Agriculture is our culture

About the project

The main objective of the youth exchange is to empower disadvantaged and vulnerable youth, in particular, youth with fewer opportunities, living in rural areas, and help them start a career in the agricultural sector and begin to consider living, working, and developing in rural areas as a valuable option. By implementing this project we want to empower young people to actively participate in the rural development of their countries. Agriculture and rural development are rarely displayed in the media or in general as a young people’s game. That is why we are working on creating an attitude in youngsters that live in rural areas and developing their lives there is not an outdated experience. If anything, it’s far from the mainstream image of being a job fulfilled with only hard work and unprofitable actions. The project implementation aims to show exactly the opposite – that agriculture, rural development, and social entrepreneurship are actually fulfilling, are meaningful, and can be profitable…

Objectives

The main objective of the youth exchange is to empower disadvantaged and vulnerable youth, in particular, youth
with fewer opportunities, living in rural areas, and help them start a career in the agricultural sector and begin to
consider living, working, and developing in rural areas as a valuable option. By implementing this project we want
to empower young people to actively participate in the rural development of their countries. Agriculture and rural
development are rarely displayed in the media or in general as a young people’s game. That is why we are
working on creating an attitude in youngsters that live in rural areas and developing their lives there is not an
outdated experience. If anything, it’s far from the mainstream image of being a job fulfilled with only hard work
and unprofitable actions.
The project implementation aims to show exactly the opposite – that agriculture, rural development, and social
entrepreneurship are actually fulfilling, are meaningful, and can be profitable at the same time. We desire to have
an outcome, which raises greater awareness of the benefits of agriculture and rural development as a career
among youngsters. The project offers an opportunity for them to participate in nonformal, interactive, intercultural
learning. So when they get back to their communities and districts, they can share the acquired set of skills and
knowledge. For Academy for active youth, helping our participants to learn and gain more from their roots
therefore what rural development can offer is one of our most important objectives. This is why on this exchange
our main objective is to motivate and encourage youth into rural and agricultural development by showing them
successful practices from real life, introducing them to peers who have ideas in action for rural development.
People, some of which have started from the bottom, who are making enterprises locally to serve globally.
Spending these nine days with the youngsters – giving them motivation, informal knowledge, practical and
entrepreneurial skills, confidence, and building a mindset in them that they can make a difference and impact in
the agriculture of their countries and Europe as a whole. This what we and our partners aim for – introducing a
new perspective to young people and encouraging them to enter agriculture and rural development is mainly what
“Agriculture is our culture” strives for. Making agriculture attractive and remunerative for young people is of
utmost importance to us.
A huge priority of ours is developing the soft skills that rural youngsters with fewer opportunities would make great
use of, like self- confidence, negotiation skills, and communication. We aim to provide information, activities, and
informal practices that are going to engage the participants and empower them to contribute to the agricultural
sector of their communities. Academy for active youth has as objective to achieve broad dissemination results in
which our participants, by using the peer-to-peer technique are going to spread the knowledge and their thoughts
on the topic to their peers, which is naturally going to make more youth attracted to the idea of starting a career in
rural action and agriculture inspired by doing an Erasmus+ project.
Our overall objectives are to attract the youth of Europe and step by step, project by project, to show them the
opportunities that the agricultural sector and the rural areas offer to those who dare to work and develop toward
that direction.

Activities

, and
informal practices that are going to engage the participants and empower them to contribute to the agricultural
sector of their communities. Academy for active youth has as objective to achieve broad dissemination results in
which our participants, by using the peer-to-peer technique are going to spread the knowledge and their thoughts
on the topic to their peers, which is naturally going to make more youth attracted to the idea of starting a career in
rural action and agriculture inspired by doing an Erasmus+ project.
Our overall objectives are to attract the youth of Europe and step by step, project by project, to show them the
opportunities that the agricultural sector and the rural areas offer to those who dare to work and develop toward
that direction.
Activities
Planned activities: The activities that are planned for the exchange are various and all developing different skills:
There is a two days workshop, developed by Botanica life, which is going to be implemented in the facility of the
first educational agricultural center in Bulgaria. The workshop is going to be on one of the first days of the project
and the second part in one of the last days of the YE.
We have provided a full day, which is going to be spent with one of the most interesting and colorful people in

