Urban – Rural Divide: Enhancing Access for Disadvantaged Youth through Social Entrepreneurship

About the project

Young people across both urban and rural settings often confront systemic barriers that limit their social inclusion, employability, and capacity to innovate. In Germany, the youth unemployment rate (ages 15–24) stood at 6.7 % in 2024, reflecting a relatively low level compared to many European peers. Nevertheless, the average masks significant disparities: among young people from migrant or socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, access to networks, resources, and opportunities remains severely constrained. In 2023, the employment rate for youth in Germany was reported at 50.8 %, underlining that nearly half of young people are not engaged in stable employment even in a strong economy. In a city like Munich with generally low unemployment and robust infrastructure the challenge is less about job availability and more about ensuring marginalized youth can access and benefit from those opportunities equitably. In contrast, Spain faces a deeply entrenched youth unemployment crisis. By mid-2025, the national youth unemployment rate reached 23.5 %, one of the highest in…

Objectives

Young people across both urban and rural settings often confront systemic barriers that limit their social inclusion,
employability, and capacity to innovate. In Germany, the youth unemployment rate (ages 15–24) stood at 6.7 % in
2024, reflecting a relatively low level compared to many European peers. Nevertheless, the average masks
significant disparities: among young people from migrant or socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds,
access to networks, resources, and opportunities remains severely constrained. In 2023, the employment rate for
youth in Germany was reported at 50.8 %, underlining that nearly half of young people are not engaged in stable
employment even in a strong economy. In a city like Munich with generally low unemployment and robust
infrastructure the challenge is less about job availability and more about ensuring marginalized youth can access
and benefit from those opportunities equitably.
In contrast, Spain faces a deeply entrenched youth unemployment crisis. By mid-2025, the national youth
unemployment rate reached 23.5 %, one of the highest in Europe. In Andalusia where Alcalá la Real is located :
youth unemployment is often even more acute, compounded by structural economic disadvantages and limited
diversification beyond agriculture. While I did not find a municipality-level unemployment figure for Alcalá la Real,
the local economy is heavily dependent on olive cultivation, agro-processing, artisan crafts, and small
manufacturing. This economic pattern limits opportunities for young people who seek roles outside of traditional
sectors, leading many to migrate to larger cities.
These contrasting contexts highlight a shared need: young people in urban and rural areas alike are too often
treated as passive recipients rather than active agents of change. In Munich, youth with fewer resources may lack
access to mentorship, startup support, or social capital needed to turn ideas into action. In Alcalá la Real, rural
isolation, lower digital connectivity, and outmigration intensify the sense that local innovation is impossible.
Bridging these divides is critical if we want youth to become co-creators of resilient communities, rather than
frustrated by their environments.
Young people in both urban and rural settings face significant structural barriers to meaningful participation,
especially when they come from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. In a city like Munich, which
hosts over 1.6 million inhabitants. the overall employment environment is strong, but inequality and exclusion
persist: youth from migrant or low-income families often lack access to networks, mentorship, and opportunities
for agency within the system. Meanwhile, in Alcalá la Real, a municipality of about 21,581 inhabitants in
Andalusia, the local economy is heavily reliant on agriculture (especially olive production) and small-scale
manufacturing. This limited economic base, combined with broader demographic challenges in Andalusia (ageing
populations, depopulation, low birth rates), constrains opportunities for young people locally and drives migration
to urban centers.
These contrasting contexts reveal that while urban youth may face exclusion from opportunity, rural youth often
struggle with lack of infrastructure, isolation, and fewer avenues for innovation. Moreover, rural areas in Andalusia
have shown uneven labour efficiency and challenges in leveraging human capital at the municipal level. The
broader region of Andalusia is dealing with demographic pressures, low economic diversification, and territorial
inequality.
Engaging the young people in these two distinctive settings Munich and Alcalá la Real; the project aims to create

