Smart-Social Rural Entrepreneurship Programme

<< Background >>As part of the project, a ‘Needs Analysis and literature review’ was carried out involving the participating countries, enabling the challenges faced by young farmers and youth organisations in the countries involved to be identified. Here's a more detailed description of the needs: #Lack of Social Entrepreneurship Training Adapted to Young Farmers' Realities; #Limited Access to Agricultural Technologies and Skills Development for Young Farmers; #Youth Workers' Training Needs in Facilitation, Agricultural Technologies, and Social Entrepreneurship #Bridging Gaps in Youth-Rural Organisation Cooperation through International Networks; #Addressing Young Farmers' Barriers to Sustainable Business Development. That said, the project responded to the aforementioned needs by equipping young farmers with digital and social entrepreneurship skills, as well as by creating and solidifying a support network made up of youth workers and local organisations. Overall, the holistic approach, based on the priorities of the Erasmus+ programme (digital transformation, inclusion and sustainability) adopted by the project ensured an effective and sustainable response to the challenges identified by the ‘Needs Analysis and Literature review’. << Objectives >>The main objective of the project was to equip young farmers with technological agricultural skills and social entrepreneurship competencies so that they could create innovative and sustainable social enterprises. To achieve this, an online learning platform was developed, where training content tailored to the needs identified was made available. It is worth mentioning that over 110 young farmers registered on the online learning platform and that the project resulted in the creation of 11 new social initiatives. Additionally, one of the project’s main objectives was the capacity-building of youth workers, ensuring they acquired the skills needed to support and guide local young farmers. In practical terms, the project included non-formal education initiatives targeting youth workers, such as the activity “3.1 Gençlik Çalışanlarına Yönelik Kolaylaştırıcı Eğitimi,” where 12 youth workers received training focused on facilitation methods and non-formal education practices to be applied with young farmers. Finally, the project also promoted international cooperation, developing a network comprising 30+ organizations.The network fosters the exchange of good practices and innovative solutions for rural challenges. << Implementation >>The following activities were carried out as part of the project, taking into account the needs identified and the objectives set:1.Needs analysis and literature review: 1.1.Needs analysis and literature review; 1.2.Project kick off meeting;1.3.Press conference; 2.Curriculum and Online Learning Platform Development:2.1.Development of Training Content for 'Technology-Oriented and Environmentally Sensitive Social Entrepreneurship for Young Farmers';2.2.'Facilitator Support Mechanism' and 'Online Learning Platform';2.3.Implementation of Content for Farmers;2.4.Project Closing Meeting and presentation of the 9 social enterprises;3.Facilitator Training and Rural Social Entrepreneurship Network Launch: 3.1.Facilitator Training for Youth Workers3.2.Rural Social Entrepreneurship Network LaunchThrough these activities and the methodologies adopted, it was possible to achieve the proposed objectives and respond to the needs identified by the ‘Needs analysis and literature review’. << Results >>The “Smart-Social Rural Entrepreneurship Programme (S-SREP)” project delivered significant results aligned with its mission. In concrete terms, the following outputs were achieved:- Conducted a needs analysis and literature review, resulting in a comprehensive report;- Developed training content on “Technology orientated and environmentally sensitive social entrepreneurship for young farmers”;- Created and implemented an online learning platform;- Trained and prepared 12 youth workers;- Supported the establishment of 11 social enterprises led by young farmers benefiting from the project platform;- Established a “Rural Social Entrepreneurship Network.”