20-26 August 2006, a cross-border cooperation summer school was arranged in Värska, , as one of additional activities of the BEN project within the WP1. The summer school was organised by Peipsi Center for Transboundary Cooperation. More then 30 representatives of NGOs and local governments from the Baltic countries, Russia, Ukraine, Byelorussia, Moldova, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan learned the tricks of the trade for cross-border cooperation and share their relevant experience in it.

In the course of the summer school specialists from Estonia and abroad provided the participants with knowledge of policies and programmes on transboundary cooperation, financing possibilities, collaboration structures, youth work and exchange programmes, etc. In addition to academic lectures, the schedule foresaw group and individual work, simulation games and organisations.

The summer school also has a practical outcome: during the first day, the participants in the summer school determined a subject matter which links with their organisation’s everyday activity. All study days ended with thematic group work; by the end of the week, each group have completed a conceptual design regarding their future cooperation, together with further elaboration. 

Program

Presentations and results of the working groups