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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.
a learning space where youth can confront their own assumptions, see parallels and divergences, and co-create
solutions that draw on the strengths of both environments. The project addresses a clear need: to shift youth from
being passive recipients of support to becoming active changemakers in their localities, promoting social
inclusion, local resilience, and innovative entrepreneurship rooted in context.
The project objectives :
– To strengthen youth agency and critical awareness of social, economic, and spatial challenges in their local
(urban or rural) environments
– To equip disadvantaged young people with social entrepreneurship skills, methodologies, and mindset to ideate
and prototype context-sensitive solutions
– To foster cross-context dialogue, mutual learning, and exchange between urban and rural youth
– To develop a practical booklet or toolkit documenting the process, lessons learned, prototypes, and
recommendations for replication
– To promote sustainability and impact by connecting youth-led initiatives with local stakeholders, institutions, and
networks

Activities

The project Urban–Rural Divide: Enhancing Access for Disadvantaged Youth through Social Entrepreneurship
will implement two youth exchanges that complement each other by focusing on the contrasting realities of urban
and rural contexts.
1) Youth Exchange 1 – Exploring Urban Realities (Munich, Germany, June 2026): This first exchange will take
place over six days in Munich and will bring together 30 young participants and five group leaders. The program
is designed around the urban challenges faced by disadvantaged youth, particularly those with migrant
backgrounds. Activities will include:
– Study visits to local community organisations, NGOs, and social initiatives working in employment, integration,
and social innovation.
– Workshops introducing social entrepreneurship methods tailored to urban contexts, with emphasis on creative
ideation, problem-solving, and stakeholder mapping.
– Interactive sessions such as debates, simulation games, and role plays to build critical awareness of inequality
and inclusion barriers.
– Prototyping sessions where participants will design small-scale social entrepreneurship ideas responding to
issues of unemployment, social fragmentation, and integration.
– Stakeholder engagement, where participants will present their ideas to local actors such as youth centres,
NGOs, and municipal representatives, receiving feedback and support.
2) Mentoring Phase – Developing Our Ideas (July–November 2026) : Between the two exchanges, participants
will enter a guided mentoring phase in their home countries.
Activities include:
– Online mentoring sessions facilitated by youth leaders and experts from partner organisations.
– National group meetings to refine the prototypes developed in Munich.
– Peer-to-peer exchanges through digital platforms, allowing young people from different countries to share
progress and challenges.
– Preparation of draft content for the final practical booklet by documenting experiences, solutions, and
reflections.
This phase ensures that participants do not simply pause between the two exchanges but actively work on
developing, testing, and improving their entrepreneurial ideas with continued support.

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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.
3) Youth Exchange 2 – Exploring Rural Realities (Alcalá la Real, Spain, December 2026)
The second exchange will also last six days and focus on rural challenges. Taking place in Alcalá la Real,
Andalusia, the exchange will build on the experience gained in Munich and adapt the learning to rural contexts.
Activities will include:
– Field visits to cooperatives, farms, and artisan workshops to understand local strengths and economic
constraints.
– Workshops on rural entrepreneurship, exploring opportunities in agriculture, crafts, rural tourism, and digital
connectivity.
– Collaborative sessions for ideating solutions to depopulation, youth migration, and the lack of diversification in
rural areas.
– Design labs where participants rework the urban prototypes into context-sensitive rural ventures, creating
models that leverage both traditions and innovation.
– Public presentations where groups will present their ideas to community stakeholders, encouraging dialogue
between youth, local authorities, and entrepreneurs.
A final output of both exchanges will be a practical booklet compiling the methodologies, social entrepreneurship
prototypes, and youth-led reflections. This booklet will be shared with stakeholders to inspire replication and
provide visibility to youth as active solution developers.
Number and Profile of Participants : Each exchange will involve 30 participants in total (five young people and
one leader from each of the five partner organisations) and 2 facilitators ( one from Germany and one from Spain
). Across both exchanges, 64 participants will take part, including at least 20 young people with fewer
opportunities.
Profile of Participants:
– Aged 18–30 years old.
– Young people with fewer opportunities: migrants or children of migrant families, rural youth from isolated areas,
unemployed youth, and those with limited educational or economic opportunities.
– Motivated to learn about social entrepreneurship, engage in intercultural dialogue, and apply solutions in their
local communities.
– No prior entrepreneurship experience required; openness to learning, creativity, teamwork, and intercultural
curiosity are essential.
Profile of Leaders:
– Aged 20+ years old.
– Experienced youth workers, educators, or active volunteers with background in international mobility projects.
– Responsible for group guidance, pastoral care, and inclusion of participants with fewer opportunities.
– Skilled in facilitation, intercultural communication, and managing group dynamics in non-formal learning settings.

