Looking back at the opening event of the program “Local Development, Poverty Reduction and Cultural Cooperation” (program) organized by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development on March 24, 2021, in which participated government and municipality institutions, entrepreneurs and non-governmental organizations, we offer an interview with the winner of one of the competitions – Zane Grandane from Jekabpils.
During the event, participants had the opportunity to participate in interactive competitions, in which questions were asked about Latvia and Norway, as well as about what they heard and saw at the event regarding the program and the opportunities it offers.
One of the winners of the competition was Zane Grandāne, project coordinator of Jēkabpils Culture Board, with whom we contacted in the afternoon of May 20 to talk about life and work. As it turns out, the prize received – birdcage was an unexpected birthday present!
Below is a brief insight into the conversation of Agnese Andžāne, a representative of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, with Zane Grandāne.
Hello, Zane! Thanks for taking the time to have a little conversation. It’s been almost two months since the programme opening event, tell me, how do you enjoy the spring? How do you feel about the spring?
The spring is the beginning of a new year for me because my birthday is on March 24! It’s close to the beginning of the spring and I recharge every year. In my feelings spring associates with my father’s house, there are many cherries, which bloom in the springtime and creates a large, white, fragrant cloud, and when the wind blows, there is a garden full of white petals. Beautiful!
Yes, really beautiful! Tell me, has this time of pandemic brought any significant changes to your life? Do you see it as an opportunity or an unpleasant change?
A lot has changed during the pandemic in my life – I changed my place of residence and my job, I am now on maternity leave! These are significant changes, but they are not literally caused by a pandemic. I don’t feel this time as a negative, I rather see opportunities – I have improved my IT skills, I have always liked technology now I had the opportunity to learn how to use various internet tools, which I wanted to learn a long time ago, but always left behind. At the same time, I feel that there is no opportunity to go to a concert or have dinner in a restaurant, or buy all the necessary goods, especially in the winter. But nothing extremely unpleasant has happened.
Glad to hear! How’s the birdcage, is it already inhabited?
We now have three birdcages in the yard! My husband is an ornithologist, so when we put the gift we received together, we did not attach a spout so that cats and larger birds would not be present. Every year, a couple of thrushes live in one cage, they have already taken the children out. Erickins has been living in the second cage for several years in a row, but this year he is probably alone without a lady. Well, the third, new birdcage is still empty for a while, the birds have not yet realized that there is a new home, so hopefully, someone will inhabit it next season. But the black flycatcher is singing nearby, he will probably also be the inhabitant of the new birdcage.
Definitely, someone will find, there will also be no “smell of novelty” later! Tell me, as Pentecost approaches, do you have any traditions in your family, how to celebrate, what special dishes you prepare?
Hm…. Pentecost – I celebrated a couple of years ago with a skirt and dress challenge, which I could continue this year, because dresses and skirts have been especially dear to me lately. We don’t celebrate it much, but this is a good idea – I will have to look up some traditions and bring something new into everyday life!
And talking about work – what motivated you to participate in the programme opening event and how did you find information about it?
Jēkabpils municipality sent information to Jēkabpils Culture Board about the programme, I participated in the December networking event and previous seminars, and I followed the information about the opening event. We have a project idea, but we are still looking for Norwegian partners. It also depends on what the project idea will be.
Personally, I really like projects with an international dimension. It is an opportunity to get to know the people of another country, culture through working towards a common goal.
Is there anything particular that was worth thinking about after the event or using in everyday work?
It has been mentioned several times that entrepreneurship education in schools will be introduced as part of projects. I think that is a fantastic thought and intention. It is clear that it is difficult to predict what skills will be needed in the future. We are living in a century of very rapid change. Entrepreneurial skills are, in a sense, survival skills, they teach to find a way out, to use existing resources instead of whining about the non-existent, they teach oneself to be able to ‘sell’, which is important for any profession in a highly competitive labor market.
Reflections were raised about why Norwegian partners are interested in projects with Latvian partners, namely, it is new knowledge, experience that they can gain. When thinking about the potential idea of the project, it was kept in mind.
The last speech, during which Pellegrino Riccardi reminded us that we need to be open, curious and brave, was very attractive. I wish it to everyone not only in their professional life but also in terms of personal growth!
And thanks for the invitation to the interview! And the prize was a very nice and unexpected surprise, absolutely innovative instead of the usual pens! When I received the pack of boards, I said – you probably mixed the recipients, but it was so nice to put together a birdcage yourself, and it will be even nicer to watch that a couple of birds will have a home!
Thanks, Zane for the conversation! We also wish you a lot of new ideas and a great work mood when you return after a long vacation.
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Pellegrino Ricardi’s presentation is available here
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