Interakcia Foundation is a non-governmental, non-commercial organization that creates and improves conditions for the sustainable development of Belarusian regions and towns.

Each region is a territory boasting unique potential for moving forward. Our activities aim to reveal and bolster such regional potential. Furthermore, Belarus is a country of small towns and cities; and we believe they should turn into growth hubs for Belarusian regions. 

A region can ensure continuous and sustainable growth when it has capacities to attract investors and tourists, to provide opportunities for entrepreneurship and recreation. However, sustainable development also means care about the nature, comfortable and safe life, and preservation of cultural traditions while simultaneously becoming more connected with neighbors.

 

Photo provided by Mikhail Kalinin

 

Applying such an approach to sustainable development, Interakcia Foundation in cooperation with partners coming from local governments, other non-governmental organiztions, businesses, and media achieved successful results in 22 Belarusian regions:

 

• In the city ща Polotsk, northern Belarus, active citizens, the local government, and experts have been developing a mobility plan to solve the transportation and environmental problems of the city (~ 85 000 people). This strategy will enable Polotsk to gradually streamline its public transportation system, decrease the number of traffic jams, and to become a more “cycling-friendly” city. Learn more

 

• Polotsk should also receive soon an improved lighting system for cutting its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and energy consumption, while the city's major streets will become more welcoming for locals and tourists alike. Just like the development of the mobility plan, this initiative will help Polotsk to meet the requirements of the Covenant of Mayors to fight CO2 and to increase energy efficiency. Learn more

---

Interakcia became the first Official Supporter of the Covenant of Mayors in Belarus and is now promoting the principles and approaches of this initiative, which brings together local governments from all over Europe aiming to decrease carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere. Learn more

---

 

• Experts, local authorities, and just volunteers are now working together to create tourist objects for people with disabilities in Volozhin, including a hostel, a conference hall, and a trail in a famous forest near Volozhin. Unfortunately, such objects are still unique for Belarus. Learn more

 

• 4 non-state organizations and the authorities of the Belarusian, Polish, and Ukrainian border regions have been working together on the possibility to restore the E40 trade waterway between the Baltic and Black Seas. The restored water artery will allow transporting up to 4 mln tons of cargo. Learn more

 

• 10 Belarusian districts adopted mid-term action plans for tackling environmental issues and enticing “green” investment. The plans were prepared by the local NGOs and authorities, Belarusian and foreign experts (500 000 euro of such investment have been already received). Learn more

 

• More than 400 environmental activists, local authorities, and ecological inspections have been cooperating to research and clean small rivers in Vitebsk region, which are part of the ecosystem of the Baltic Sea. Learn more 

​ 

• 12 unique tourist routes around the Belarusian, Lithuanian, and Latvian border regions were developed and then promoted at European level. Learn more

 

• Also, neighboring Vitebsk (Belarus) and Latgale (Latvia) regions became more visible and known on the European map of gastronomic tourism thanks to participating in the European Culinary Heritage Network. Learn more

 

• Photographers and their association from the 6 countries of the Eastern Partnership – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine – have been reviving the old professional ties and establishing the new ones in order to create positive images of the Eastern Partnership countries and the entire region.  Learn more

 

 

Our mission:  Applying professional approach and successful experience in the field of sustainable development, we create the conditions for initiative people and organizations to jointly contribute for the welfare of Belarus.

 

 

Contacts

Interakcia, Local Foundation for Promotion of International Dialogue and Cooperation  

Address: 95 Nezavisimosti Ave., office 808, 220029, Minsk, Belarus.

Tel./fax: +375 17 237 48 40

e-mail: shchadranok@eu-belarus.net (Head of Interakcia Foundation – Ivan Shchadranok)