Rural Rise #pressrelease #1
Rural Rise has kicked-off!
We are thrilled to announce that Rural Rise has been selected as one of the three winning projects in the SMP-COSME-2023-RESILIENCE call, achieving an exceptional score of 93 out of 100. This ambitious initiative is set to strengthen resilience and foster the social economy in rural communities across Europe, paving the way for sustainable development and inclusive growth.
Purposes of the project
Rural Rise aims to empower rural communities through a multifaceted approach. At its core, the project seeks to boost rural social entrepreneurship by providing sustainable training and strengthening local economies. With a particular focus on youth and women, it aims to create green jobs, enhance skills development, and promote lifelong learning opportunities.
In addition, the project emphasizes policy activation and transnational cooperation. By fostering collaboration between local authorities and social economy organizations, Rural Rise adopts the New European Bauhaus approach to envision and implement social and economic regeneration in rural areas. This collaborative framework ensures that local needs are met while aligning with broader European goals.
Furthermore, Rural Rise encourages local action plans and promotes the circular economy in rural regions. Through a comprehensive dissemination strategy, the project will share its findings and best practices at both national and European levels, working in close partnership with various European actors to maximize its impact.
Upcoming activities
The Rural Rise partnership has already made significant progress. Over the past few months, Diesis Network led a comprehensive desk research effort to map opportunities for green job creation, lifelong learning, and upskilling for young people in rural areas. This research highlights 12 inspiring best practices, and the full report will soon be released. Stay tuned for updates on the official project website!
Looking ahead, the project will host a series of Capacity Building Labs across Europe. The first of these events will take place in Miglionico, Italy, on May 21 and 22, 2025. A call for participants will be launched in March 2025, inviting 8 participants each from Italy, Serbia, and Spain. This event will be a key opportunity for knowledge exchange and collaboration.
Later in October 2025 and throughout 2026, three additional Capacity Building Labs will be held in Palilula, Niš (Serbia), Valdefuentes (Spain), and Brussels (Belgium). These events will further strengthen the project’s transnational cooperation and ensure the dissemination of its outcomes. Be sure to follow the official project website to stay informed about these exciting opportunities.
Link to apply: bit.ly/ruralrise1
The project’s partners
Rural Rise is led by a dynamic European consortium, bringing together expertise from across the continent. The partnership includes Materahub and Miglionico from Italy, Diesis Network from Belgium, Young Ambassadors and Palilula (Niš) from Serbia, and Wazo Coop and Valdefuentes from Spain. Together, these organizations are committed to driving social and economic transformation in rural communities, ensuring that the benefits of the project reach those who need them most.
Through its innovative approach and collaborative spirit, Rural Rise is poised to make a lasting impact on rural resilience and social entrepreneurship across Europe.
Official channels
Meet Young Ambassadors: new leaders
Young Ambassadors Team Wishes Great Success to the New Members Over the Next Months
We have introduced the program for the new, 11th generation and held an introductory workshop on October 29 at the Think Innovative Hub in Niš. So far, the participants have successfully tackled challenges such as organizing the 10th-anniversary edition of the KreNI10 conference in December 2024, as well as workshops and training sessions on event organization, entrepreneurship, sales, business planning, and eco-social entrepreneurship.
In the coming months, they will embark on a study visit in April and take part in a workshop with an international expert specializing in internal communication, digital marketing, and advocacy for local initiatives.
Stay tuned for the activities of the 11th generation, as we eagerly await June 2025 to see which local initiatives will emerge from their teamwork and passion for making a difference in their community!
Call for participants! #RuralRise
We are looking for 4 young people from Serbia, aged 18 to 30, who will join participants from Spainand Italy as part of the first RURAL RiSE Capacity Building Lab, which will take place on May 21-22, 2025, in Miglionico, Italy. !st Capacity Building Lab will have 24 participants (8 from Serbia, 8 from Spain, 8 from Italy).
This unique event provides an opportunity to connect with youth from across Europe, public administration representatives, and social economy organizations, in order to create a network dedicated to rural development and social innovation.
👥 Who can apply?
You, if you are between the ages of 18 and 30, and are interested in topics such as entrepreneurship, rural development, and social entrepreneurship. Of course, you should be motivated to participate in an international project activity and gain new knowledge.
📌 How to apply?
⏳ Estimated time to complete the application: 15 minutes
📢 Application link: app form
📅 Application deadline: March 24, 2025, at 10:00 AM
Important Information:
✅ Free Participation: Participants do not bear any costs.
🌍 Official Language: English – applications in other languages will not be considered.