Impact

by connecting youth-led initiatives with local stakeholders, institutions, and
networks
Activities
The project Urban–Rural Divide: Enhancing Access for Disadvantaged Youth through Social Entrepreneurship
will implement two youth exchanges that complement each other by focusing on the contrasting realities of urban
and rural contexts.
1) Youth Exchange 1 – Exploring Urban Realities (Munich, Germany, June 2026): This first exchange will take
place over six days in Munich and will bring together 30 young participants and five group leaders. The program
is designed around the urban challenges faced by disadvantaged youth, particularly those with migrant
backgrounds. Activities will include:
– Study visits to local community organisations, NGOs, and social initiatives working in employment, integration,
and social innovation.
– Workshops introducing social entrepreneurship methods tailored to urban contexts, with emphasis on creative
ideation, problem-solving, and stakeholder mapping.
– Interactive sessions such as debates, simulation games, and role plays to build critical awareness of inequality
and inclusion barriers.
– Prototyping sessions where participants will design small-scale social entrepreneurship ideas responding to
issues of unemployment, social fragmentation, and integration.
– Stakeholder engagement, where participants will present their ideas to local actors such as youth centres,
NGOs, and municipal representatives, receiving feedback and support.
2) Mentoring Phase – Developing Our Ideas (July–November 2026) : Between the two exchanges, participants
will enter a guided mentoring phase in their home countries.
Activities include:
– Online mentoring sessions facilitated by youth leaders and experts from partner organisations.
– National group meetings to refine the prototypes developed in Munich.
– Peer-to-peer exchanges through digital platforms, allowing young people from different countries to share
progress and challenges.
– Preparation of draft content for the final practical booklet by documenting experiences, solutions, and
reflections.
This phase ensures that participants do not simply pause between the two exchanges but actively work on
developing, testing, and improving their entrepreneurial ideas with continued support.

