From October 15 to 21, 2026, ISIG hosted a Lithuanian delegation from LVBOS—the Lithuanian Union of Local Community Organizations—in Friuli-Venezia Giulia for a study visit organized as part of VoCo—Voice for Communities: Civic Engagement for Europe.
Seven representatives from Lithuanian community organizations took part in a week of meetings, visits, and opportunities for exchange in Gorizia, Nova Gorica, Gradisca d’Isonzo, Trieste, and Cividale del Friuli. The program, organized by ISIG, allowed the delegation to learn about local initiatives related to local governance, civic participation, cross-border cooperation, and community development.
The delegation included representatives from LVBOS, the Union of Ukmergė Region Communities, the Union of Rural Communities of Raseiniai District, the Juragiai Community Center, and the Panevėžiukas Village Community in Kaunas District.
A Journey Through Communities and Territories
The study visit is one of the transnational activities of VoCo – Voice for Communities: Civic Engagement for Europe, a project that aims to strengthen civic engagement and democratic participation in local communities in Lithuania by highlighting the role of community leaders and fostering opportunities for learning and exchange at the European level.
The itinerary in Friuli-Venezia Giulia was therefore designed not only as a tour of the region, but also as an opportunity for direct dialogue with local governments, organizations, and stakeholders involved in participatory processes and local development.
In Gorizia and Nova Gorica, the delegation focused in particular on the topic of cross-border cooperation and the context created by GO! 2025, exchanging views with stakeholders and organizations active on both sides of the border. The meeting with the City of Gorizia also provided a forum for dialogue on governance and participatory practices at the local level.
On October 17 in Gradisca d’Isonzo, the group took part in a session of the European Academy Program FVG 2026, a training program designed for local government officials and staff in Friuli Venezia Giulia. The Lithuanian delegation’s participation brought an international perspective to the training program, creating an opportunity to compare community and administrative experiences from different contexts.
From the Local Level to the European Dimension
The visit to Trieste allowed the delegation to gain a deeper understanding of the regional context, while the program continued in Gorizia with participation in the closing activities of the GOV4PeaCE project.
The meeting provided an opportunity to link the themes of the Study Visit to the experiences gained in the cross-border area and, in particular, to the participatory processes developed within the context of GO! 2025. ISIG presented some aspects of the Citizens’ Assembly experience, offering the delegation another concrete example of how people are involved in the processes of discussion and the formulation of recommendations.
The final stop took place on October 20 in Cividale del Friuli, where the delegation met with representatives of the municipal administration to discuss local governance, participation, and community development.
The discussion also focused on Cividale del Friuli’s journey as a Learning City: starting in 2025, the city will be part of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, the international network that promotes lifelong learning as a tool to foster inclusion, participation, and the sustainable development of communities.
A Study Visit Built on the Exchange of Experiences
Throughout the week, ISIG organized and coordinated the study visit, putting together the schedule of meetings and visits and facilitating dialogue between the Lithuanian delegation and the local organizations they met.
The various stops provided an opportunity to examine civic participation from complementary perspectives: the role of community organizations, the relationship between citizens and local governments, the structure of local authorities, participatory practices, and the opportunities offered by European and cross-border cooperation.
The Study Visit thus forms part of the VoCo initiative as an experience of learning and exchange among European communities, connecting the experiences of Lithuanian local organizations with practices and processes developed in Friuli Venezia Giulia and in the cross-border area of Gorizia and Nova Gorica.
To learn more about the project: VoCo – Voices for Communities
