Eco-Entrepreneurship for Rural Development

About the project

Eco-Entrepreneurship for Rural Development aims to strengthen the capacities of youth workers in rural Europe to better address the economic, social, and ecological challenges faced by young people. Rural youth across the continent encounter structural disadvantages compared to their urban peers, including fewer job opportunities, weaker infrastructure, and limited exposure to innovation or mobility. These barriers translate into higher unemployment, precarious jobs, and increased outmigration. Youth workers are often the first point of contact for young people in these regions, yet they lack specific competences and resources to connect ecological sustainability with entrepreneurial opportunities. EcoRuralYouth provides a practical response that aligns the urgent needs of rural youth with the European Union’s strategic priorities on youth empowerment, sustainable growth, and rural revitalisation. Across the EU, youth unemployment stands at 14.4 % compared to a general unemployment rate of 5.9 %, with rural areas particularly affected by seasonal, informal, and low-wage work that pushes young people to migrate to urban centres. Among…

Objectives

Eco-Entrepreneurship for Rural Development aims to strengthen the capacities of youth workers in rural Europe
to better address the economic, social, and ecological challenges faced by young people. Rural youth across the
continent encounter structural disadvantages compared to their urban peers, including fewer job opportunities,
weaker infrastructure, and limited exposure to innovation or mobility. These barriers translate into higher
unemployment, precarious jobs, and increased outmigration. Youth workers are often the first point of contact for
young people in these regions, yet they lack specific competences and resources to connect ecological
sustainability with entrepreneurial opportunities. EcoRuralYouth provides a practical response that aligns the
urgent needs of rural youth with the European Union’s strategic priorities on youth empowerment, sustainable
growth, and rural revitalisation.
Across the EU, youth unemployment stands at 14.4 % compared to a general unemployment rate of 5.9 %, with
rural areas particularly affected by seasonal, informal, and low-wage work that pushes young people to migrate to
urban centres. Among partner countries, Spain (23.5 %) and Portugal (21.2 %) report some of the highest youth
unemployment rates, while France (16.6 %), Croatia (16.8 %), and Türkiye (15.6 %) also face significant
challenges, especially in rural zones suffering from depopulation, weak labour markets, and limited access to
innovation. The situation is more acute in Romania, where rural youth unemployment exceeds 30 % and nearly
one in five young people are NEETs, while Germany, despite its relatively low rate of 6.7 %, still struggles with
rural outmigration and innovation gaps indicates that rural youth across Europe remain disproportionately
disadvantaged and that eco-entrepreneurship offers a promising pathway forward.
Our project is connected fully with European priorities, responding to the EU Youth Strategy 2019–2027, which
calls for young people to be engaged, connected, and empowered, while also addressing evidence that rural
youth remain under-represented in EU initiatives. At the same time, the European Green Deal, the Nature
Restoration Law (2024), and the Clean Industrial Deal (2025) frame sustainability, circularity, and eco-innovation
as central to Europe’s growth, opening new opportunities for rural youth through green entrepreneurship. Aligned
with the Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas (2021) and the EU Rural Action Plan, the project equips youth workers
with the competences to translate these policies into practice, fostering eco-entrepreneurship as a driver of rural
revitalisation across Europe.
Even though, the issues continue to be challenging in the participating countries; local capacity of youth workers
remains insufficient to respond to the challenges rural youth face and provide them with mentoring skills to
engage them in entrepreneurial activities. Youth workers often lack practical knowledge of eco-entrepreneurship,
pedagogical tools to adapt complex green transition concepts to local realities, and transnational networks to
exchange good practices. The needs are twofold: first, to provide youth workers with professional development
that enhances their ability to guide rural youth towards sustainable livelihood opportunities; and second, to
strengthen youth organisations’ capacity to integrate eco-entrepreneurship into regular youth work practice.
Addressing these needs will empower youth workers to act as multipliers, fostering resilience and creativity
among rural youth and reducing the gap between rural and urban Europe.
The project pursues the following objectives:
– Strengthen competences of youth workers in eco-entrepreneurship, sustainable rural development, and
non-formal education methodologies

