Imatra Village Pearls project

The Imatra Villages' Pearls project strengthens the vitality of Imatra's residential areas. The residential areas of Imatra, Rautionkylä, Sienimäki, Rajapatsas, Niskalampi and Karhumäki, are participating in the project. They are represented by resident associations.

Village surveys

In February-March 2025, village surveys were published for residents of the districts involved in the project, past and present. The surveys will pave the way for a joint village workshop to find the pearls of the village and create a village plan. The village surveys have been held and the questionnaires have been used in the workshops and as background material for the village plans. Thank you to everyone who responded.

Village Beads Workshops

• Sun 9.3. at 15 pm Sienimäki, village hut 
• Tue 18.3. at 17.30:XNUMX PM Rautio, village hut
  • Follow-up workshop at the Rautionkatu hut on May 12.5th at 17.30:XNUMX PM.
• Tue 25.3. at 17.30:XNUMX PM Border Statue, Statue Library 
  • follow-up workshop at Patsaan Library on April 22.4nd at 17.30:XNUMX PM.
• Thu 10.4. at 17.00:XNUMX PM Niskalampi, main library living room
• Tue 29.4. at 17.00:XNUMX PM Karhumäki, Brothers in Arms House

The workshops are led by Tea Usvasuo, village representative of the South Karelian Villages Association, tel. 050 5986 978, ekkylat.tea(at)gmail.com. 

The village plans are supported by the participation coordinator of the City of Imatra, Heikki Laine, and the land use manager, Erik Forstén. (At the border statue on March 25.3, city gardener Erika Luhtanen.)

Video workshops

Rautio village

• Screenwriting workshop on Monday, May 19.5th at 18 pm at the village hall.
• Production workshop on Wed. 4.6. at 18 pm at the village hall.

Rajapatsas

• Screenwriting workshop April 15.4th at 17pm at the Patsaan Library
• production workshop on May 14.5th at 17pm at the Patsaan Library 

Niskalampi

• manuscript workshop on the evening of May 21.5st in the Living Room of the Main Library

Karhumäki

• Screenwriting workshop on May 26.5th at 17 pm. Location to be announced later.

Katja Paakki is responsible for the project's video projects, tel. 040 6403 804, katja.paakkistep.fi (katja[dot]paakki[at]step[dot]fi).

Project summary

The aim of the project is to find the strengths of the villages and city districts of Imatra with the help of the villagers, to highlight them and to build the development of the villages on the basis of the strengths discovered in the project. The project improves the attractiveness of residential areas, strengthens their local identity and empowers the residents.

The project seeks out the strengths of villages in village surveys ja in workshops, resulting in residential areas publishing a village plan to the kylämme.fi online serviceThe workshops aimed at the village plan are guided by the South Karelian Villages Association. 

The work continues with video workshops and filming, where village residents carry out empowering video project. The Ruokolahti unit of the Step training is responsible for the video production part of the project.

The project results in a model based on local identity for cooperation between the city and neighborhoods, for empowering residents, and for marketing residential areas.