RuralLAB 3.0 - Fostering Empowerment of Young People in Rural Areas Through Social Entrepreneurship
About this good practice
Depopulation of rural areas may further aggravate the economic decline already faced by these regions and thus widen the gap between rich and poor regions in Europe. The European Commission has therefore identified depopulation as a priority. To combat this problem, the RuraLAB project focused on equipping young people in rural areas with tools and skills in social entrepreneurship, thus preventing them from leaving for urban areas and preventing these areas, which are rich in tourist and ecological resources and have economic potential, from becoming empty.
The following tools/products have been developed:
1. A guide of competences that social entrepreneurs in rural areas should work on
2. A self-diagnostic tool that allows young people in rural areas to measure their competences related to social entrepreneurship
3. A virtual training environment and a series of training contents and games to provide young people with relevant knowledge on social entrepreneurship.
4. The ruraLAB platform which allows the registration of young people in rural areas and of social enterprises or young social entrepreneurs in urban areas, thus favouring the exchange of ideas and micro-investments in businesses of the young rural participants
5. A guide on the ruraLAB dynamic so that it can be disseminated and replicated by youth associations and town councils
6. A guide focused on policy makers to set up digital rural hubs
Resources needed
Financed by the Erasmus+ Programme, for the duration of 24 months, 7 partners from 6 EU, 227.808,00 €
Evidence of success
The project involved 7 partners from 6 countries (Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Spain and The Netherlands). 129 young people aged 18 to 31 have officially passed the project training course of social entrepreneurship. Impacts:
- 95% of participants reported an increased knowledge of social entrepreneurship.
- 76% reported their readiness to explore the possibility to start their own business in the regions they live
- 93% will use the knowledge acquired in their future undertaking and job career
Potential for learning or transfer
The ruralLAB is a small-scale initiative which brings a lot of added value because it is easily transferable to other remote rural regions. Project results could be directly utilized by stakeholders in remote rural regions or they could be adapted to the needs and local context of these regions. It helps to address the depopulation of rural regions across Europe and promotes their sustainable development through youth empowerment and youth’s involvement.
The Bulgarian partner in RuralLAB 3.0 was a large University and reaching young people was easy. However, when organizing such or similar initiatives, in order to reach young people in rural regions, it is advisable to involve the local/regional administration of the rural region and/or local civil organizations/NGOs working with youths. This will help in the process of enrolment of young people to join the training course of the RuralLAB 3.0 or the respective initiative.
Further information
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