Matka.ru (KA 342)
Funded by Karelia ENPI 2007-2013

Objective of the project

The goal of the project was to promote youth educational tourism as a factor for sustainable socio-economic development of the region.

Main activities

• To create a network for youth educational tourism development with participation of at least 40 regional institutions, such as youth NGOs, schools, colleges, centers for supplementary education etc. • To create an international youth center Matkachi.

Achievements

The main outputs produced by the project are the cross-border Network for youth educational tourism - it united 29 Russian and 12 Finnish organizations - and youth international center Matkachi in the Republic of Karelia. The central idea of the project - to transfer the new model of youth educational tourism development in Republic of Karelia - got support and recognition. It's also of great importance that the project initiated changes in the Regional Ecology and Biology center which is a project partner responsible for the Matkachi center management. The center approved the new Concept of development with a strict role for the Matkachi center. Now the Regional Ecology and Biology center is playing a significant role in the Regional educational policy and it creates good ground for cross-border cooperation in such spheres as sustainable development, informal education, youth work, social issues and tourism.