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Description
As a result of the strategic project the local community has been activated and citizens'' initiative groups have been created. The citizens'' initiative groups created in the project are a potential basis for further development of the citizens'' council. It is therefore planned to study regional examples of good practice in Norway''s Levanger and Trøndelag regions - regarding promoting citizen participation, addressing various issues of concern to the local community, implementing citizens'' councils and other forms of participation, the work of the region''s NGOs and cooperation with local
Summary of the results
The initiative, part of the ACF strategic project “Raising of Participation and Civic Activity in Jelgava and Ozolnieki Regions,” aimed to enhance community engagement and establish citizen councils in Jelgava District. An international experience exchange in Norway provided valuable insights into successful citizen engagement practices. Participants visited Levanger, learning from local government offices, NGOs, and community councils, focusing on citizen participation, democracy, and volunteerism. Key takeaways included the importance of trust in democratic societies and successful models for involving citizens in local decision-making.The exchange strengthened participants'' confidence and inspired new ideas for engaging their communities. It also fostered international cooperation, improving understanding of citizen councils and enhancing future project activities. Outcomes included broadened perspectives on local democracy, strengthened NGO and local government partnerships, and increased motivation to establish citizen councils in Jelgava. The initiative successfully contributed to the project''s goals by improving participants'' competence and supporting local democratic processes.