Kdo / Who

Janja Viher je v Kungoti domačinka. Po tem, ko je svojo kariero dodobra utrdila v različnih institucijah in prepotovala dobršen del sveta, se je vrnila v rojstni kraj, kjer v skupnosti in v lokalnem dogajanju pomeni neusahljiv vir idej in pozitivne energije. Pravzaprav je kar težko najti koga, ki v okoliških gričih, vinogradih in travnikih vidi toliko lepote kot ona in s tolikšnim žarom govori o svojem rojstnem kraju.   

Trenutno se najbolj aktivno ukvarja z vodenjem in aktivnostmi v sklopu Zavoda za inovativnost in podjetništvo in deluje kot podpredsednica Štajerske turistične zveze. Je vsesplošno aktivna in prisotna na različnih področjih, ki se ukvarjajo s promocijo trajnostnega turističnega razvoja in promocijo lokalnega gospodarstva. 

Janja je tudi neutrudna borka za trajnostni razvoj podeželja in utrjevanje čezmejnih odnosov. Od promocije razvoja lokalnih produktov po načelu “zero waste” do gala večerje med vinogradi v Slovenskih goricah – zanjo ni nič nemogoče.

Janja Viher is a local from Kungota. After she had consolidated her career working for various institutions and travelled a significant part of the world, she returned to her hometown. In her local community, she is a synonym for an inexhaustible source of new ideas and positive energy. Actually, it is pretty hard to find someone who sees as much beauty in the surrounding hills, vineyards and meadows and describes her hometown with such enthusiasm. 

Currently, she is the most engaged with leading and coordinating activities of Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and acts as a vice president of the Styrian tourist association. She is active in various areas, focusing on the promotion of sustainable tourist development and promotion of local economies. 

Janja is also a tireless fighter for the sustainable development of rural areas and consolidation of cross-border relations. From promoting the development of local “zero waste” products to organizing a gala dinner in the midst of vineyards in Slovenske gorice – nothing is impossible for her.

Intervju / Interview

Kaj je prva stvar, ki jo naredite, ko se zjutraj zbudite?

Poslušam ptičje petje, potem sprehodim svojega psa med tem našimi travniki, Kungoškimi. Po tem pa nekako že delovna opravila dneva, ki me čakajo, in tisti največji izzivi, s katerimi se tudi potem soočam. In seveda v večernem času veselo pridem nazaj v Kungoto

Se lahko opišete v treh besedah?

Trmasta, trdoživa in pa včasih kar malo preveč hrabra.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

I listen to the birds singing and then I walk my dog in the surrounding meadows here, in Kungota. And then I go on to my daily routine, and tasks that await me, and challenges I have to face. In the evening hours, I gladly come back to Kungota.

Can you describe yourself in three words?

Stubborn, resilient and sometimes even too brave. 

Če bi si lahko izbrali nadnaravno moč, katera bi to bila?

Včasih bi kar želela biti super woman (super ženska – op. p.), ker se mi zdi, da nekatere stvari kljub danostim, ki jih imamo v lokalnem okolju – pa tudi na splošno, ker kar dobro poznam pozicioniranje naše lokalne skupnosti –, je zavedanje, da bi bilo smiselno imeti včasih kako čarobno palčko pa kako stvar malo hitreje dati na plano. Tako kot pomlad sedaj prinaša nova rojstva, da bi se tudi neke ideje in predvsem povezovanja dogajali malo bolj intenzivno, kot pa se v tem trenutku.

If you could choose to have a superpower, what would it be?

Sometimes I wish I was a super woman, as I feel that despite all the assets that we have in the local environment – and beyond, as I am fairly familiar with how our community is positioned in general – there is the awareness that sometimes it would be good to have a  magical wand to speed things up. Just as spring is now bringing new births, it would be nice if ideas and collaborations could intensify.

Kaj pa vas nasmeji in spravi v dobro voljo?

Mislim, da rezultati. Rezultati projektnih aktivnosti, ki niso zgolj naravnani v smeri pridobivanja finančnih sredstev, ampak bolj v smeri rezultatov – da smo nekaj naredili, da so neki vidni rezultati na terenu in da v tem vidimo tudi nek preboj  na zemljevidu prepoznavnosti. Hkrati pa seveda tudi priložnosti za nove zgodbe našega podeželja. 

Imate najljubši del vasi?

Težko bi rekla, kateri je – v vsakem letnem času imam svojega. Ampak že samo sprehod med vinogradi, med našimi gozdovi mi daje tisto pozitivno energijo, s katero smelo zakorakam v vsak nov dan. 

Kateri spomin iz otroštva vam najprej pride na pamet?

Ja, veliko spominov je. Predvsem morda se mi vedno bolj utrnejo zdaj v srednjih letih, da smo kot tisti pobalini iz vrtca vsi težili k temu, da čim prej zapustimo to vas in gremo v svet. Veliko smo prepotovali, ampak na koncu nas je kar veliko iz naše generacije, ki smo se v naše kraje vrnili in tukaj želimo ustvarjati, tukaj želimo živeti in vidimo smelo prihodnost, tudi za razvoj tega območja. In to se mi zdi najbolj smiselno in zelo, zelo cenim to, da smo mogoče zdaj še bolj našli stik, še bolj, kot pa smo ga imeli kot tisti pobalini, ko smo se lasali v vrtcu ali šoli in gledali, da čim prej gremo iz tega kraja in da se morda nikoli več ne vrnemo. Pa smo tako ali drugače kot lastovice vsi prišli nazaj v svoja gnezda. 

Kateri letni čas najboljše opiše vaš karakter? Zakaj? 

Pomlad in jesen. 

What makes you laugh and puts you in a good mood?

I think that results. Results of project activities that are not only finance-oriented, but primarily result-oriented – so you can see that we have done something good and results are visible in the field and on the visibility map. At the same time opportunities for new stories and projects for the development of our countryside. 

Do you have a favourite spot in the village?

I cannot decide which one would that be – depends on the time of year. But even to walk amongst the vineyards or in the woods fulfilles me with some positive energy so I can step forward each day. 

Which memory from childhood comes to your mind first? 

There is plenty of memories. But lately the ones I remember the most now, when I’m in middle age, are the one from the kindergarten, when we were little rascals and we all wanted to leave this village and go see the world as soon as possible. We’ve travelled a lot, but in the end a lot of people from my generation returned back home and we want to work here, be creative and we see our future here and we have a vision for the development of our community. I think this is very reasonable and I really, really appreciate the connection we have now. Perhaps today it’s even stronger than back then when we were in kindergarten or in school and we teased each other and wanted to leave this place and never return. But just like swallows we came back into our nests. 

What time of the year best describes your character? Why?

Spring and Autumn.

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