Community of Kinski Rozdory village, Zaporizhya region, is already celebrating the Europe Day traditionally held in May. On 16 May 2016, the official handover of the agricultural equipment procured with support of the joint UNDP/EU project “Community-based approach to local development” (CBA) for the local agricultural cooperative took place.

Present at the event were representatives of the oblast authorities, including Kostyantyn Bryl, Head of Zaporizhya Oblast State Administration, Hryhoriy Samardak, Head of Zaporizhya Oblast Council, as well as CBA regional coordinators, representatives of Association of amalgamated territorial communities of Zaporizhya region, representatives of a civic organization “Euromolod”, and local schoolchildren.

Kinski rozdory community, where agricultural cooperative “Zlahoda 2015” has been recently created, takes part in the CBA project. With project’s support, the cooperative received agricultural equipment for processing vegetable waste into fuel pellets. In particular, the cooperative received power press for manufacturing of pellets, disc mower, tedder rake, pellet expander, biomass breaker and other specialized equipment.

The members of cooperative showed to their guests pellet production facility and also demonstrated how the new equipment producing pellets works.

“I would like to congratulate all community members with this important step and also to express gratitude to our European partners. We would not be able to implement this on our own. However, I would like to highlight that we can achieve the results only if the local population is proactive. If we don’t do necessary steps ourselves, no one will do it for us. If we unite our efforts, we will join Europe regardless of any obstacles,” Kostyantyn Bryl, Head of Zaporizhya Oblast State Administration, said during the official opening.

Since the handover of equipment coincided with the celebration of the Europe Days, the villagers organized some thematic events, including planting of the first green alley dedicated to the EU/UNDP. Besides, there were concerts for children and adults, quizzes on the EU history and traditions for school youth, volleyball teams tournament, asphalt painting contest “Europe through the children’s eyes”, and artisan market.