The aim of the project was to preserve and promote the traditional crafts of rural areas in Slovakia, Romania, and Cyprus, while also showing that these skills still have a place in modern adult education and in the development of local communities. We wanted to create a shared digital craft archive containing traditional techniques, videos, interviews with artisans, and practical examples from each partner country. Another objective was to organise international workshops and exchange activities where participants could learn traditional crafts through direct practice, compare the approaches of the partners, and gain new experience that could be used in their own local context. The project also focused on strengthening cooperation between Lišov Museum, Satul Verde, and Kato Drys Community Council, all of which have long-term experience in cultural heritage, crafts, and community-based education. An important goal was also to support the intergenerational transfer of knowledge, connect traditional crafts with digital presentation, and highlight their value for local identity, cultural tourism, and the sustainable development of rural areas.
We applied for this project because in all three partner countries we identified a similar problem: traditional crafts, practical skills, and local knowledge connected to rural life are gradually disappearing, while at the same time there are fewer opportunities to pass them on to younger generations and use them in adult education. Lišov Museum responded to the need to revive crafts, community life, and interest in rural areas in the Hont region, which has long faced depopulation and the weakening of local traditions. Satul Verde addressed the need to better preserve and present traditional skills and the sustainable use of local resources in Romanian mountain communities. Kato Drys Community Council aimed to further develop practical education in traditional crafts, cultural heritage, and local development. Through the project, we wanted to create space for international exchange of experience, document crafts in digital form, organise practical workshops, and strengthen cooperation between rural communities facing similar challenges. At the same time, we wanted to show that traditional crafts can still play an important role in education, local identity, tourism, and the sustainable development of rural areas.