The PIPE youth conference is already over. I think that this convention was really great and innovative. As very nice and hospitable I estimate the speech given by mayor of Türi town - she welcomed all of us very warmly. I think that very nice and interesting was the introduction of this conference made by Estonian students - I was very pleased to see the film and presentation.

I liked the speech given by guest speaker about Baltic States and their accession to the European Union as well. He underlined the most important factors which can affect country's viability and competitiveness in the EU. It was done in youngster's point of view, so it was very easy to absorb the information. I liked the way he encouraged the young people to study abroad and use other opportunities given by EU, but, after young people have collected new knowledge and seen different countries - to come back and use the skills working for local communities and local societies.

Very important for this conference was the Lithuanian example about how to address the local council. I think that they have done a really great job and they need only to continue the collaboration between youth and local municipality.

The most important and interesting part of the PIPE youth conference was the group work. There were 4 groups.

First group worked with the tourism in Turi town. It was led by Latvian tourism expert Igors Klapenkovs. I was very pleased to hear in the presentation that they have made so many suggestions about how to improve tourism potential and infrastructure in the town. I think that this group has found a lot of usable suggestions that can really increase the tourism flow to the town.

The job done by Town planning and design group, which was led by a very professional expert Mike Fuller Gee, was very impressive as well. There were many usable suggestions how to plan town's development in the future and how to make changes in Turi in order to make this town more attractive in the eyes of young people and other inhabitants as well. Especially I liked the idea about how to change the center of the town. I think that this town has a lot of potential to become very friendly to the young people and other citizens. It has very much "free spaces" for development, in the centre as well. Its location ensures good transport flow. Moreover, Turi is not far from the capital of Estonia - Tallinn, so it can develop as an exclusive area for people working in the capital. I liked the idea coming from the young people to organize a youth center in the old heating house. It has really a lot of potential - its location is very advantageous and its design allows a lot of modifications done by youth.

Very interesting I found the presentation of the third group led Elin Ulven that worked with town identity and image as well. They had very interesting and usable scheme how to find out the town's identity and analyze it. They came up with a lot of suggestions for the improvements.

Fourth group worked with the youth participation in regional activities. It was moderated by Egil Rye-Hytten. They gave very attractive presentation about their work and there were a lot of fresh ideas about the youth involvement in the local political and social processes.

So I can conclude that all groups worked very hard in order to achieve brilliant result. The experts were competent and interested in the work as well. Job done by groups was very good. During the presentations I mentioned that the themes and fields, which were examined by the work groups, link - they are very close one to another. For example, it is impossible to separate the tourism development from the infrastructure planning etc. I think that it is very good factor, because all ideas coming from young people must be realized in complex - they are so close to one another.

The conference is over, but the ideas will live also after this event as well. The ideas are now collected - and they are very good. But now will come the most important part of the innovation - now the ideas must be realized. I wish good luck to the Turi town government and young people in the realization process. It will take time, of course, but the result will be brilliant. You need to believe in it!

Edgars Vimba,

Student of Cesis City Grammar school

Member of the steering committee