Step Up – Cross Border City in Action (SE332)
Funded by South-East Finland - Russia ENPI 2007-2013

Objective of the project

The overall objective of the Step Up project was to unite the existing institutions and organisations in four action groups (sports, youth policy, education and culture) to build a foundation for future cooperation. The project activities included the cities of Lappeenranta, Imatra, Svetogorsk and Vyborg as well as the municipalities of the Admiralteysky District in St Petersburg.

Main activities

- Setting up the action groups of sports, youth policy, education and culture - Implementing the activities set for each group and creating communication circles among the actors - Draw up the results and outcomes of the activities - Draw up the visions for the future

Achievements

A large number of activities were organised for the project: for example there were altogether 75 sporting events for the sports action group, and there were eight seminars and matchmaking events for the culture action group. In addition to these, the Policy Assembly of Youth Organisation was launched for the youth action group in close cooperation with young people living in the border region. Municipal specialists, youth clubs, school parliaments, student unions, youth foundations and associations have built a good networking system for future activities. Schools and kindergartens participating in the education action group formed a durable networking system via different kinds of master classes, teacher visits and joint cultural performances. Three seminars offered new, modern pedagogic methodological know-how and culture, and there was extensive testing and improvement on the distance learning system.