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The content of this page is published for information purposes only. The project was funded by the European Union. However, the communication about the project
that is published through this page expresses the views of the project beneficiaries only and it does not represent the views of the European Union or the European
Commission. It shall not be deemed to constitute legal or official notice on behalf of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union
nor the European Commission can be held responsible for this content nor the use thereof made by any third parties.
– Equip youth workers with practical tools and methods (curricula, mentoring frameworks, eco-challenge formats)
tailored to rural realities and transferable across partner countries
– Foster transnational cooperation among youth organisations, universities, and local stakeholders to create
supportive ecosystems for rural eco-entrepreneurship
– Support local pilot actions led by youth workers, engaging rural youth in designing and testing small-scale
eco-entrepreneurial initiatives in their communities
– Embed results into long-term practice, ensuring that partner organisations integrate eco-entrepreneurship into
their regular youth work and policy advocacy
– Contribute to EU strategies by linking youth work with the European Green Deal, the EU Youth Strategy, and
the Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas, ensuring policy relevance and sustainability

Activities

. Youth workers often lack practical knowledge of eco-entrepreneurship,
pedagogical tools to adapt complex green transition concepts to local realities, and transnational networks to
exchange good practices. The needs are twofold: first, to provide youth workers with professional development
that enhances their ability to guide rural youth towards sustainable livelihood opportunities; and second, to
strengthen youth organisations’ capacity to integrate eco-entrepreneurship into regular youth work practice.
Addressing these needs will empower youth workers to act as multipliers, fostering resilience and creativity
among rural youth and reducing the gap between rural and urban Europe.
The project pursues the following objectives:
– Strengthen competences of youth workers in eco-entrepreneurship, sustainable rural development, and
non-formal education methodologies

Generated on: Aug 4, 2026
Booklet
Page
of
36
162
The content of this page is published for information purposes only. The project was funded by the European Union. However, the communication about the project
that is published through this page expresses the views of the project beneficiaries only and it does not represent the views of the European Union or the European
Commission. It shall not be deemed to constitute legal or official notice on behalf of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union
nor the European Commission can be held responsible for this content nor the use thereof made by any third parties.
– Equip youth workers with practical tools and methods (curricula, mentoring frameworks, eco-challenge formats)
tailored to rural realities and transferable across partner countries
– Foster transnational cooperation among youth organisations, universities, and local stakeholders to create
supportive ecosystems for rural eco-entrepreneurship
– Support local pilot actions led by youth workers, engaging rural youth in designing and testing small-scale
eco-entrepreneurial initiatives in their communities
– Embed results into long-term practice, ensuring that partner organisations integrate eco-entrepreneurship into
their regular youth work and policy advocacy
– Contribute to EU strategies by linking youth work with the European Green Deal, the EU Youth Strategy, and
the Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas, ensuring policy relevance and sustainability
Activities
The project activity will take place in Alcalá la Real, Spain, from 10–17 May 2026 (6 working days + 2 travel). It
will gather 16–18 youth workers from Türkiye, Spain, Portugal, Germany, France, Romania, and Croatia. Each
country will send two participants, with extra places for the applicant and host to secure strong local engagement.
Every group will include one young person with fewer opportunities, involved as a future peer trainer. The activity
is framed as an 8-day programme with blended learning, including an online preparation and follow-up actions.
A1. Preparation Module (Jan–Mar 2026): One-day national workshops will introduce eco-entrepreneurship,
motivate participants, and link them with sending organisations.
Objectives: raise visibility of eco-entrepreneurship in rural areas, prepare participants, ensure organisational
involvement.
A2. Online Module (Mar–May 2026): A 4-week course via Microsoft Teams and Moodle covering rural
development, eco-tourism, ecology, and entrepreneurship, with small community research tasks.
Objectives: build theoretical knowledge, bring local perspectives, ensure readiness.
A3. Training Course in Spain (10–17 May 2026): “Rural Development through Eco-Entrepreneurship” will
combine workshops, case studies, fieldwork, and visits.
Programme overview:
Day 1: Arrivals, welcome.
Day 2: Team building, NFE, Youthpass, intercultural evening.
Day 3: Eco-entrepreneurship, ecology, rural youth challenges, reflection.
Day 4: Case studies, role plays, council simulation, fieldwork.
Day 5: Designing eco-initiatives with Eco-Canvas, group work, reflection.
Day 6: Study visits to cooperatives and eco-tourism projects, exchange.
Day 7: Erasmus+ resources, dissemination planning, public presentations, evaluation.
Day 8: Departures.
Working Methods: The course will mix non-formal and experiential learning. Workshops (brainstorming,
discussions, simulations) will introduce concepts, while study visits and fieldwork will provide hands-on
experience. Case studies and role plays will analyse challenges, and design tools (Eco-Canvas, Business Model
Canvas) will support project creation. Intercultural learning will be promoted through teamwork, reflection, and
cultural evenings. Peer-to-peer sharing will allow exchange of organisational practices. Digital tools (Teams,
Moodle) will support preparation and follow-up. Reflection and evaluation will be integrated daily with Youthpass
tools.