Generated on: Aug 4, 2026
Booklet
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of
58
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.
3) Youth Exchange 2 – Exploring Rural Realities (Alcalá la Real, Spain, December 2026)
The second exchange will also last six days and focus on rural challenges. Taking place in Alcalá la Real,
Andalusia, the exchange will build on the experience gained in Munich and adapt the learning to rural contexts.
Activities will include:
– Field visits to cooperatives, farms, and artisan workshops to understand local strengths and economic
constraints.
– Workshops on rural entrepreneurship, exploring opportunities in agriculture, crafts, rural tourism, and digital
connectivity.
– Collaborative sessions for ideating solutions to depopulation, youth migration, and the lack of diversification in
rural areas.
– Design labs where participants rework the urban prototypes into context-sensitive rural ventures, creating
models that leverage both traditions and innovation.
– Public presentations where groups will present their ideas to community stakeholders, encouraging dialogue
between youth, local authorities, and entrepreneurs.
A final output of both exchanges will be a practical booklet compiling the methodologies, social entrepreneurship
prototypes, and youth-led reflections. This booklet will be shared with stakeholders to inspire replication and
provide visibility to youth as active solution developers.
Number and Profile of Participants : Each exchange will involve 30 participants in total (five young people and
one leader from each of the five partner organisations) and 2 facilitators ( one from Germany and one from Spain
). Across both exchanges, 64 participants will take part, including at least 20 young people with fewer
opportunities.
Profile of Participants:
– Aged 18–30 years old.
– Young people with fewer opportunities: migrants or children of migrant families, rural youth from isolated areas,
unemployed youth, and those with limited educational or economic opportunities.
– Motivated to learn about social entrepreneurship, engage in intercultural dialogue, and apply solutions in their
local communities.
– No prior entrepreneurship experience required; openness to learning, creativity, teamwork, and intercultural
curiosity are essential.
Profile of Leaders:
– Aged 20+ years old.
– Experienced youth workers, educators, or active volunteers with background in international mobility projects.
– Responsible for group guidance, pastoral care, and inclusion of participants with fewer opportunities.
– Skilled in facilitation, intercultural communication, and managing group dynamics in non-formal learning settings.
Impact
The project is expected to generate a broad set of results and create lasting impact at the level of participants,
partner organisations, and local communities. For the young people directly involved, the two youth exchanges
combined with the mentoring phase will result in concrete personal and professional development. By engaging in
workshops, debates, study visits, and prototype design, they will acquire competences in social entrepreneurship,
teamwork, problem-solving, and intercultural communication. Beyond technical skills, the project will build their
confidence and strengthen their sense of agency, as they will not only take part in activities but also design and
present their own social entrepreneurship ideas in front of local stakeholders. This transformation from passive

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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.
participant to active changemaker is one of the core results foreseen, equipping disadvantaged youth with a belief
in their own capacity to address real challenges in their communities.
The project will also produce tangible outputs that will extend its reach beyond the exchanges themselves. A
practical booklet will be developed, documenting the methodologies, prototypes, and reflections generated by the
participants during the learning process. This resource will be made freely available through the Erasmus+
Project Results Platform, the SALTO Toolbox, and the websites of partner organisations, ensuring that the
learning is accessible to other young people, youth workers, and institutions across Europe. It will stand as
evidence of the potential of disadvantaged youth to develop innovative solutions when given the right support and
opportunities.
At the same time, the project is designed to have a strong impact on the participating organisations. Each partner
will strengthen its capacity in using non-formal education and entrepreneurship as tools for inclusion, while also
expanding its international networks. The cooperation between Munich and Alcalá la Real will create a bridge
between urban and rural youth work practices, which can be replicated or adapted to other contexts in the future.
This exchange of methodologies and perspectives will enrich the organisations’ ongoing work and allow them to
develop new activities with higher quality and stronger impact.
The wider community will also benefit from the project. Local actors such as municipalities, NGOs, schools, and
community organisations will be directly engaged during the stakeholder sessions and public presentations in
Munich and Alcalá la Real. In this way, the solutions developed by the participants will not remain abstract but will
be shared with those who can support their implementation or replication. The visibility strategy, including social
media campaigns and multiplier events, will further ensure that the stories, ideas, and outputs of the project reach
a broader audience, demonstrating that disadvantaged youth can be leaders of innovation.
In the long term, the project will contribute to raising awareness of the urban–rural divide and highlight the
importance of empowering young people to act as agents of change in their local environments. For participants,
the impact will continue after the mobility itself, as they will return home with new competences, motivation, and
international connections that can help them in their education, employability, and civic engagement. For the
communities and partner organisations, the project will leave behind new tools, tested approaches, and an
enhanced capacity to promote inclusion and youth participation through social entrepreneurship. In this way, the
project’s results will not be limited to its duration but will create a sustainable ripple effect in both local and
European contexts.

Project partners

• 🇩🇪 NextGen e.V.
  Germany
• 🇹🇷 21.YY Egitimciler Dernegi
  Türkiye
• 🇪🇸 ASOC SOCIO CULTURAL VERDESUR ALCALA
  Spain
• 🇵🇱 Spring Mindset
  Poland
• 🇪🇪 MTÜ ArtInspire
  Estonia