Liiver has started as the Chairman of the Board of Directors Mari Mäki-Karvia From the village of Hirvijärvi in Jalasjärvi. Mäki-Karvia has seen Leader activities from many different perspectives: through work, association activities and board work. Mäki-Karvia has now started her fourth year on the Liiver board and has served as vice-chairman for the last two years.
– We have made the previous chairman Päivi Alaniskan "I have worked closely with him, and I have been involved in meetings either alongside him or as his deputy. Many things have become familiar to me while serving as vice president, but now the role is expanding to include personnel and administrative matters," he says.
Mäki-Karvia finds the chairmanship inspiring.
– This has been really interesting. Leadership is always different in different associations. Liiveri is a large association with employees, and it is different to lead it than, for example, a village association, which runs entirely on volunteers.
Leader familiar with different connections
Mäki-Karvia started as the chairman of the Jalasjärvi Society in January and has been the chairman of the Hirvijärvi Village Association since 2018. In her working life, she works in the Youth Entrepreneurship Path project at the Jalasjärvi 4H association. This is her third Leader project.
– I liked the positive atmosphere in Leader activities right from the start. I have seen Leader activities from many different perspectives: through work, association activities and board work. It gives a good overall picture of how widely Leader funding can have an impact.
One of the things that has positively surprised Liiver in its operations has been the importance of corporate financing.
– I come strongly from the association side, so business support issues were not so visible to me before. It has been impressive to see how significant development work is also being done on the business side through Leader.
Vitality with small grants
As chair, Mäki-Karvia wants to highlight the broader impacts of Leader activities and the vitality they bring.
–It is amazing how much can be achieved with Leader funding. For many associations, raising similar funding on their own would be very difficult or even impossible.
– A small donation can have a big impact that is not limited to the implementing association. For example, a frisbee golf course built by a village association is available to residents of the entire area, so the impact spreads very widely.
Mäki-Karvia cites Lakeuden Ursa as a good example of successful development.
– The plans there have been broken down into sensible small parts, and they don't try to do everything at once. The number of members is increasing and there is a good atmosphere in the work. It would be important to highlight more such impressive examples.
A look at the upcoming funding period
The funding period starting in 2028 will bring a major change. Previously, the European Commission has outlined how much rural funding should be used for Leader activities. In the next funding period, Finnish decision-makers will decide on the scope of Leader activities. Mäki-Karvia's speech is full of enthusiasm for the preparation of the new period, but at the same time there is also concern about whether the activities will cover all areas in the future and whether even small operators will have the opportunity to receive support in the future.
– At this stage, it is not yet known exactly what is coming. On the other hand, the new period may offer opportunities to develop activities and introduce new tools. At the same time, it makes one wonder whether Leader activities will remain truly local or whether decision-making will be moved further afield.
A separate local development strategy is prepared for each funding period. Mäki-Karvia participated in the previous Liiver strategy workshops even before joining the board. The discussions in the workshops were open and inspiring, and the perspectives of the villages were genuinely heard.
Participation in the strategy work strengthened confidence in the Leader operating model.
– In the current strategy, I clearly recognize the ideas that were raised in the workshops back then.
A conversational and positive atmosphere is important
As chairman, it is important for Mäki-Karvia to maintain an open and good atmosphere at Liiver.
– I hope that the spirit of discussion and positivity continues in the board meetings and that everyone feels comfortable coming to the meetings. I hope that everyone is heard and gets to express their own views. We all have our own strengths, and we can always learn something new from each other.
Mäki-Karvia also highlights the importance of demonstrating impact and communication.
– A good atmosphere is visible from the outside, but you also need to be able to communicate it. I want Liiveri to remain a significant player in the region and continue to offer opportunities for both associations and companies.
Finally, the new chairman sends a message to the actors in the region.
– New applicants can also feel free to contact us. The Liiver office will guide you forward with your ideas.