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The content of this page is published for information purposes only. The project was funded by the European Union. However, the communication about the project
that is published through this page expresses the views of the project beneficiaries only and it does not represent the views of the European Union or the European
Commission. It shall not be deemed to constitute legal or official notice on behalf of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union
nor the European Commission can be held responsible for this content nor the use thereof made by any third parties.
A4. Follow-Up (Jun–Oct 2026): Participants will implement eco-initiatives in their organisations with trainer
mentoring, targeting rural youth. They will also co-create an Eco-Initiatives and Eco-Entrepreneurship Guidebook
based on project outputs.
Objectives: transfer competences to organisational practice, pilot eco-programmes for rural youth, and
disseminate results locally and nationally via workshops, articles, and social media.
The general profile of participants is:
– 18–60 years old, with most expected to be between 20–50 years old, reflecting the typical age of professionals
and volunteers in youth work.
– Active in eco-entrepreneurship, ecology, or the youth field as NGO workers or youth workers.
– Motivated to join the training in relation to the topic.
– Interested in seeing and practising eco-entrepreneurial activities in rural Spain.
– Sufficiently proficient in English to actively participate in training and discussions.
– Willing to implement eco-entrepreneurship initiatives in their local context.
In addition, one young person with fewer opportunities from each country will be included to promote their
engagement and qualify them as trainers, enabling them to be the voice of their communities. Their profile is:
– 18–30 years old.
– Belonging to one of the fewer opportunities categories (educational barriers, cultural differences, geographical
obstacles, social or economic barriers, or discrimination).
– Willing to mobilise their peers upon return and take initiatives in ecology and eco-entrepreneurship.
The inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities is a core element of the project’s design. Their
participation ensures that the training addresses real challenges faced by rural and disadvantaged youth, and
empowers them as peer educators. This approach supports the Erasmus+ priority on inclusion by giving these
young people visibility, recognition, and a platform to influence youth work practices in eco-entrepreneurship.

