For those of you who are interested to gain an understanding of social economy organisations, initiatives and projects in the region of Jämtland, we are pleased to offer 2 interesting thematic information tours starting in Östersund to the surrounding villages. The study tours will be organised the 29 and 30 September 2009.

(booking fee: 50 €; ! min. 15 participants)

Local and regional development and social entrepreneurship

Tuesday 29 Sept - Campus Mid Sweden University

13.00 - 16.00

13.00 - 14.00 The Platform for Social Economy in the Mid-Sweden Region. Location: Mid Sweden University, Ljushallen, House P

Presentation of the Platform for Social Economy in the Mid-Sweden Region and its connection to the Regional Development Strategy.

14.00 - 15.00 Local development and social entrepreneurship. Location: Mid Sweden University, Ljushallen, House P

Presentation of local social cooperatives and local development groups.

15.00 - 16.00 Popular adult education. Location: Mid Sweden University, House P, Bävern. Presentation about life long learning activities and working methods.

Wednesday 30 September - study tour

09.00 - 15.30

09.00 - 09.45 The local office in Lit. Location: Mid Sweden University, House P, Room Bävern.

Ingrid Krylén from the local office in Lit presents its activities and solutions for local service provision in the village of Lit.

10.00 - 15.30 Study visit to Fjällbete

We go by bus to Fjällbete. The bus leaves from House P at 10.00.

Acting as a societal entrepreneur Fjällbete tries managing the task of finding a prosperous way down. Join us and use “Fjällbete” and your own agenda as a platform for inspiring discussions.

We’ll meet in a pasture where a small group of Fjällbete’s about 1000 sheep and lambs are grazing. While meeting with the sheep, Fjällbete will introduce itself as a company trying to be the change it wants to see. Fjällbete is acting by trying to cultivate a vision through practical business of local food-production and consumtion, life long learning, consulting, locally mobilized finances, authentic experiences for our gests, empowering events, a deeper applied idea of local democracy etc. This is all about personal and professional business-relations able to secure a good “glocal” living. Lunch is served at Fjällsätra.

On the way back to Östersund if there is time enough we make a stop for coffee at Kretsloppshuset in Mörsil.

(booking fee: 50 €; ! min. 15 participants)

Social enterprises and social services

Tuesday 29 Sept - study tour

13.00 - approx. 18.00

13.00-13.45 Information from Bikupan nursery school co-operative. Location: Mid Sweden University, House P, Room Bävern.

Information from the nursery school cooperative “The Beehive” in Östersund. In 1992 a group of parents started the cooperative The Beehive. Their ambition was to set up a nursery school for their children with a meaningful content and an ecological perspective. Parents and nursery staff agreed upon using the Reggio Emilia pedagogics. The Beehive also takes part in an interesting Interreg project between Sweden and Norway. Anna-Lena Bergman and Eleonor Franzén tell us about the Beehive.





13.45 - 14.30 Information about Bygdens framtid Location: Mid Sweden University, House P, Room Bävern.

Bygdens framtid is a political independant association, which works for positive development in the local area. Bygdens framtid was this year awarded as the cooperative of the year by Coompanion.





14.30 - 18.00 Study visit to Brännagården retirement cooperative in Högarna

We go by bus to Brännagården. The bus leaves from House P at Campus.

Brännagården retirement cooperative takes care of home service and medical care to elderly people living in Högarna village. The cooperative owns a house with nine apartments that are both rented by the public municipality and by elderly persons who wish to live there in community. Includes coffee break.


Wednesday 30 September - Campus Mid Sweden University, P-house, Ljushallen.

09.00 - 12.00

The Platform for Social Economy in the Mid-Sweden Region

Presentation of the Platform for Social Economy in the Mid-Sweden Region and its connection to the Regional Development Strategy.

The system of primary health care in Jämtland

Information about the primary health care system and presentation of the cooperative health care centre in Offerdal.

Social entrepreneurship in the region of Jämtland

Presentation and overview about its stakeholders and initiatives.

Other examples of attractions related to social economy

Following we would like to present 2 more organisations that you may want to visit during your stay in Östersund (not included in the pre-conference tour!). Please consult the Östersund tourist office in case of interest.

Kretsloppshuset in Mörsil

Kretsloppshuset (literally, the Circle of Life House) is the result of years of dedicated work to create an organic, environmentally-sound establishment in rural northern Sweden. Small-scale agriculture takes place side-by-side with a variety of other activities, all aimed at providing inspiration for a more sustainable lifestyle. The house is run by enthusiastic employees and owned by a 40 member co-operative, which is divided into various working groups; for example, poultry management, gardening, shop/café, guided tours and administration.

Eldrimner Resource Centre in Ås

Visit Eldrimner, a national small-scale resource centre of food handicraft. Eldrimner assists food craftsmen in the start and development of companies. Small-scale food handicraft careful processing of basically local raw materials, in a small scale and often affiliated with the farm. Work is carried out without unnecessary additives with natural processes where man and hand is present during the entire production chain. The small-scale food handicraft creates unique products with taste, quality and identity that industry can not create.