On the 12 of September in Cesis took place the official PIPE project estimation event which was at the same time the graduation for the youth groups established during the project realization in Latvia - the PIPE entrepreneurship class, the Cesis Local Identity research group and the Democracy training group for Cesis City Youth council.

            In this estimation event took part the PIPE project Lead group in Latvia, the representatives from Cesis City council and Cesis District council as well, there were participating the specialists from Ministry of Finance, from the Ministry of Regional development and Municipality cases and the representatives from Phare program as well - they all have been given the contribution to the project realization in Latvia. As special guests there was participating the PIPE project Lead group from Norway, Ostfold County.

            The event was built as a conference in which were evaluated the results coming from project realization in Cesis city and district.

The project coordinator in Latvia Inese Suija introduced the participants of the conference with brief summary about events and results made in PIPE project.

            During the project realization in Latvia there were established 3 different youth groups - the PIPE entrepreneurship class, the Cesis Local Identity research group and the Democracy training group for Cesis City Youth council.

            With the results made during the PIPE project at first introduced the Democracy training group. They were telling what they have done and what direct results have made. The idea about the organization of the Youth day came up directly in this group and is already realized by the Cesis City youth council on the 1 of September. It will be now a tradition - each year on the 1 of September young people in Cesis is going to organize the celebration for the inhabitants of the city and guests as well. The young people have now collected the base knowledge how does democracy work and what instruments they need to use in order to affect the political issues happening in the local society. Now they are involved in the Youth councils in schools and in the Cesis City youth council as well. In the Democracy training group came up the idea about the Youth house - place where the young people could spend their spirit time suitable without addictive substances. The realization of it is now in progress and will continue, of course, after the official end of PIPE project in Latvia as well.

            The next group which gave the summary about their results was the Cesis Local identity research group. There are made 2 serious documents which schedule the collaboration between the young people and the municipalities now and in the future as well. There are made the Local Identity promotion plan - it is detailed description about measures which could be done in order to make our region more attractive for the inhabitants and tourists as well. The Local Identity promotion plan conditionally is divided into two parts - the measures regarding to promotion of the tourism development and the measures regarding to the general standard of living in the local environment. It is very good material for follow - up projects which could be realized by young people themselves in collaboration with the municipality. The next very important document is the Future Charter - this document was signed by the Mayor of Cesis city Gints Skenders, the chairman of Cesis District council Andris Neimanis, the planning experts of Cesis city and district, the chairmen of many rural municipalities and, of course, by young people. It includes the direct things which will be done in future in Cesis city and district and schedules the mechanism how young people are going to cooperate with the politicians and planning experts and participate in the planning process.

            After the presentation of the job done by Local Identity research group there were a presentation given by PIPE entrepreneurship class. They told about the methods they have used in order to better understand the business theory and use it in practice. The PIPE entrepreneurship class is, in my opinion, very good example how to connect theory with praxis. At first the young people involved in this activity acquired the theory about the economics and then they did different things in connection with the business environment in Cesis city and district. There are made different inquiries and summarized the results about the people's opinion regarding to the economical life in Cesis region. There are made business plans about the possible business ideas which could be realized in our region in order to improve the economical situation. The young people have established some youth enterprises and so have got a good experience how to work in business and inspect the market - possible demand and supply etc. There are started some more detailed researches done by young people regarding to the business environment in Cesis city and district as well - there will be inspected the strong sides of Cesis business environment and areas needed for improvements.

            After the presentation of the 3 different youth groups followed the presentation about the PIPE awards by Inese Suija. She introduced the young people with nominations and criteria's of the awards.

            After that followed the official graduation for the young people who were involved in the PIPE entrepreneurship class, the Cesis Local Identity research group and the Democracy training group for Cesis City Youth council.

            The project in Latvia has officially ended, but it does not mean that the ideas and projects made during PIPE will not live further. Of course, they will! I think that during the project realization was born the very nice community spirit, especially among the young people and we need to keep it and develop further. As I have already told in this article before, there are started a lot of little projects during PIPE which we will continue of course and which will affect the future life in our community. The project Lead group in Latvia thinks that the main goals of the project were achieved and we can be satisfied with the results.

Edgars Vimba,

Student of the Cesis City Grammar school,

Member of the Steering Committee