⚠️ Evaluation: Incomplete applications will not be considered. The selection process will be conducted by the RURAL RiSE consortium, and candidates will be notified by email by March 31, 2025.
✍️ Confirmation of Participation: Selected participants must sign an agreement by April 1, 2025, at 10:00 AM. The agreement will include travel details, participation conditions, and reimbursement guidelines. Flights booked without prior approval will not be reimbursed. If selected, you must book your flight by April 4, 2025 at the latest.
📍 Official RURAL RiSE website: ruralrise.wazo.coop – stay updated on all project information and future opportunities.
🌿 Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of a movement that empowers rural communities across Europe! Apply now! 🚀
RURAL RiSE is a project in which Mladi ambasadori (Youth Ambassadors) is a partner, along with organizations from Spain and Italy, as well as the Niš municipality of Palilula and the Spanish municipality of Valdefuentes. It represents an innovative European initiative dedicated to the revitalization of rural areas through social entrepreneurship, sustainable skills development, and the creation of green jobs, with a special focus on youth and women.
Following the vision of the New European Bauhaus, RURAL RiSE aims to contribute to guiding rural areas toward becoming dynamic and prosperous communities.
BC4ESE project results: after 3 years of dedicated work :)
After three years of dedicated work, the Building Capacities for Innovation in the Eco-Social Entrepreneurship Education (BC4ESE) project has successfully concluded, leaving a lasting impact on youth education and entrepreneurship across Europe and the Western Balkans. This ERASMUS+ initiative brought together partners from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Belgium, and Cyprus to develop innovative non-formal learning methodologies, ultimately culminating in the launch of the Eco-SE-E-Lab, an interactive E-learning platform designed to foster eco-social entrepreneurship among young people.
Empowering Youth Through Digital Learning
The primary goal of the BC4ESE project was to address the growing need for digital youth education by equipping young people with the skills, knowledge, and inspiration necessary to engage in eco-social entrepreneurship. By integrating game-based learning, role-model education, and interactive digital tools, the project developed a robust educational framework tailored to youth workers, educators, and young aspiring entrepreneurs.
Key Achievements of the BC4ESE Project
Throughout its implementation, the project delivered several impactful outputs:
- Interactive E-Book on Eco-Social Entrepreneurship: A comprehensive study analyzing the needs, challenges, and opportunities in the eco-social entrepreneurship landscape across partner countries
- Educational E-Book with Gamified Learning Modules: A guide for educators on utilizing gamification to teach eco-social entrepreneurship, featuring practical examples and interactive methodologies
- Eco-SE-E-Lab – Interactive Web Platform: A digital hub offering 18 gamified educational modules, online challenges, and digital resources to engage young learners in entrepreneurship with a focus on sustainability
- Online Non-Formal Education Training for Youth Workers: A two-day program designed to equip youth practitioners with innovative tools for delivering digital entrepreneurship education
Impact and Reach
The impact of BC4ESE has been remarkable:
- Over 200,000 individuals reached through dissemination activities.
- More than 4,000 stakeholders from public, private, and civil sectors engaged.
- 87 youth practitioners trained in new digital learning methodologies.
- 89 young people involved in pilot testing of the Eco-SE-E-Lab platform
- 265 participants attended 7 multiplier events across partner countries
By fostering collaboration between organizations in both EU Program and Partner Countries, BC4ESE successfully bridged educational gaps and created a sustainable ecosystem for digital youth education and entrepreneurship.
What’s Next?
While the project has officially concluded, its outputs will continue to be available and promoted. The Eco-SE-E-Lab platform remains accessible to youth organizations, educators, and young entrepreneurs looking to explore the world of eco-social entrepreneurship.
In the coming years, project partners aim to integrate these digital tools into future EU projects, local entrepreneurship initiatives, and youth education programs. Additionally, the resources developed will be shared widely through Erasmus+ platforms, SALTO Youth, and other European digital learning hubs.
Final Thoughts
BC4ESE stands as a testament to the power of collaborative innovation in education. By leveraging digital technology, gamification, and cross-border cooperation, the project has laid the groundwork for a new generation of eco-social entrepreneurs committed to sustainability and social impact.
For more information and to explore the E-learning platform, visit Eco-SE-E-Lab.
New partnership: Entrepreneurs for Global Change (EGC)
Starting 2025 with a New Partnership! 🙂
We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the American organization Entrepreneurs for Global Change (EGC), and in the coming period, we will work together to connect the public, private, and nonprofit sectors of Serbia and the United States. Our goal is to create an environment where young people can improve their skills, start their entrepreneurial journeys, and connect with and transform their communities.
