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Zelva, Belarus

Zelva district is a small agricultural district of Grodno Oblast, which has rich natural resources and significant cultural and historical heritage. It stands out among other districts of the Oblast with good ecology, good upkeep, and high farming culture. Zelva land is a unique area of Belarus, combining beautiful natural landscapes and welcoming villages with unique national flavor. To date, Zelva district occupies an area of 872 km². It borders four districts of Grodno Oblast and one district of Brest Oblast. The district is a territory with a developed transport infrastructure. It is located at the intersection of 2 roads of national importance.

The population of the district is 14.4 thousand people with 6.7 thousand people living in Zelva and 7.7 thousand people living in rural areas. Of the total population of the district, 6.7 thousand people (47%) are men and 7.7 thousand people (53%) are women. There are 125 settlements in the district, which are part of 7 rural councils. The demographic situation is characterized by a number of negative trends:

• mortality is 2.3 times higher than the birth rate;
• ageing of the district population (over 40% of the population are pensioners);

• As of 01.01.2019, the average age of the district residents is 47.8 years, including men – 43.7 years, and women – 51.3 years.

Water resources form the basis of natural resource potential. In general, the structure of land resources and the terrain is favorable for the economic development of the district.

The unique landscape is created by the Zelva reservoir, construction of which was completed in 1983. The reservoir is used for water accumulation of spring floods and irrigation of land, as well as for regulation of the flow of the Zelvyanka River and fish farming. Its area is 1190 hectares. The Zelva reservoir occupies 18th place in the Republic by area. The large reservoir surface creates certain difficulties for its involvement in economic turnover.

Zelva residents are rightly proud of the historic past of their land and actively preserve it. There are 27 sites that are included in the State List of Historical and Cultural Values in the district, including 6 historical monuments, 7 architectural monuments, and 14 archaeological monuments. The Church of St. Michael the Archangel in the village of Synkovichi is the place of worship of many generations of Orthodox Christians. The unique natural wealth of Zelva district should be noted. First of all, it is the largest reservoir in Grodno Oblast – the Zelva reservoir, as well as the biological reserve of national importance "Medukhovo". Unique natural and historical attractions can be used for recreation and fish farming.

The district is distinguished by modern agricultural production and a high level of social development. The main contribution to the economy of the district is made by agriculture, which specializes in meat and dairy farming and crop production. The ongoing work on the development of the agricultural sector has allowed providing a significant increase in agricultural production in recent years.

The Administration and representatives of local communities of the district take measures to ensure the sustainable economic growth of the area and the welfare of its residents and to improve the investment climate in the district. Agriculture is considered one of the sectors of growth. This is due to the developed system of agriculture with high (above average in the country) soil fertility, which leads to the forest area decrease. Forests cover only 18% of the district area. At the same time, there are practically no enterprises for processing agricultural products in Zelva district, which leads to the incompleteness of the technological chain in the agricultural sector and the loss of added value produced in the district. This factor has a negative impact on the amount of revenue of the local budget, as well as the income of the population and business. The situation can be changed as there are opportunities to open small and medium-sized enterprises in rural areas on the basis of unused and inefficiently used production spaces.

Formal and Non-formal Learning City Infrastructure

There is no university, institute or college in Zelva. Formal education for children is provided by 1 gymnasium, 12 schools and 1 boarding school.

Non-formal education for children:

• Children and Youth Creative Centre
• Centre for Remedial and Developmental Education and Rehabilitation
• Youth sports school
• Children’s Art School

Formal Education for adults:

Centre for Training, Further Training and Retraining of Workers of the Department of Agriculture and Food of the Zelva District  Executive Committee

Non-Formal Education:

Fitness and Recreation Sports Centre

There are also some institutions that provide some educational programs and services for all groups:

• Social services centre
• Institutions of culture
• Hygiene and epidemiology centre
• Social ad information institution of sustainable regional development “Zeleva” (NGO)
• Local Fund of Sustainable development “Afflatus” (NGO)
• School of Young Farmers (NGO)

Learning City Development

The system of additional education for adults was created in the beginning of  2019. The system in Zelva district includes:

1. State, commercial organizations, non-profit organizations (public associations), trade union organizations implementing/planning to implement additional adult education programs and forming a partnership network.
2. The Public Council acts as a collegial decision-making body, allowing for the participation of all interested parties, It is composed of representatives of partner organizations of the Zelva district and ensures intersectoral cooperation. Participation in the Public Council is voluntary.
3. The Coordinating Centre is the executive body for the implementation of programs for adult education in the Zelva district.

The strategy of additional education development in Zelva district was adopted in January 2020.

Forms of education: retraining courses, further training courses, educational courses, seminars, training, lectures, lectures, workshops, courses to improve capabilities and abilities.

Mission: Realizing the potential of the people of the region

Targets (key priorities):

• Annual implementation of training programmes to increase the level of employment of the local population in the economy and the personal and professional growth of the population.
• To improve the quality of life of the elderly in Zelva through training in financial literacy, computer skills and dementia prevention
• Development of the partnership network on the platform of social information institution "ZELEVA"
• Promoting the image of Zelva as a learning city
• Opening of an adult education centre

Key activities:

• Profile of ZELEVA – Facebook 
• Seminar “Complementary adult education as a tool for the development of the Zelva district”
• The development of the strategy
• The fair of additional education services
• 20 video lectures for people (Help during COVID pandemic)
• Ann’s Fair (thematic places for education)
• https://zelwa.by/annenskij-kirmash-prazdnuet-zelva-obnovlyaetsya/
• https://zelwa.by/ot-polskih-flyakov-do-desertnogo-hleba-s-kakao-chem-ugoshhali-gostej-yarmarki-na-fud-korte/
• https://zelwa.by/podvorya-hleba-myasa-gribov-i-yagod-predstavili-na-annenskom-kirmashe/

Profile Elena Kazyro – director of  social and information institution of sustainable regional development “Zeleva”:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010541802466

Profile Natallia Glushenia – education for old people:

https://www.facebook.com/nkurganskaya