3000 steps to the top. Awards for projects which received EU support

Vilnius, May 24th. Today, 1 national and 10 regional projects, which have received EU support, were awarded during EU structural support mart, which was held at “Litexpo” exchibition center in Vilnius.

“Those 11 winning projects are just a small part of all EU support projects which are implemented in Lithuania. And therefore, more than 3000 projects, in a way, are all the winners. They have proven that ideas can be transformed into brilliant results, support a development of the society and the country itself” – said Rimantas Šadžius, minister of finance, to participants of the mart during his welcome speech.

THE LEADER OF PROJECTS OF LITHUANIA

Help for weak-hearted patients

Reduction of morbidity and death rates of heart and vascular diseases in eastern and southeastern regions of Lithuaniaby improving and optimizing infrastructure and services of health care system.

Eastern and southeastern Lithuania distinguishes from other regions by degree of heart and vascular diseases, whereas Lithuania itself has a higher death rate from these diseases than other European countries. This national issue is tackled by a project, which is supposed to improve conditions of those ill with heart and vascular diseases in fifteen eastern and southeastern regions of Lithuania. All participating medical institutions are provided with equipment for diagnostic and treatment of heart and vascular diseases and are connected into common computer network for information exchange.

“Doctor in a regional initial personal health care center records a cardiogram. In case of any uncertainty doctor with a help of computer can get in touch with colleague from a regional hospital or from Vilnius University Hospital Santariškių Klinikos. This takes only couple of minutes, aids in a more accurate diagnosis and there’s no need to transfer a patient somewhere else” – says Kęstutis Mazurkevičius, doctor of Vilnius University Hospital Santariškių Klinikos.

LEADER OF ALYTUS REGION

Alytus region is ready to compete

Skills improvement of Alytus municipal government administration employees’ in order to increase a competitiveness of Alytus city in a national economy.

As is an owner such is his house. Thereby, as is a competency of municipal government, such is prosperity of the whole city. The project sets sights on municipal government to start cooperate with Alytus society more intensively and flexibly and, at same time, while bearing responsibility and combining forces, to attract innovations and initiatives to Alytus. “A man is a core value of the city, its mind and energy is intangible and unique resource of Alytus. Investment into mans’ knowledge is most valuable, since it motivates, increases confidence and self esteem, develops creative thinking, initiative and fosters to collaborate and work for the well being of the city” – affirms leaders of the city.

LEADER OF KAUNAS REGION

Computer literacy – for both cities and rural areas

Cultivation of computer literacy of economically active residents of Kaunas region

In order to increase competitiveness of Kaunas region residents in labor market and ensure equal opportunities for people living in for both cities and rural areas to cultivate their skills, gain required knowledge for their work or education with the help of innovative technologies, courses of computer literacy were organized. To mitigate differences in informatics between cities and rural areas, mobile computer classes and public internet access point were used in villages and small towns, remote education courses were held.

LEADER OF KLAIPĖDA REGION

Rebuilt Valley of Love will attract those who enjoy active recreation to Palanga

Reconstruction and development of streets and bike courses in Palanga (stage 1: reconstruction of Valley of Love, S. Dariaus and S. Girėno str., street segment from Vytauto str. to Sproto str.)

 One of the most famous Lithuanian resorts will become even more attractive not only to those enjoying the Sun and water, but also those admiring active style of recreation. Network of bike and pedestrian courses are being rebuilt and expanded, central streets are under reconstruction as are overall infrastructure and lighting systems.

LEADER OF MARIJAMPOLĖ REGION

Training for handicapped – a step towards more active life style

Deployment and implementation of program for rehabilitation of profession qualification for handicapped in Marijampolė center of professional training

Over 20 thousand handicapped live in Marijampolė region, but so far they had no opportunity to gain neither required qualification nor primary or secondary education. This issue, to rehabilitate handicapped in terms of their occupation, was set to work out by Marijampolė center of professional training,which develops and implements the program for rehabilitation of profession qualification for handicapped. Here they can gain professional skills of driver, florist, learn e-sales. With the program fully implemented, Marijampolė region will be capable to train 30 handicapped per year.

