Local Democracy Agency Brtonigla - Verteneglio

Because of the particular ethnic structure of Verteneglio, Udruga “Agencija Lokalne Demokracije” (ALD) was founded to support multiculturality and cohabitation of all different ethnic groups historically living on these lands as a way to reinforce either the local democracy and the institutions of the local autonomies. The ALD sited in Istrian is one of three LDAs in Croatia, and one out of thirteen situated in south-east Europe. It has more than 20 years of experience witnessing a growing commitment to its aims by involvement in fields of networking between local and international bodies, international cooperation, promoting human rights, rising awareness on active citizenship; bridging activities for the empowerment of a vulnerable groups (minorities, ecc). As a matter of fact current activities are concerned with: activities for youth, developing networking with national and international NGOs and local authorities. The LDA is dealing with issues such as rural and local development, international cooperation, adult and youth education, volunteering, youth information, etc., all of which is facilitated by its peculiar geographical position. The organization has over 15 years of experience in these fields and its commitment to its aims are always growing. In order to reach its aims the LDA is building networks with national and international bodies, promoting international cooperation, training on capacity and institution building, rising awareness on active citizenship; bridging activities for the empowerment of a multicultural society; strengthening the civil society etc. It also implements projects and programmes in cooperation with the other 13 LDAs spread across the Balkans and the Association of Local Democracy Agencies, that groups them all though leaving each agency independent management and autonomous activities. After the accreditation for EVS in 2008, LDA Verteneglio began to spread the idea of European Voluntary Service among youth. Actually, the organization is implementing its sixth EVS project which include four young volunteers coming from Italy, France, Lithuania and Macedonia. Until now LDA has hosted in total 22 European volunteers form 10 different countries. It has, therefore, experience of managing groups of volunteers, including their activities and the logistics of their stay. Since LDA cooperates with many governmental and nongovernmental institutions in Istira, the volunteers have a wide variety of choices regarding their activities. Within the EVS programme the LDA also successfully sends volunteers on projects abroad, helping them to find a suitable project; advising on the application process; preparing them for departure; and helping them on their return. It also has experience of coordinating EVS projects for which it was not the host, working with the municipality of Buje to manage the activities of volunteers hosted by them. This year LDA's 2012 EVS project G.I.L.D. was selected as the example for good practices, among all other Croatian projects, and will be presented at a conference in Brussels, in May.