On 25 and 26 March, Valdefuentes hosted Capacity Building Lab 3 of the European project RURAL RiSE, an initiative focused on strengthening training, reskilling and upskilling in rural areas, with particular attention to young people and women. Co-funded by the European Union, the project brings together organisations from Italy, Spain, Serbia and Belgium to promote the social economy as a driver of sustainable, inclusive and place-based development.
Over two days of work, exchange and learning, the event turned Valdefuentes into a space for dialogue between local and European experiences, showing that rural areas are not only facing challenges, but are also generating innovative responses through cooperation, creativity and community participation. Within the framework of RURAL RiSE, the Capacity Building Labs are part of a methodology designed to strengthen capacities, encourage joint work between local authorities and social economy organisations, and lay the groundwork for the development of Local Action Plans with concrete and applicable objectives.
The first day opened with a welcome from the Municipality of Valdefuentes and Wazo Coop, followed by a general presentation of the project by Materahub. Marta Lozano Molano, from Wazo Coop, then delivered a session focused on the role of the social economy and the cultural and creative industries as drivers of rural development. The programme continued with the presentation of the Santa Rita 16 case, an example of culture-led regeneration through the transformation of a disused building into a social, creative and community space.
The first day’s agenda also included the presentation of the European project A-Live, delivered by José Luis Díaz Reyes, as an experience of cooperation and local development through culture, as well as the case of La Sindicalista Estudio, a creative initiative from Cáceres that shared its perspective on art, creative services and cultural entrepreneurship. In the afternoon, the lab included a dialogue with a local initiative linked to the social economy and rural entrepreneurship in Valdefuentes, and concluded with a visit to the exhibition Mujer-ESS: Women leaders of the social and solidarity economy in Extremadura, a tribute to women who are leading the social and solidarity economy in the region.
The second day was aimed at turning inspiration into concrete proposals. Giulia Georg, from Diesis, introduced the Local Action Plan methodology within RURAL RiSE and its role in the next phase of the project. Afterwards, Marta Lozano Molano facilitated a practical workshop on how to create a cooperative for creative and community development in rural contexts. Group work focused on identifying possible initiatives connected to local needs and opportunities, especially in fields such as the cultural and creative industries, heritage, tourism and community services.
In the afternoon, participants took part in a guided visit around Valdefuentes, focused on heritage, local identity and community development opportunities linked to the territory. The day continued with an esgrafiado workshop, conceived as a practical experience connecting artistic tradition, creativity and local heritage. The event concluded with a shared evaluation session, the delivery of certificates and the official closing of the lab.
Beyond the programme itself, Capacity Building Lab 3 left a clear message: rural development needs collaborative processes, strong local roots and tools that can turn shared knowledge into action. This is precisely one of the core commitments of RURAL RiSE, which seeks to support the creation of co-designed strategies between local administrations and social economy organisations, while strengthening sustainable practices, transnational cooperation and new opportunities for a more inclusive rural future. The project is also aligned with the New European Bauhaus approach, integrating sustainability, inclusion and quality of life into the social and economic regeneration of rural communities.
