Toolbox — For Training and Youth Work
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Report
EERI - Empower Europe's Rural Innovators" is a transformative and empowering youth exchange program that seeks to equip young people from rural areas to address rural challenges creatively and foster sustainable development in their communities.
The EERI - Empower Europe’s Rural Innovators project aimed to equip young people with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to become agents of change in rural areas. Through experiential learning, participants explored rural entrepreneurship, sustainable development, and community-led innovation. The project fostered collaboration among European youth, promoting intercultural dialogue and knowledge exchange to develop real-world solutions for rural regeneration.
This learning tool provides a comprehensive methodology designed to help youth workers engage young people in discussions on rural challenges, sustainability, and entrepreneurship through interactive, non-formal education activities.
The EERI - Empower Europe’s Rural Innovators tool consists of a structured educational framework based on non-formal learning methodologies. It offers youth workers a series of adaptable workshops that focus on:
Vision-building for rural futures – Participants engage in scenario planning and speculative design exercises to reimagine rural territories.
Rural entrepreneurship skills – Hands-on workshops help young people develop business ideas that support sustainable local economies.
Community-driven innovation – Participants learn how to co-create solutions with rural stakeholders, reinforcing the role of youth in regional development.
Personal and leadership development – Activities encourage self-reflection, creativity, and confidence-building.
Collaboration and teamwork – Practical exercises in sociocracy, participatory governance, and collective decision-making equip young people with essential soft skills.
Learning Outcomes
By using this tool, youth workers can help participants:
Develop innovative and entrepreneurial mindsets tailored to rural contexts.
Gain practical knowledge in sustainability, circular economy, and regenerative rural development.
Strengthen leadership, problem-solving, and project management skills.
Increase awareness of social and economic challenges in rural areas.
Build stronger connections with local communities and foster active citizenship.
This tool is particularly effective in projects focusing on rural entrepreneurship, youth empowerment, and sustainable development.
SALTO cannot be held responsible for the inappropriate use of these training tools. Always adapt training tools to your aims, context, target group and to your own skills! These tools have been used in a variety of formats and situations. Please notify SALTO should you know about the origin of or copyright on this tool.
http://toolbox.salto-youth.net/4781
This tool is for
This tool is designed for: Youth workers and educators interested in rural development and entrepreneurship. Young people (aged 17-30) from rural or fewer-opportunity backgrounds who want to explore social entrepreneurship. Organizations implementing Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges, Training Courses, or European Solidarity Corps projects focused on community development. Local stakeholders, municipalities, and community leaders looking to engage youth in sustainable rural regeneration.
and addresses
Social Inclusion, Youth Initiatives, Personal Development, Peer education, Environment
It is recommended for use in:
Youth Exchanges
Training and Networking
Materials needed:
For workshops & brainstorming sessions: Flipcharts, markers, sticky notes, projectors, and printed templates.
For prototyping and vision-building: Cardboard, paper, clay, and craft materials to create physical models of future rural solutions.
For digital engagement: Smartphones, laptops, and video editing software for social media storytelling and video documentation.
The tool was created by
Inteligência Local
The tool was published to the Toolbox by
Pedro Antunes (on 24 May 2025)
and last modified
5 March 2025
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