Democratic Resilience through Life long learning
The partnership between Karlskrona and Chortkiv builds on a long-standing collaboration centred around Litorina Folk High School. It has evolved into a project focused on adult education for older citizens—a group heavily impacted by the war in Ukraine. In Chortkiv, the initiative plays a tangible role in improving health, participation, and social cohesion for elderly residents.
What began as a simple initiative involving Nordic walking has grown into a broader movement promoting lifelong learning, inclusion, and democracy. The project has gradually incorporated a stronger democratic dimension into local decision-making structures. The mayor of Chortkiv emphasized the practical impact of the work, noting that it delivers “real results—not just words on paper.”
The partnership links directly to Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and discussions are ongoing about transforming Litorina Folk High School into an NGO to increase autonomy and local anchoring.
Several areas of organisational readiness are addressed, including:
- Political commitment – Local leaders in Chortkiv are actively engaged in the project.
- Citizen participation – Activities are co-designed with the community.
- Inclusion of minorities – Specific attention is given to war veterans, older adults, and persons with disabilities.
Despite challenges the partnership is described by both municipalities as highly mutual and genuinely beneficial to both sides. There is also expressed interest in future collaboration with Poltava around health-related issues, as well as ambitions to develop an EU dimension to the work in line with Karlskrona’s ambitions to start their local EU-office.
The partnership is part of the ICLD Network for Democratic resilience.
The Karlskrona-Chortkiv delegation during the third DR Network meeting in Umeå