Welcome to the First Edition of the Rural 2.0 Newsletter!

We are excited to welcome you to the first Rural 2.0 newsletter. On 15 December 2025, the project officially kicked off in the presence of our Project Officer, marking the start of a journey to empower young people as true drivers of change in rural Europe.

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Why Rural 2.0?

Young people in rural areas often face isolation, limited opportunities, and little dialogue with institutions. This fuels disengagement and migration to cities. Rural 2.0 responds to these challenges by strengthening participation, skills, and civic engagement through training, digital tools, and European exchange.

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Our Goals

We promote democratic participation, strengthen civic and digital skills, and encourage dialogue with institutions to build a lasting European network. Rural 2.0 is not just about participation, it’s about real influence, ensuring youth voices are heard and acted upon.

In this edition we explore what leadership means in rural contexts: practical skills like responsibility, accountability, and turning local needs into collective action. We also highlight public speaking as a powerful tool to communicate, mobilise others, and drive change.

Together, we are transforming rural youth from participants into leaders shaping Europe’s future.

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Enjoy the read!

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The GRECO (Green Economy Career Orientation) Erasmus+ project is concluding after two years of work across Denmark, Greece, Italy, Serbia and Slovenia.

• The project was led by Cirka cph ApS and also included People of 2050, CESIE, Rezos Brands, Business Development Center Kragujevac and Smart Idea.five 

• It focused on empowering youth workers and young people for careers in the green transition.
  
  
• The project developed and piloted an innovative curriculum covering green economy concepts, sustainable entrepreneurship, and emerging environmental job opportunities.
  
  
• Its main objective was to connect sustainability with employment, giving youth tools to pursue meaningful careers in the green sector.
  
  
• Local projects included consultations with green career professionals, research on local job markets and testing the curriculum in real-world settings.
  
  
• These activities ensured that the tools aligned with actual labor market needs.
  
  
• The GRECO toolkit and resources will remain freely available online for youth organizations, career services and educators.
  
  
• By equipping young people with practical skills and knowledge, GRECO supports long-term workforce readiness for Europe’s green transition.

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The GRECO (Green Economy Career Orientation) project launched a 40-hour virtual training course for youth workers, combining individual and collaborative activities on green jobs, entrepreneurship and sustainable career pathways.

• Participants will complete a final assessment and receive certificates, while partners evaluate the course for improvements.

• A manual of 30 good practices has been developed, offering real-world examples of green career paths to support youth, job seekers and educators, translated into partner languages.

• The second transnational meeting took place in Maribor, Slovenia, focusing on platform enhancements, community engagement and interviews with green job providers.

• Key tools are being developed, including policy templates, job provider questionnaires, project guidelines and reporting templates.

• The consortium is refining the Green Workforce Adaptation Methodology and preparing for the next TPM and LTTA in Patras, Greece.

• Piloting of the curriculum is ongoing, with interim and final sessions planned to support youth workers’ local projects.

• The project continues to empower young people to pursue green economy careers and foster sustainable employment opportunities across Europe.

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The RISE UP (Resilience, Innovation, and University Student Empowerment through reflective Climate Education and Action) Erasmus+ project (2024–2027) officially kicked off on June 10, 2024, in Münster, Germany

• The project is coordinated by the Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities (ACEEU, Germany).

• Partners include the European University of the Atlantic (Spain), SYNTHESIS Center for Research and Education (Cyprus), People of 2050 (Denmark), The Vision Works (Germany), Uniwersytet Komisji Edukacji Narodowej w Krakowie (Poland) and the Iberoamerican University Foundation (FUNIBER) as an associated partner.

• The project responds to the growing issue of climate anxiety among young adults, which current university education often fails to address.

• Its main objective is to equip higher education professionals with transformative skills that combine technical knowledge with emotional intelligence and resilience-building.

• RISE UP will adapt the European Commission’s GreenComp framework into an Educational Framework for Transformative Climate Resilience and a toolkit for educators.

• The approach integrates design thinking, ecopsychology, traditional ecological knowledge and psychological strategies to empower students as effective climate actors.

• Ultimately, the project aims to create university education that balances knowledge, mental health and transformative climate action.

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The Enter the Circle project launched with a kick-off meeting in Copenhagen in September 2023.

Partners carried out desk research to assess circular economy practices and youth entrepreneurship opportunities across countries.

Findings informed the development of a framework methodology to integrate circular economy concepts into youth entrepreneurship education.

The next phase will focus on implementing educational tools and engaging young entrepreneurs through workshops and seminars.

