In Chełmiec, the largest rural municipality in the Małopolska region, women comprise 60% of the unemployed population. In this area, there are over 900 children under the age of three, yet, ahead of the project, there was only one nursery available. 

This poses a major barrier for many families and disproportionately impacts women, as a higher number of them opt not to return to work after childbirth due to the lack of available support.

The main objective was to establish a nursery providing access to childcare for parents of children of up to three years of age, and catering to the needs of rural families, particularly women, who traditionally bear the heaviest childcare responsibilities. 

This initiative aimed to prevent further depopulation of the area by offering an alternative to relocating to areas with better access to services.

The main tasks in the project, led by the Local Action Group (LAG) in cooperation with other public and private organisations, included equipment procurement, hiring qualified personnel and organising care and educational activities. 

The financial stability for the project was achieved through the Chełmiec municipality which passed a resolution to provide a dedicated subsidy from its budget for each child in the nursery. The building where the nursery operates also belongs to this public authority, which loaned it for free to the LAG for the purpose of this project. 

To operate the nursery, the project began by hiring four caregivers and a nurse who received training on play activities with educational elements, tailored to the individual needs of each child. As a result, the nursery now operates from Monday to Friday, with hours extending from 6.30 AM to 5.00 PM.

This initiative was born out of a genuine community need identified by LAG 'KORONA SĄDECKA', an organisation with prior experience operating a nursery and kindergarten, thus earning the trust of local residents. Since 2010, the LAG has consistently carried out educational projects, establishing a reputable brand that has attracted new mothers and their children. 

In rural areas lacking essential services, this initiative can be seen as innovative. It represents a form of social innovation wherein a LAG, functioning as a non-governmental organisation, creates a childcare facility that addresses the challenge of balancing work and family life.

What sets this project apart is its sustainability beyond EU support, made possible through a valuable partnership with the local municipality. The municipality's contribution, providing a fully adapted building for the nursery, underscores the added value of collaboration. Such partnerships, although relatively rare in rural areas, are highly desirable and can serve as replicable models for other municipalities.

The establishment of this nursery has contributed significantly to the sustainable development of the community, particularly in the social dimension. By promoting the harmonisation of work and family life in public policies and by providing corresponding financial support, the nursery's operations have achieved financial sustainability.