Finding the solution needs to be our attitude. The first Academy of Seklerland was welcomed with lot of interest

On 13^th of June Harghita County Council organized the first Academy of Seklerland for rural intellectuals in Corund. The village manager of Corund, Mr. Albert Vágási welcomed the presenters, guests and the local audience of Corund. On behalf of Harghita County Council, Mr. Sándor Ambrus, county councilor was present at the event, who highlighted that “this program is not only for rural intellectuals but also for local producers and farmers, because the purpose is to involve a wide range of people in this program.” During this event recognized specialists were talking about their projects and results, bringing also into discussion problems and possible solutions. The county councilor mentioned that “in these days it is important to learn how to use our resources efficiently, how to protect our environment, how can we have a healthy life and how can we manage a self-supporting economy. We need to teach the younger generation how to protect and keep the old trades and we should show them the right way concerning the act of taking responsible duties for a community.”

 Mr. István Márton, executive director of the Rural Development Public Association of Harghita County Council, in his “Quality of food production” lecture talked about colour additives, known as E-numbers, and about healthy nutrition. He presented a wide range of possible options for quality food production, and also the ways how consumers can acquire these. He underlined the fact that the monthly Fair of Local and Traditional products, initiated by Harghita County Council, and at the beginning organized in Miercurea Ciuc, now it is also regularly organized in Odorheiu Secuiesc and in the region used to be known as Three Chairs. He shared further good news with the participants, namely that a regional corporation is being to be established with the purpose of collecting local and traditional Sekler products from small producers in a logistics center, from where large amount of products will be passed on.  The executive director highlighted that the planned corporation will launch two shops in Miercurea Ciuc, also adding that besides food products, handcrafted products could be also bought in these. In connection to future plans, he told they would like to expand the shop network in the county, in Seklerland, and also in the major cities of the country.  In this regard there are already market actors who would undertake the realization of the latter initiative. The executive director hopes that there will be a shop with traditional products also in Corund. He also reported that they travelled to Denmark, where they have visited 135 years old special cooperative system. Its success confirmed their beliefs, namely that also here, the Sekler farmers can be mainly represented through the establishment of a future cooperation. At the monthly fairs and in the mentioned shop network, the strongest pillar is the Sekler Product trademark. At last, he shared with the participants that currently there are 58 producers and more than 600 products, which have the right to use the trademark that is also a guarantee of quality. However, the trademark may be revoked at any time, if the contractual agreement is not respected.

Mr. László Csonta, president of Green Seklerland Association, gave a lecture about connection between environmental protection and liability in the public life. After this he reviewed the main activities and programs of Green Seklerland Association. For example, they are editing and issuing out environmental protection brochures; collecting used oil; implementing cyclist projects; managing the promotion of linden of Leliceni within the program of The tree of The Year in 2010-2011 in Europe; then the vote for the Seven wonders of Seklerland; and last but not least the public card project: the Green Sekler Fund – Community Card programme. Mr. Lászlo Csonta also presented the local civil organizations and their volunteer programs. As he concluded “the point is to have an attitude characterized by the endeavour of finding solutions for the problems and not to make unnecessary excuses and complaints.”

Following the lectures, the audience expressed their own point of views encouraging the lecturers and leaders to step further with the presented projects.

On closing line, Mr. Sándor Ambrus, county councilor expressed his gratitude for the fact that besides specialists, rural intellectuals and other representatives, lots of interested young people were present at the Academy of Seklerland. Mr. Albert Vágási, village manager, asked for the help of the Rural Development Public Association of Harghita County Council regarding their wish to have the Fair of Local and Traditional Products organized in their settlement as well.

Corund, 13^th of June 2013