networks with public institutions, and their involvement in decision-making and governance processes, for the well-being of rural communities.”
Provisional list of specific sub-themes to be addressed by individual workshops
- Effective national level consultative structures and systems operated by governments, and how these may be used and if necessary improved in order to enable participation by CSOs and CSO networks
- The role of local authorities in rural and regional development, and how local authority structures and administrative reform affect that role and the ability of CSOs and CSO Networks to contribute to development processes
- The formal and informal ways/technics for the involvement of rural CSOs and CSO networks in policy making and implementation; establishment and improvement of the dialogue and cooperation between public bodies and CSOs and CSO networks
- Building partnership between public. private and civil sectors at local, regional and national level, including CLLD, LEADER-type activity
- Raising the voice of rural people, and the profile of CSOs and CSO Networks as the important voice that should be heard and taken into account through publicity, publications, Rural Parliaments and other techniques.
19.00 Conference Dinner at the restaurant with live traditional music of Serenades and traditional food.
- Folklore night with the group of clarinet players
- Dancing the typical Korca Valle’s
- Singing with the Korca serenades group and guitar player
Friday, 16 September
from 8.00 Breakfast
9.00 to 11.00 Third Plenary Session.
This session will be focused on the main theme of the second session of Workshops, namely
“Building the partnership of CSOs and CSO Networks with public institutions, and their involvement in decision-making and governance processes, for the well-being of rural communities.”
The session will be structured according to the sub-themes addressed by individual Workshops. Each sub-theme in turn will be opened for discussion through a short report from the sub-theme rapporteur, followed by general discussion on that sub-theme. The later part of the Plenary Session will be devoted to a broader debate upon the main theme stated above.
11.30 to 12.00 Coffee break
12.00 to 13.30 Final Plenary Session
- Conclusions, and comments on future work by the PREPARE Partnership and by the ALTER partners to follow through the discussions during the Gathering
- PREPARE representative
- ALTER representative
- Reactions and comments from :
– Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Administration
– Representative from European Commission
– Representatives from European institutions and Networks
– Other respected guests
Conclusion and end of formal proceedings
13.30 to 14.30 Lunch
Departures
14.30 to 19.00 First session of PREPARE AISBL General Assembly
for PREPARE partners and members, plus invited guests
19.30 Dinner
