Description
This project seeks to turn the Ruila manor complex, which is currently a school serving more than 100 students, into a community center offering a wide range of activities and promoting a local cultural identity. The manor complex already boasts a gymnasium, handwork facility, and library and has strong base of local involvement and support. This grant will allow it to optimize its use of these structural and social resources in order to provide relevant and appealing options to the local community and visitors. New weekly pottery classes will introduce students to working with clay and to the techniques needed to make both functional and decorative items in the local folk tradition. New horseback riding tours and opportunities to canoe and snowshoe will help the manor showcase its natural heritage to guests. Additionally, the manor will develop the conference and catering facilities necessary to host groups of visitors and concerts will be put on several times a year.
Summary of project results
Ruila manor houses a basic school. Ruila is situated ca 40 km from the capital and due to the geographical situation the potential of the manor as a local cultural centre is overlooked. The main focus of the project was to create more activities that attract local people, but also to create services that can promote Ruila as a tourism attraction. To reach this goal the equipment of ceramics workshop was purchased and has been in use since twice a week for children and once a week for adults. To take advantage of the nearby horse stables special nature and horse trails were worked out. With the help of voluntary community members and parents of the pupils local riverbed was cleaned and canoes and bog-shoes purchased that enable to organise a variety of sport and leisure activities for locals and visitors. During the project implementation period 4 hiking trips and a special adventurous competition to the schools of the county were organised. A festive dinner set was purchased and a special dinner menu created to enable the use of manor premises for additional activities. Many cultural events for local community took place. During the project implementation period the number of parents involved with activities in the manor grew significantly and reached half of the total number. Project fulfilled its goals creating a strong bond between the manor and the local community. The cultural events and regular workshops and trainings influence local life quality, awareness and responsibility for the maintenance of cultural heritage, and there is a potential for job creation.
Summary of bilateral results