The SMART-HUBs project is an innovative cross-border initiative designed harnessing the power of culture and creativity to create a more inclusive and prosperous future.
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project description
RURAL RiSE is a pioneering European initiative focused on revitalizing rural areas by promoting social entrepreneurship, sustainable skills development, and green job creation, with a special focus on empowering youth and women. Through targeted capacity-building programs and transnational cooperation, we work alongside local authorities and social economy organizations to foster resilient and inclusive rural economies.
By aligning with the New European Bauhaus vision, RURAL RiSE envisions sustainable economic and social regeneration, transforming rural areas into vibrant communities.
goals
Through collaborative partnerships, targeted training, and resource-sharing, we empower rural communities to develop sustainable practices and strengthen local economies:
- Map and enhance existing opportunities, resources and methodologies promoting green job opportunities for rural youth
- Build capacity and cooperation of local authorities and social economy organizations
- Promote the adoption of local action plans (especially related to green jobs) for sustainable rural development
- Foster transnational cooperation and exchange of best practices
- Support the social entrepreneurship capacity of youth to address rural challenges
- Tackle youth unemployment, depopulation, and social exclusion
outputs
By fostering cooperation, enhancing social entrepreneurship, and building sustainable pathways for rural employment, we aim to tackle pressing issues like youth unemployment, depopulation, and social exclusion. Together, we can build a resilient future for rural communities:
- Desk research on practices, opportunities, resources and methodologies reinforcing education, training and skills development activities for unemployed people in rural areas, targeting in particular youth and women
- 3 transnational Capacity Building Labs, one in each partner Municipality, plus a final event in Brussels
- A training toolkit for social entrepreneurship organisations and local authorities
- Online training for local authorities
- One Local Action Plan per each partner Municipality
links
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Empowering youth: the SMART-HUBs project opening conference
Materahub will join the inaugural conference of SMART-HUBs project on September 24, 2025, at the Archaeological Museum of Patras in Patras, Greece.
Read More >>Beyond 2025, Culture as a Compass for Collective Futures
At the Culture Action Europe conference, our Project Manager Angela Dibenedetto joined the conversation, reaffirming Materahub’s commitment to bridging local innovation and European cultural policy. Photo credits: Studio Madonna (@_studiomadonna_)
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