Revitalising tradition and community through local products
Many European regions are facing depopulation and are looking for ways how to address the issue. Nearly 60% of rural or intermediate areas in the EU experience ongoing demographic decline, affecting around 40% of EU territory and a third of its people. Legacy factors like aging populations and low birth rates contribute to this decline, while out-migration accelerates the issue.
The Interreg Europe CASPER project partners believe that even with decreasing populations, regions can still thrive and offer a good quality of life. Regions with a rapidly shrinking population are often affected by a severe gap in the provision of social services (healthcare, cultural), physical (transport) and ICT connectivity, education and labour opportunities.
Different motivations to stay in rural areas
Grazyna Szajstek, from the Poladskie Voivodeship and a partner in the CASPER project talks about the important things that motivate people to stay in rural areas. “We try to offer them a good quality of life. Things like free public transport, good quality of education and facilities for their children motivates people to stay in smaller villages. Organisation of different events and support to local leaders help building the community. It is important to attract educated people back to small places where they came from.”
In the heart of Poland's Podlaskie region, nestled between the Bug and Narew rivers, lies the town of Drohiczyn. Here, amidst the lush landscapes and rich cultural heritage, the Zagubek Center for Local Product Promotion was born.
The project was implemented by the Drohiczyn local government in cooperation with the cultural centre and Local Action Groups. The Local Product Center "Zagubek" was named after a regional dish: zaguby which is on the List of Traditional Products.
Offering over four hundred products from forty different local producers, the centre serves as a bridge connecting the past with the present, ensuring that traditional crafts and foods are not lost.
The initial idea was to help the local producers and shorten the supply chain
Zagubek is a vibrant marketplace, where local artisans and producers showcase their goods in a welcoming space that celebrates the uniqueness of the Podlaskie region. Visitors can explore a diverse array of products, each telling a story of craftsmanship and cultural significance.
Beyond its role as a marketplace, Zagubek embodies principles of sustainable development. By supporting local producers, the centre reduces the carbon footprint associated with mass production and long-distance transportation. “The initial idea was to help the local producers and shorten the supply chain”, explains Szajstek.
Strengthening community bonds through cultural centres
Zagubek is more than a centre: it's a community catalyst. “It is a big building that reminds of Podlaskie manor houses, with a big kitchen for culinary workshops, are for ethnographic and art exhibitions, as well as space for cultural events, and educational programs that engage locals and visitors alike. It is a place that unites people”, says Szajstek.
These initiatives empower individuals, promote cultural exchange, and strengthen community bonds. According to Szajstek, there are also more and more tourists visiting the place, as it serves as an information point and offers other attractions close by.
“It is a beautiful place near the Bug river, we also have a kayak museum and a motorbike museum nearby. There is an annual kayaking event on the river, with over five hundred kayaks taking part and attracting even more people from different regions, which is a big event for the town”.
Revitalising local heritage and economy
The Zagubek Center for Local Product Promotion in Drohiczyn plays a key role in addressing rural depopulation and increasing citizen engagement by revitalizing local heritage and economy. It supports local producers by providing them with a platform to sell traditional products, creating income opportunities that help residents remain in the region.
By promoting local crafts and food, the centre also attracts tourism, which stimulates the wider rural economy and encourages young people to stay or return. With the events and workshops, the Zagubek strengthens local community.
The number of tickets sold in different establishments in Drohiczyn shows there are more tourists than in the best years in the past and that the tourist season has become longer.
“We are particularly pleased that we have succeeded in extending the tourist season. We have been striving for this for a long time, and such an effect has been achieved thanks to investments made in recent years, including Zagubek," says Wojciech Borzym, mayor of Drohiczyn, in an interview for a regional radio station.
Through the CASPER project, the Podlaskie Voivodeship plans to influence the change of the policy instrument for community activation, increase the importance of local stakeholders and improve the quality of life in rural areas. This, in turn, will contribute to making the region more attractive to people who want to stay or settle there.