LEADER OF PANEVĖŽYS REGION

Yield of berries – heavier and more eco- friendly

Expansion of fruit plants

In a village of Dubai which is located in Panevėžys region and in its surroundings, Tomas Lisauskas plants black currants and sea buckthorn. While he acquired farmland three years ago, he was not able to get required agricultural machinery so far. Furthermore he was seeking to improve production quality, reduce operational expenses, increase efficiency, better work and hygiene conditions. With the help of EU structural support, farmer has acquired some modern agriculture machinery – a tractor, a plough, a cultivator, nozzles for field and garden use, a mower. As a result of these machines farmer can now harvest a heavier crop and sell it for more competitive price thus compete in a local and international markets more successfully.

LEADER OF ŠIAULIAI REGION

Joining potential of organizations and academic society of the city

Successful development of student carriers with the implementation of innovative method of cooperative studies (KOOPERIA)

A new innovative method of cooperative studies is being implemented in Šiauliai region. Its goal is to create all conditions required to mitigate differences between academic society, social and business organizations. University of Šiauliai together with partners tries to join forces of academic society, organizations, institutions and communities of the city, so that content of studies would match regional requirements i.e. so that universities would prepare specialist of those fields, which are required most in the region, and that employers would get youth with more hands-on experience rather than with theoretical knowledge only.

LEADER OF TAURAGĖ REGION

Better conditions to train automobile mechanics and joiners

Modernization of practical training base for automobile technical exploitation, and for manufacturing of furniture and timber articles at Tauragė occupation training center

Tauragė occupation training center, in order to improve quality, accessibility of tainting for automobile mechanics, joiners and cabinetmakers, develops an infrastructure required for practical training. Workshops used so far did not satisfy health and hygiene requirements, thus with the help of EU structural funds workshops, electrical, heating and plumbing systems are being renovated. Renovation of other infrastructure of the workshop is also performed.

LEADER OF TELŠIAI REGION

It is never too late to learn – even if you are over fifty

Development of integration of elder women and women returning to work after long break into labor market 

Women of Telšiai can now plan their carriers and start learning even if they are over fifty. During “Stimulation of activity and motivation by increasing capability to plan one’s carrier and compete in a labor market” courses, held by Telšiai labor exchange, women can improve their communication skills; learn to cope with stress, increase self-knowledge. Furthermore, participants of those courses can learn to work with computers, drive automobiles, learn English, and cultivate their business skills. With new knowledge and skills gained, women can be more self-contained and more self-confident thus discovering more opportunities to find a job.

LEADER OF UTENA REGION

Help for those fighting with their addictions

Social and professional integration for patients of PE “Meikštų dvaras”

In abandoned estate in Ignalina district Lithuanian largest social – physiological rehabilitation center is located for people with different addictions. Public enterprise“Meikštų dvaras”, with the help of EU structural funds, seeks to help those treated here to fight their addictions and, what’s also very important, to ease their return to labor market. Rehabilitation center organizes courses on psychology, carrier planning, foreign languages, computer literacy. This knowledge and skills become not only advantage while looking for a job, but also an indicator which reduces social differentiation. Ability to avoid conflicts, speak well-grounded, introduce to potential employer and other skills of communications is important today for every single human being.

LEADER OF VILNIUS REGION

Advanced technologies for production of „Audėjas“

Modernization of AB “Audėjas” manufacturing base, and implementation of advanced technologies to reduce production costs and make it more eco-friendly in order to produce conditions for development of Lithuanian textile industry (3 stages, 2004-2006)

The sole company, manufacturing textiles for furniture, “Audėjas” has modernized its manufacturing base. It has implemented new textile technologies, which allows creation of unparalleled, highest technological quality textiles for furniture, mattresses, decorations or etc. and offering them to end users. This project contributes to collaboration of Lithuanian textile manufacturers, because due to modernization of yarn coloring workshop, quality of all colored yarn will be the same in all Lithuanian textile companies.

Total number of votes for all projects in a web site www.esparama.lt was 12 926. Top scorers were those, which were to be implemented in entire Lithuania. Top scorer was project, which is implemented at Vilnius University Hospital Santariškių Klinikos, scored 1 146 votes. Most active in voting were residents of Vilnius, Kaunas and Panevėžys regions - they mostly supported projects to be implemented in their particular regions.

Total number of projects presented during mart was 82 from more that 3000, which, with a help of EU support, are already being implemented in different areas of Lithuania.