Ruralise Yourself!

The training activity took place

in Valeri, Spain

organised by Biodiversa

5-11 May 2014

Aims & objectives

Aim: To bring youngsters who are sucessfully established in a rural area together with those who want to move to the countryside but don’t know how and facilitate the coaching process between them.

Objectives:
- To connect people who have developed a sustainable livelihood in a rural area with people who are trying to develop a similar way of life;
- To create a data base of experiences and knowledge on sustainable livelihoods and a guide for young entrepreneurs wishing to stablish themselves in a rural area;
- To share tools, theoretical and practical skills for sustainability, nurturing innovation;
- To enlarge the existing network of alternative self-managed projects of rural development.

Target group & international/intercultural composition of the group & team

Target group: people who want to move to the countryside.

Countries and nationalities involved: Armenia, Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Georgia, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Spain.

Training methods used & main activities

Team-building activities, experience-sharing sessions, nature as a mentor, thresholds, council, workshops...

Outcomes of the activity

Achievements:
- We connected rural people with urban people who wanted to move to the countryside;
- Participants shared tools, knowledge and skills for sustainability;
- We created a database of experiences and knowledge about sustainable ways of living and a triptic-guide for young entrepreneurs who wish to start a life in the countryside;
- We widened the existing network of self-management alternatives and rural development projects.

The positive evaluation by participants showed that the training was a success. Also the fact that participants are still today using the training's Facebook group to share their thoughts, ideas and projects is a clear sign of success.

Documentation:
http://biodiversablog.wordpress.com/2014/07/10/ruralise-yourself-testimonies/

http://biodiversablog.wordpress.com/2014/07/10/ruralise-yourself-results-i/

http://biodiversablog.wordpress.com/2014/07/10/ruralise-yourself-results-ii/

http://biodiversablog.wordpress.com/2014/05/11/el-curso-de-formacion-ruralizate-nos-hace-famosos/

Your tasks and responsibilities within the team

I was the lead trainer, delivering most of the sessions and coordinating the educational programme as well as the trainers team.