Our aim is for this partnership to bring new opportunities for young leaders by providing them with resources and a platform for skill development and international networking.
Entrepreneurs for Global Change (EGC) is an organization that connects leaders and entrepreneurs from various sectors to promote positive change worldwide, especially among youth.
Our members and participants in our project activities will have the opportunity to participate in EGC programs and access the resources and mentoring platforms that this organization offers.
A special aspect of this collaboration is the fact that both organizations have previously implemented projects funded by the BOLD program, which has further strengthened our ties and created the opportunity for this partnership and further joint work.
Details about the programs and projects to be implemented through this partnership will be available soon on the official websites of the organizations.
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KreNI- our jubilee in Niš!
80 Participants | 7 Countries
11 Partners | 8 Ideas | 2 Awards
The 10th KreNI Conference was successfully held on December 6th and 7th, 2024, at Hotel Ambasador in Niš!
We celebrated a decade of supporting creativity, innovation, and youth empowerment!
This year, the conference gathered esteemed international experts to explore the theme of the #Proximity concept, its impact on modern times, and practices that can shape the creative present of Niš.
Over 80 participants had the opportunity to collaborate with experts from Portugal, France, Sweden, Austria, and Italy for the first time in Niš and, with mentorship support during the conference, design and present their initiative or project draft to a jury!
At the official opening, participants and organizers were welcomed by Snežana, President of Young Ambassadors; Mr. Dragoslav Pavlović, Mayor of Niš; Ambassador H.E. Charlotte Sammelin (Sweden), H.E. Pierre Cochard (France); and representatives of partner organizations, such as Ms. Clare Sears Wood (British Council), Ms. Madelyn Mahon (U.S. Embassy), Mr. Roberto Cincotta (Italian Institute for Culture), and Ms. Maja Španjević Kešelj (Embassy of Portugal). The opening sparked a dynamic exchange of ideas on sustainable urban development, the #Proximity concept, and urban project management, reflecting on areas such as architecture, arts, and IT that complement or enable #Proximity solutions.
#KreNI10 consisted of three parts: expert masterclasses, workshops, and the idea development process, as well as a panel discussion #KreNItalks, giving participants the opportunity to hear about current best practices and challenges related to the implementation of the Proximity concept in our community while also designing, presenting, and advocating for their individual or team ideas.
The panel discussion, “Is the Proximity Concept from Another Planet?” connected the perspectives of Johanna Alkan Olsson from Lund University (Sweden), Marko Todorović from Semrén & Månsson International, and Ivana Bogdanović Protić from the University of Niš. The discussion was skillfully moderated by Ivana Marjanović, professor at the Faculty of Economics, University of Niš. The panelists emphasized that both globally and locally, the focus is on urban sustainability, inclusive urban solutions, and the practical implementation of the #Proximity concept. The panel concluded with the significant potential Niš has in applying the concept of accessibility to public services, sports, and cultural content in urban areas within a 15-minute walking or biking distance.
After two intense days of working on their ideas, each team of 5 to 7 participants prepared a 3-minute presentation to convince the jury that they were the winning initiative of this year’s conference. We had 8 teams and just one jury 🙂 The jury consisted of Andreas Bryngelson, Business Development Expert from Lund University, Lidija Stefanović Nikolić, Chief Urban Planner for the City of Niš, Tijana Jugović, Public Diplomacy Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Serbia, Vladimir Jovanović, representative of the Tourism Office Niš, and Sandra Dejanović, Director of the Alta Bank branch in Niš.
All teams focused on segments of the Proximity concept and found ways to make everyday life more accessible and easier for citizens, especially vulnerable social groups, shaped by their ideas.
The winning idea of the 10th KreNI Conference was “E-ride”, and the award for the team will be a study visit to the Startup Weekend Festival in Ohrid, along with mentorship support for further developing their idea. The special award from the City of Niš was given to the team “Take it back”!
After nine successful conferences, Young Ambassadors and all KreNI alumni have witnessed more than 50 successful projects, and this year we welcome 8 new ideas!
KreNI is the first and most influential creativity festival in southeastern Serbia, bringing together innovative creative professionals and experts from around the world. KreNI contributes to empowering young people and engaging them in mapping and solving challenges in their communities.
Stay with us as we continue to inspire, innovate, and create change!
P.S. In the upcoming period, we will share more about the KreNI Startup project, which we are implementing with partners from North Macedonia. This project aims for the co-production of two festivals and connecting the entrepreneurial sectors of both countries. This year, at the 10th KreNI conference, we hosted 10 participants from North Macedonia, networked them with young people from Serbia, and encouraged them to realize that good ideas have no borders, only our support! 🙂