Local Roundtable EQUALITY OF LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNITY

To what extent are local and global communities connected? How to ensure the equality of local and global community? 

Green Liberty invited development cooperation policy makers from Jelgava municipality to the local round table „Equality of Local and Global Community” on November 17, 2015.

The event was opened by a representative of Green Liberty, Lauma Ziemeļniece, who introduced the Sustainable Development Goals. It was followed by the screening of the movie "Ar domu par labāku pasauli" (With a Thought about Better World), then development cooperation story "Me&You" was presented by Madara Mazjāne-Kokina from the organisation ideA. 

The round table was opened by an introduction which was presented by six representatives of stakeholder groups who are responsible for development and development cooperation issues in the local municipality of Jelgava:

• Ginta Avotiņa - Head of  Education department in the municipality of Jelgava,
• Kristīne Kode - Head of youth policy in the municipality of Jelgava,
• Modris Jansons -  deputy of the municipality of Jelgava,
• Uldis Dūmiņš  - chairman of the non-governmental organisation "Zemgale NGO Centre",
• Līva Kaunese - journalist in the municipality of Jelgava,
• Arnita Žukauska - representative of Youth Council in the municipality of Jelgava.

The discussion tackled the issues such as involvement in the development of local municipality, decision making process, collaboration, supported initiatives and cooperation on finding solutions in both the local and global context.

Representatives admitted that the global emerges and results from the local, meaning that everyone expresses their identity in different contexts - local, national, European, global. In their opinion, the equality of local and global community is described by our unity, variety of opinions and experiences. They shared that equality of local and global community results in empathy, feelings of belonging and equality, participation and helping others in the world.

The participants evaluated this event in connection to personal context such as reflections and new conclusions on human safety on various levels, development cooperation and our opportunities to contribute to development of global society and help others. They admitted that from national context Latvia is a small country that can, actually helps and in the future would participate in aiding despite our local issues. The participants were enthusiastic to look into the realities of countries of Global South.         

Participants expressed readiness to watch other movies and participate in discussions on the development cooperation and paradigm changes, where everyone learns from each other. Networking, cooperation and co-creation in this roundtable was recognized as an important initiative for professional activity and development of local community that can provide new non-financial solutions. It was recognized that the current need is the creation of new opportunities for youth, such as a strategically development of voluntary work. Globally, the desirable need is the development of cooperation with Ukraine.

In the participants’ opinion this was a significant event for the community of the municipality of Jelgava. It broadened and changed their perspective on self and the world, developed empathy towards other nations and understanding of developing countries’ peoples’ lives.  The event brought out the importance of local needs and global issues, involved youth as well as the representatives of a local municipality and entrepreneurs in discussions. 

Overall, this event was recognized as a success as it was well organised and met the participants’ expectations. The most meaningful approaches were round table discussion and screening of the movie that represented the period before Latvia joined the European Union. It showed the period when Latvians received help until the period when Latvia helped other countries. The event opened next issues of the same context that could be introduced for upcoming participants of local round tables on local and global communities.