On 8–9 October 2025, the city of Niš hosted the second RURAL RiSE Capacity Building Lab, gathering local authorities, social economy organisations and community leaders from Serbia, Spain and Italy to explore how social entrepreneurship can drive sustainable and inclusive rural development.
Organised by Young Ambassadors and the Municipality of Palilula, with the support of the RURAL RiSE consortium, the event took place at the Cultural Centre of Niš and combined workshops, field visits and transnational exchanges. The activities were designed around the New European Bauhaus (NEB) principles of sustainability, inclusion and aesthetics, turning them into practical tools for local transformation.
From ideas to impact
The Lab opened with greetings from local hosts and a presentation of the RURAL RiSE project and its Network Building Tool by Materahub. Participants then engaged in the interactive board game “Trip”, led by Dragana Tomic Pilipovic from the Rural Hub in Vrmdza village. The game guided participants through the process of shaping business ideas that balance profit with positive social and environmental impact.
Working in mixed groups, participants from different countries shared their perspectives and discovered how values such as cooperation, creativity and sustainability can become real engines of change in their communities. The session showcased how rural innovation can emerge from dialogue, play and shared learning.
Learning from good practices
The second day featured inspiring case studies from Italy, Spain and Serbia, including Elena Squicciarini (Agroecological District, Italy), Andoni Lastra (Kultiba Koop, Spain) and Goran Zlatkovic (Regional Development Agency Jug, Serbia). Each speaker offered concrete examples of how social economy initiatives can generate employment, empower young people and foster community resilience.
Guided by these experiences, participants worked in national groups to define initial ideas for Local Action Plans—strategies to connect municipalities, citizens and social enterprises in building sustainable local economies.
A celebration of cooperation
Beyond workshops, participants explored local examples of cultural and social innovation, including a field visit to social enterprises in the Municipality of Palilula and the revitalisation project of the Niš Fortress, guided by the Tourism Organisation of Niš. The closing ceremony celebrated collective achievements with a certificate handover, marking the growing network of people committed to reshaping the future of rural Europe.
The Capacity Building Lab in Niš was not just a training session—it was a human experience of cooperation, creativity and mutual learning. Together, participants proved that when communities rise together, rural areas can become laboratories of innovation and solidarity.