Generated on: Aug 4, 2026
Booklet
Page
of
147
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.
bio-agriculture and rural development- Veselin Oreshkov. He has invited us in his lovely garden and home to
experience his lifestyle.
We are lucky to be able to have in the project one of the most successful agro entrepreneurs in Targovishte and
Bulgaria, who is going to show us how a day of his goes, all of the secrets to agricultural success and being a
rural developer.
One of the days the whole group is going to have tasks all-around a Bulgarian village (example: find a granny and
help her with the gardening; eat real Bulgarian tomatoes; find the farmer of the village and ask for advice; milk a
cow and etc.) There is an activity that needs the whole team to work together- writing an open letter for the
municipality of Turgovishte. The letter is going to include ideas on how youth in the region to be more involved in
agriculture and it is going to be considered by the municipality council.
There is an invent with the local youth of the rural areas in Targovishte, where the participants are going to speak
about agriculture and its opportunities and to present the advantages that Erasmus+ gives.
In the last two days, the participants are going to create different video material, describing, in essence, the most
important that they have learned during the exchange. The video materials aim to have an international impact.
Many energizers, discussions, and motivational talks are planned to be realized during the youth exchange.
Profile of selected participants: One team leader, who is going to have a more special role as a mentor and
motivator for the participants. Mentoring relationships are going to enable our participants to develop relevant
skills and competencies for agricultural development. The mentor has to have experience with working and
mentoring youngsters, for the effectiveness of the exchange to be maximalized. The team leader is going to in the
role of a mentor, a provider of emotional support, motivation, and encouragement for the participants.
Number of participants: Five participants with fewer opportunities – health problems, economical obstacles, lack of
education, coming from rural areas, migration, orphans, unemployed for a long time, and so on. Youngsters that
are coming from rural areas and have a strong interest in agricultural and rural development. They have the will
for development but face certain obstacles.
The total number of participants: 36 (30 participants and 6 team leaders). This project is completely developed
and adapted for youngsters with fewer opportunities. Academy for active youth and its partnering organizations
have the desire to create something specifically for youngsters that need a little more stimuli, motivation, and
someone to believe in them and to show that they are capable of achieving huge deeds in the sphere. Creating
an exchange for youngsters that feel less fortunate in some areas and proving them with the knowledge and
empowerment that they can be outstanding in the field of agriculture is a cause that Academy for active youth has
close to its heart.

Impact

in
the agriculture of their countries and Europe as a whole. This what we and our partners aim for – introducing a
new perspective to young people and encouraging them to enter agriculture and rural development is mainly what
“Agriculture is our culture” strives for. Making agriculture attractive and remunerative for young people is of
utmost importance to us.
A huge priority of ours is developing the soft skills that rural youngsters with fewer opportunities would make great
use of, like self- confidence, negotiation skills, and communication. We aim to provide information, activities, and
informal practices that are going to engage the participants and empower them to contribute to the agricultural
sector of their communities. Academy for active youth has as objective to achieve broad dissemination results in
which our participants, by using the peer-to-peer technique are going to spread the knowledge and their thoughts
on the topic to their peers, which is naturally going to make more youth attracted to the idea of starting a career in
rural action and agriculture inspired by doing an Erasmus+ project.
Our overall objectives are to attract the youth of Europe and step by step, project by project, to show them the
opportunities that the agricultural sector and the rural areas offer to those who dare to work and develop toward
that direction.
Activities
Planned activities: The activities that are planned for the exchange are various and all developing different skills:
There is a two days workshop, developed by Botanica life, which is going to be implemented in the facility of the
first educational agricultural center in Bulgaria. The workshop is going to be on one of the first days of the project
and the second part in one of the last days of the YE.
We have provided a full day, which is going to be spent with one of the most interesting and colorful people in

