On May 5 and 6, 2022, the Rural Employability Network made its first study visit to Legambiente, in the Italian towns of Succivo (Naples) and Fiumicino (Rome). The purpose of the visit was to learn first-hand about the Ecco Project, which is implemented through RiHUBS, spaces adapted for the development of circular economy projects and training on green employment.
During the visit we had representatives of the REN co-financing entities, who were able to learn from the RiHUBs staff about all parts of the project implementation process: mapping of localities, search for key agents, dynamization of volunteering...
Legambiente has a network of 15 RiHUBs all over Italy focused on different topics related to green employment and circular entrepreneurship. Thanks to this study visit, we discovered more about the lessons learned from the implementation experience of this project, as well as the possibilities of replicability and transferability in Spain.
The Rural Employability Network (REN) visited the Point Vert Project (Modave, Belgium) on the 2nd and 3rd of June where the Pays des Condruses Local Action Group shared with us the main lessons learned from their "test farms".
We were able to learn about the key aspects of the methodology and partnerships of the project to provide young people in the area with testing and support spaces for their agricultural entrepreneurship projects.
Since 2018, the GAL Pays des Condruses has been part of a national network of "test farms" whose aim is to share lessons learned and replicate the methodology in the territory, serving as an inspiration to transfer this good practice in Spain.
On 16 and 17 June, the Rural Employability Network (REN), visited the Youth Reworking Rural Project (Milan, Italy), where one of the partner organisations, CIAPE, shared with us its methodology for prototyping projects for youth entrepreneurship.
The Youth Reworking Rural project has continuity through Go Circular, which promotes the development of entrepreneurial skills through the creation of entrepreneurship projects that boost circular economy.
During the study visit we were able to participate in the sessions with the young people who are part of the project from Norway, Slovenia and Italy, as well as to learn about the different tools for entrepreneurship that the project applies.
From September the 28th to the 30th 2022 the Rural Employability Network (REN) has visited the Bisnes Lande Project. This project is implemented by the Local Action Group Viisari in the North-Central region of Finland.
This project develops activities aimed at youth entrepreneurship and at genereting positive change in the entrepreneurial culture of those rural areas. Its innovative methodology include the use of IT and Virtual Reality to provide young people access to local entrpereneurial resources managed by entity in the area.
Trhough this program, young participants have access to a network of local public and private agents that allowes them to broadcast their entrepreneurship ideas, improve their skills and network at a local level.
On 20-21 October 2022 the Rural Employability Network (REN) visited the "Social Farming" project in County Leitrim (Ireland), implemented by the Leitrim Development Company.
The project develops actions aimed at connecting family farms with society to provide support to a wide range of people who need help and who have challenges in their lives related to socio-employment integration.
The project is mainly focused on supporting people with disabilities and people with mental illness life experience, but also involves long-term unemployed, immigrants and refugees, young people at risk of early school leaving, etc.
On 17 November 2022 the Rural Employability Network (REN) visited the “(Re)Colher” project in Arouca (Portugal), implemented by Associaçao A4.
The aim of the project is the social and professional reintegration of people with alcohol-related problems through agricultural practice, wickerwork and macramé. For this purpose, there is both an individualized intervention and a training programme (3S - To Be, To Feel and To Know) that works on personal, social and professional skills. In addition, group sessions are held at the end of the week, in which people who have already been through the project also participate, and who can be a stimulus and support for the current participants.
The support of the Arouca Municipality Council and other local entities is crucial for the success of the project, which has become a reference in Portugal.
On 16-17 May 2023, the European Network for Rural Employability Network (REN) visited the "InnovAgroWoMed" project in Palermo, Sicily (Italy), implemented by CESIE.
The aim of the "InnovAgroWoMed" project is to boost the employability and entrepreneurship of women in the agri-food sector, an industry closely linked to the cultural identity of the Mediterranean region and which shows significant untapped potential in terms of innovation and growth. InnovAgroWoMed is a project funded by the European Union in the framework of the ENI CBC Mediterranean Basin Programme.
There we were able to visit the startup NIVURA, one of the Start-Ups funded by the "InnovAgroWoMed" project. NIVURA is a high-tech precision beekeeping business model, respecting natural cycles and recovering the Sicilian black bee, an endangered subspecies.
On 23 and 24 May 2023, the European Network for Rural Employability Network (REN) visited the project "Distretti dell'Ecomnomia Civile" in Rome (Italy), implemented by LEGAMBIENTE.
The aim of the project is to train and advise, through an innovative model, the social agents and those responsible for the municipalities, so that they become the driving force for development from a participatory and environmentally sustainable perspective.
There we had the opportunity to visit the head of the District of Castelli Romani, Mauro Rodolfo Salvatori, who received us in his office to tell us how the Civil Economy project was developed within the district, which brings together 13 municipalities, and to learn first-hand how they are promoting transformative actions through this innovative methodology.
Llanero Solidario is a non-profit association based in Albacete. Llanero Solidario proposes business projects that contribute to a more sustainable development while at the same time allowing the incorporation of people in vulnerable situations.
The Germina Empleo project offers training to unemployed people, especially those in a situation of vulnerability, in agro-ecology and gardening techniques using the traditional knowledge of the area and recovering abandoned orchard spaces.
They offer pre-employment training (learning agro-ecology techniques such as the production of seeds, ecological seedlings and auxiliary plants) and training adapted to the personal situations of the users, as well as improving the level of socio-occupational skills and generating work habits through work experience in a real work environment that will enable access to employment.
CEPAIM is a Spanish NGO that aims to promote an inclusive, cohesive, egalitarian and intercultural society that facilitates full access to citizenship rights for the most vulnerable people, especially migrants.
The programme SOCIOLABOURAL INTEGRATION OF IMMIGRANT FAMILIES IN RURAL DISPLACED AREAS, " NUEVOS SENDEROS", is a planning, accompaniment and advice device for a socio-labour integration itinerary that contemplates rural-urban, urban-rural and intrarural geographical mobility and that aims to take advantage of the endogenous potential of the rural environment to generate local development dynamics that facilitate processes of social and labour inclusion of immigrant families and people who live in vulnerable situations in the urban environment.
It is a comprehensive model, as it seeks to cover all the aspects that inclusion processes require, with special emphasis on social and labour integration.
Como una Cabra are a group of professionals who support WOMEN who are looking for entrepreneurship in rural environments, through a network of women entrepreneurs, where you will find support, resources, training and advice to make your entrepreneurial project a reality.
The "VETgoesRURAL" project aims to create an innovative educational methodology to improve Vocational and Continuing Education (training for employment, certificates of professionalism, etc.) in rural and isolated areas, which includes a suite of innovative educational resources for teachers of these entities organised on the basis of the challenges they face in rural areas.
Como una Cabra aims to contribute with this project to improve the skills and capacities of Vocational Education and Training (VET) professionals to provide better training and encourage the participation of learners in isolated rural and remote areas of the EU.
LAG AGROLIDER promotes and contributes to sustainable rural development through initiatives, partnerships and the use of existing internal potential. They focus on positive environmental, social and demographic trends, network cooperation, the formation and participation of civic platforms and the strengthening of solidarity between citizens and NGOs in promoting rural development policies.
The Youth Employment Initiative contributes to a more socio-economic, inclusive and sustainable society. It helps young people, potential job seekers, to identify their skills and job preferences by offering them individualised support to actively participate in the labour market, obtain and maintain a job through an innovative and creative way of learning, thinking and reflecting.