Impact

Eco-Entrepreneurship for Rural Development will create results at individual, organisational, community, and
European levels. It will enhance youth workers’ competences, develop practical eco-entrepreneurship tools, and
transfer these into rural youth work through follow-up activities. Beyond individual learning, it will foster
organisational innovation, strengthen cross-border cooperation, and contribute to strategies for sustainable rural
development.
For participants, the most immediate result will be improved knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Sixteen to eighteen
youth workers will gain a clear understanding of eco-entrepreneurship, including eco-tourism, sustainable
agriculture, circular economy, and heritage-based initiatives. They will develop competences in non-formal
education methods adapted to rural youth, such as simulations, role plays, and experiential learning through
study visits. Participants will improve their ability to design and mentor eco-initiatives in their communities while
strengthening transversal skills like teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and intercultural awareness. For
the young participants with fewer opportunities, the project will serve as an entry point into leadership, preparing
them as peer educators and future trainers.
Organisations will benefit by diversifying methodologies, enriching their educational offers, and strengthening
their role in linking entrepreneurship with environmental awareness and rural development. They will gain access
to trained youth workers who can lead new activities and transfer knowledge to colleagues and volunteers. This
will enhance organisational capacity and visibility, while stronger cooperation between partners will expand their
ability to design and implement Erasmus+ projects.

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The content of this page is published for information purposes only. The project was funded by the European Union. However, the communication about the project
that is published through this page expresses the views of the project beneficiaries only and it does not represent the views of the European Union or the European
Commission. It shall not be deemed to constitute legal or official notice on behalf of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union
nor the European Commission can be held responsible for this content nor the use thereof made by any third parties.
Tangible outputs will ensure long-term use. A Guidebook on Eco-Initiatives and Eco-Entrepreneurship will
compile methodologies, case studies, and project ideas, published as an Open Educational Resource. Training
materials from online and physical activities will be available to all partners. Dissemination outputs such as
articles, social media content, and public presentations will engage rural youth, local authorities, and community
members.
At community level, follow-up eco-initiatives will allow participants to apply their competences and directly involve
rural youth. These initiatives may include workshops on sustainable agriculture, eco-tourism, upcycling, or
heritage-based enterprises. Young people will gain new opportunities and see role models in action, reducing
marginalisation. Local communities will benefit from increased visibility of sustainable practices and concrete
small-scale initiatives.
At regional level, the project will create synergies with municipalities, chambers of commerce, and rural
associations. For example, Verdesur will involve Alcalá la Real municipality in dissemination, while partners in
Romania and Türkiye will connect results to regional strategies. These partnerships will demonstrate how youth
work can support priorities such as tackling depopulation, improving rural employability, and promoting
sustainable tourism. At national level, dissemination through networks and multipliers will increase awareness of
eco-entrepreneurship as a tool for rural youth.
At European level, the project aligns with EU youth and green priorities. It will contribute to the Erasmus+
objectives of inclusion, sustainability, and rural development by showing how eco-entrepreneurship can be
integrated into youth work across rural contexts. It will create a transferable blended learning model replicable in
other Erasmus+ projects, while contributing to debates on green transition, depopulation, and youth employment.
By strengthening cooperation between seven organisations from Türkiye, Spain, Portugal, Germany, France,
Romania, and Croatia, the project impact will extend across diverse European contexts.
Sustainability will be secured through trained youth workers who continue applying competences in their
organisations. The Guidebook and training resources will remain freely available, while local eco-initiatives will act
as pilots for future projects. Partners will integrate eco-entrepreneurship into ongoing programmes and link it to
future Erasmus+ and ESC actions.
The project will empower youth workers as multipliers of eco-entrepreneurship, strengthen organisations as
drivers of rural innovation, and engage local communities in sustainable practices. Its impact will extend from
individuals to European networks, contributing to resilient rural societies and the long-term objectives of
Erasmus+ and EU youth policy.

Project partners

• 🇹🇷 ISTANBUL TICARET UNIVERSITESI
  Türkiye
• 🇪🇸 ASOC SOCIO CULTURAL VERDESUR ALCALA
  Spain
• 🇩🇪 NextGen e.V.
  Germany
• 🇵🇹 Motivos Alternativos - Associação Cultural
  Portugal
• 🇷🇴 Asociatia Intercomunala Tara Hategului
  Romania
• 🇫🇷 France Culture Connection
  France
• 🇭🇷 SPORTSKO VOLONTERSKA ORGANIZACIJA NATURALISTA
  Croatia