Generated on: Aug 4, 2026
Booklet
Page
of
147
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.
bio-agriculture and rural development- Veselin Oreshkov. He has invited us in his lovely garden and home to
experience his lifestyle.
We are lucky to be able to have in the project one of the most successful agro entrepreneurs in Targovishte and
Bulgaria, who is going to show us how a day of his goes, all of the secrets to agricultural success and being a
rural developer.
One of the days the whole group is going to have tasks all-around a Bulgarian village (example: find a granny and
help her with the gardening; eat real Bulgarian tomatoes; find the farmer of the village and ask for advice; milk a
cow and etc.) There is an activity that needs the whole team to work together- writing an open letter for the
municipality of Turgovishte. The letter is going to include ideas on how youth in the region to be more involved in
agriculture and it is going to be considered by the municipality council.
There is an invent with the local youth of the rural areas in Targovishte, where the participants are going to speak
about agriculture and its opportunities and to present the advantages that Erasmus+ gives.
In the last two days, the participants are going to create different video material, describing, in essence, the most
important that they have learned during the exchange. The video materials aim to have an international impact.
Many energizers, discussions, and motivational talks are planned to be realized during the youth exchange.
Profile of selected participants: One team leader, who is going to have a more special role as a mentor and
motivator for the participants. Mentoring relationships are going to enable our participants to develop relevant
skills and competencies for agricultural development. The mentor has to have experience with working and
mentoring youngsters, for the effectiveness of the exchange to be maximalized. The team leader is going to in the
role of a mentor, a provider of emotional support, motivation, and encouragement for the participants.
Number of participants: Five participants with fewer opportunities – health problems, economical obstacles, lack of
education, coming from rural areas, migration, orphans, unemployed for a long time, and so on. Youngsters that
are coming from rural areas and have a strong interest in agricultural and rural development. They have the will
for development but face certain obstacles.
The total number of participants: 36 (30 participants and 6 team leaders). This project is completely developed
and adapted for youngsters with fewer opportunities. Academy for active youth and its partnering organizations
have the desire to create something specifically for youngsters that need a little more stimuli, motivation, and
someone to believe in them and to show that they are capable of achieving huge deeds in the sphere. Creating
an exchange for youngsters that feel less fortunate in some areas and proving them with the knowledge and
empowerment that they can be outstanding in the field of agriculture is a cause that Academy for active youth has
close to its heart.
Impact
We sincerely wish for the project to have a strong impact on the participants – how they work in a group, how they
make decisions, how they work in actual agricultural and rural surroundings, and how do they act in a new
situation. The soft skills, entrepreneurship knowledge, and agricultural experience are expected to adapt and
scale up new ways of promoting youth engagement in agriculture and on a broader level. The project aims to
have an impact on rural and remote areas that usually lack informal practices, education, and teachings about
agriculture, rural development, and social entrepreneurship. Ideally, it would promote non-formal practices and
ways of learning among rural youth with fewer opportunities. Despite the potential for jobs and personal
development youngsters are reluctant to enter the agricultural sector, which we aim to change. Opening a debate
on the topic of youth, especially ones with fewer opportunities, into agriculture is something that we hope to
facilitate. The most important impact and the result we want to achieve is mobilizing youth to develop in
agriculture and use their potential in the sector. As a result, we wish to help youngsters with fewer opportunities to
have more access to agricultural knowledge and possibilities.
An overreaching impact of the project aims to have is to provide an attractive and sustainable living for as many
youngsters as possible in agriculture. For them to further the food security chain and start a new wave of the

Generated on: Aug 4, 2026
Booklet
Page
of
148
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.
tendency of young people desiring life far from the city. Much too often youth are not trusted and their actions are
not considered important.
We, as an NGO founded by youngsters, want to change that and to argue for the youth as a source of fresh ideas
and innovative solutions to implement. To achieve this, we are planning to implement the method of
“see-judge-act” which aims to teach the participants they can improve and inspire them to raise their living
standards. AAY believes the future is built by the hands of the next generation and is excited to take part in their
development. The goal of this project is to create youth-led peer groups in which people can share the
experience. “Agriculture is our culture” aims to enhance the participants’ agricultural experience and
entrepreneurial skills through the various topics and activities that are included in the program of the exchange.
The topics are going to create an impact through observation, open doors, practice, group discussions, mentoring
sessions, role-play, challenges, experimentation, and product creation. The adaptability of the non-formal learning
approach would make us impactful and stimulating to our participants. By organizing the various activities and
introducing the participants to respected stakeholders in the field we aim to immerse the participants in the
concept of leadership so as to inspire them to take on such positions themselves. We are planning to invite
people who have started from the bottom to share how they have, through ingenuity and work ethics, worked their
way up. Sharing relevant success stories can be extremely powerful and after bringing together a number of
young people with fewer opportunities and different backgrounds we would encourage sharing experience and
the challenges they face and how they try to overcome them. We expect our participants to feel empowered,
learn to discover solutions, and strive to be better, no matter the obstacles. The overall goal is to attract youth to
agriculture and to make this sector desirable to more youngsters. Our main objective is to develop the skills to
make an impact on a personal, local, and global scale, to show them excellent agricultural practices, immerse
them in the environment all within an intercultural context. We would like them to go back feeling empowered and
inspired and to bring home the experience they gain on the project.“
We wish to empower those who join us.

Project partners

• 🇧🇬 Academy for active youth association
  Bulgaria
• 🇹🇷 TUNA
  Türkiye
• 🇪🇸 Asociación Socio-Cultural VerdeSur Alcalá
  Spain
• 🇨🇿 Czech Youth Association z.s.
  Czechia
• 🇸🇪 Wise Academy
  Sweden
• 🇱🇹 VSI INOVACIJU BIURAS
  Lithuania