SHE-GROWS: Sustainable Hydroponic Education for Growing Rural Opportunities

SHE-GROWS is a 3 years project aiming to empower rural communities in Béja and Jendouba, Tunisia—especially women—by introducing resource-efficient hydroponic farming and sustainable cooperative entrepreneurship. Led by EFA El Soto (Spain), alongside partners in Italy, Tunisia, and the Czech Republic, the project blends digital innovation and climate-resilient agriculture into a practical, hands-on curriculum.During a comprehensive Train-the-Trainer program, local VET educators learn not only about hydroponic farming techniques but also about integrating gender mainstreaming methodology in their teaching practice, ensuring they can foster leadership, equitable participation, and inclusivity within the new hydroponics training course. Through the subsequent pilot course, participants—at least half of whom are women—develop also leadership, business, and sustainable cooperative entrepreneurship skills. By promoting cooperative models, SHE-GROWS reduces individual risk, expands market access, and nurtures shared ownership in rural economies. The project also collaborates closely with local authorities, and local and women’s organizations, making sure the training course directly addresses the needs and priorities of these communities. Beyond teaching modern farming techniques, SHE-GROWS addresses critical challenges like unemployment, gender inequality, and water scarcity, laying the groundwork for more inclusive, resilient rural development. By developing a sustainability plan and comprehensive manuals—with practical tools, training strategies, and inclusive methodologies—SHE-GROWS ensures that other rural communities can adopt its approach long after the project ends. In doing so, it helps Tunisian families thrive economically and provides a scalable model for reviving agriculture and fostering equitable growth worldwide.