RURAL RiSE is opening the call for participants for its third Capacity Building Lab, which will take place on 25 and 26 March 2025 in Valdefuentes, Spain. The Lab will bring together people from Italy, Serbia and Spain who are committed to reimagining the future of rural territories through social economy, sustainable skills development and green job creation.
RURAL RiSE – Rural Reskilling and Upskilling for Social Enterprises – is a European initiative that aims to revitalise rural areas by supporting social enterprises and inclusive local development, with a particular focus on youth and women. The project is inspired by the values of the New European Bauhaus, promoting rural communities that are sustainable, inclusive and attractive places to live and work.
What is Capacity Building Lab 3?
The third Capacity Building Lab will be hosted in Valdefuentes (Extremadura, Spain) and will gather 24 participants in total:
- 8 participants from Italy
- 8 participants from Serbia
- 8 participants from Spain
Over two intensive days, participants will explore how social entrepreneurship and the social economy can address rural challenges, while designing solutions that create quality green jobs and strengthen local resilience.
What will participants do in Valdefuentes?
During the Lab, participants will:
- Work in groups on ideas for Local Action Plans and rural social enterprises
- Learn from real case studies involving social economy organisations and public authorities
- Develop practical skills related to sustainable business models, cooperation and community engagement
- Connect with European youth, local administrations and social economy organisations from Italy, Serbia and Spain
The methodology will combine participatory workshops, peer learning, storytelling and field-based inspiration, ensuring that participants can translate values into concrete actions in their local contexts.
Who can apply?
The call is open to citizens from Italy, Serbia and Spain who are:
- Interested in social economy, rural development and green jobs
- Motivated to contribute to the revitalisation of rural territories
- Ready to share their experience and learn collaboratively in an international context
We particularly welcome applications from young people and women living in rural areas, as well as from individuals engaged in or aspiring to create social enterprises and community initiatives.
Travel and reimbursement
To support participation, travel costs can be reimbursed up to:
- €779 for each Italian participant
- €839 for each Serbian participant
Information on reimbursement and practical arrangements for participants from Spain will be provided directly by Wazo Coop, the partner responsible for the Capacity Building Lab in Valdefuentes.
Selected participants will be asked to sign an agreement including:
- Travel details
- Conditions to participate in the Lab
- Conditions for reimbursement
- Instructions on how to proceed with bookings
How to apply
Applications must be submitted through the online form:
👉 Application form: https://forms.gle/J1z3Cj57YU8giSU59
Deadlines to apply:
- 20 December 2025 – 9:00 A.M. C.E.T. for applicants from Italy and Serbia
- 1 February 2026 – 9:00 A.M. C.E.T. for applicants from Spain
All applications will be evaluated by the RURAL RiSE consortium. Italian and Serbian applicants will be notified by 23 December 2025, while Spanish applicants will receive the results in early February 2026, via the email address provided in the application form.
