Description – SIMRA Social Innovation in Marginalised Rural Areas

Konnu Smart Work Centre

Starting Year:

Scale:Region:

MRA characteristics*: Intermediate Rural Area; at least one island with no bridge or tunnel link; ratio of all roads length to region area, 2.6; 19.9% of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion, 83% of people with access to the internet.

Location:

Sector:Topic:

Challenges addressed:

Improvement of services / infrastructures, Employment

Description:

Motivated local people available in the community initiated a smart working center to solve an unemployment problem in the area. Women shared their knowledge, jobs and childcare duties with each other, develop their competences as a team and compete as a unit for work in the labour market. Women with more extensive educational background, work experiences and social networks act as mentors bringing work to the centre, organise training courses and launch projects.

Form:Actors involved:

Practices:

Networking, Training / Teaching, Assistance & Advice, Support (Technical, legal, etc.), Support groups

Kuusalu Parish

Social change:

• Training, self-development and work opportunities • Community life • About 10 people found a job thanks to this initiative, mostly women

Further information:

Website:

References:

• Micropol Interreg Good Practice: Kolga (formerly Kõnnu) Smart Work Centre

* Information at the level of NUTS 3 or local regions.