Russia:

1. Train the trainer projects 2006-2009
2. Activities in Arkhangelsk
3. How to spread and use the results

RUSSIA

Independent woman farmers working on their own in 2009
Within the time span of our period of activities, ØkoPomorka foundation will contribute to practical help to make women farmers become independent and able to work for themselves when the plan has been accomplished in 2009. Sharing experience and developing competences will ensure that the women can continue their work independently. We will initiate activities which they can live from when ØkoPomorka has withdrawn from their area. Women farmers will take part in developing competence that contributes to this when we finish our project. The participants must understand that support from Norway is not to last forever, and this is why we continuously train and focus on independence. It is important for us to develop strong projects being able to survive and develop without us when the activity period comes to an end.

Concrete and practical, where the events take place
“In a cultural context, the border between Russia and Norway will represent a meeting arena rather than a separating line in the future”, says journalist and Russia expert Peter Normann Waage, in connection with the exhibition “Norway-Russia 2004-2005”. “If you want to do something in Russia, you have to go close to those you want to cooperate with”, he continues.

Our activities are practical, they focus business development for women farmers on each particular farm. Because women farmers represent the motor in the local community, we aim to do practical activities resulting in competence exchange within the local community. We will be there, on location, where things happens. We will work with locals, practically and down to earth. We will focus on what is realistic and useful and interesting for women farmers to do. Creating practical results is important for ØkoPomorka.

Spred and use the results
Spreading the results will start in 2009/2010 to other areas in North West Russia. The women participating in our projects will take active part in this work. There is a huge need to contribute to business development for women farmers in North West Russia, so that they can develop their farms and their local environment. We experience that a project with practical and realistic focus has the elements it needs to succeed, because the participants experience useful results in their daily life. A large number of farmers will be able to adopt our methods and results from our projects.

The only foundation in an area of great need
As far as we know, ØkoPomorka is the only foundation working with ecology in Russia. Economic support for production is a big problem for farming in North Vest Russia. Ecological farming is self-supporting by nature and not depending on external resources. We want to contribute to a stable food supply in the northern areas. Ecological farming focusing the natural circuit leads to less pollution and a better environment in the North West Russia.