The project aims to equip young people with skills to drive sustainable entrepreneurship in the circular economy.

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The project launched the Train-the-Trainer edition of the Circular Economy Mastery Course, empowering trainers with advanced knowledge and strategies.

• Pilot training sessions in Cyprus, Denmark and Greece engaged over 60 participants through blended learning formats.

• Key achievements include the Competence Framework for Circular Entrepreneurship, a MOOC on circular economy principles and a certification scheme for participants.

• Outreach efforts ensured strong engagement, spreading awareness of circular entrepreneurship across partner countries.

• The project continues to provide resources and tools to equip young entrepreneurs for sustainable, circular innovation.

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The 4R philosophy (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink) applied to sustainable fashion is at the core of the RfG project, targeted towards youth and teachers.

• A key milestone was the teacher training in Barcelona (June 26–28, 2024), where educators from Italy, Spain, Denmark, Poland and Greece tested RfG tools and materials.

• The training focused on sustainable fashion, body image issues, lesson plan design and preparations for the school pilot phase.

• This was preceded by the 3rd International Partners’ Meeting, which aligned progress and next steps.

• Core outputs include the RfG Lesson Plans Package, the Teachers’ Training Toolbox and a Multimedia Hub with digital, open-access resources.

• Partners are finalizing inspirational podcasts, a teachers’ manual, videos and content for the Teacher’s Corner.

• Upcoming: national online teacher workshops (autumn 2024) and broader piloting of the RfG educational model in schools.

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The GRECO (Green Economy Career Orientation) project continues advancing youth training for green careers, with its Green Workforce Adaptation (GWfA) Methodology now finalized.

• This methodology helps participants apply knowledge in real-world contexts by assessing local green job markets, identifying key competencies, and tackling workforce challenges.

• From March 17–20, 2025, partners met in Patras, Greece for the first Learning and Teaching Training Activity (LTTA) and the third Transnational Project Meeting (TPM).

• Twelve selected youth workers from the partner countries received intensive GWfA training and designed local project implementation plans.

• A new piloting phase of the 40-hour online training was launched, accessible via SALTO Youth, with an introductory webinar on April 29, 2025.

• To ensure inclusivity, translations of the training content are being prepared in multiple languages.

• Each youth worker will conduct desk research and interviews with green job providers, supported by their organizations.

• Dissemination will include national events in each partner country and a final meeting in Kragujevac, Serbia to reflect on results and plan closure steps.

• The project’s overarching objective remains to empower youth workers and young people with tools, skills and strategies for meaningful careers in the green economy.

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The RfG project empowers teenagers to adopt the 4R philosophy (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink) in fashion, with both environmental and social impacts.

• Target groups include secondary school students, teachers, fashion professionals, NGOs and community actors.

Key outputs include:

• A Lesson Plans Package with good practices and flexible plans for schools.

• A Teachers’ Training Toolbox with handbooks, activities, workshops (online & in-person) and video tutorials.

• A Multimedia Hub featuring good practices, a teachers’ corner, podcasts and student showcases like Brand with Me.

• The first transnational meeting took place in Denmark, while the next will be in Palermo, Italy (October 2023).

• Current activities include interviews and collection of good practices in fashion recycling and well-being to build the project’s database.

• The partnership includes organizations from Denmark, Greece, Poland, Spain and Italy, led by NNY(New Nordic Youth).

• A pilot phase in secondary schools will test tools and refine them with teacher feedback.

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The DigiTech project is developing a comprehensive web platform to act as a hub for e-learning, resources and project results.

The platform will include the DigiTech Guide, guidelines for carbon footprint measurement, e-learning courses and an innovation section for networking and collaboration.

A key feature will be a video series with interviews of successful green entrepreneurs, sharing lessons, challenges and visions for sustainability, translated into multiple languages.

The platform aims to provide practical tools for NGOs, social enterprises and entrepreneurs while connecting stakeholders across Europe.

The consortium will meet in Iasi, Romania from 3 to 5 July 2023 for the final project meeting to prepare the report and review achievements.

Overall, DigiTech highlights digital tools, education and green entrepreneurship as drivers of climate action.

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The Cre'ART’ive Green Youth project, involving five partner countries, is nearing completion in June 2023, celebrating major milestones and community impact.

• Activities included holiday card campaigns and art exhibitions showcasing young people’s creativity and engagement.

• A series of cycling events took place across all partner countries, promoting both fitness and environmental awareness.

• The final transnational leaders’ meeting in Oslo, Norway included a visit to the Climate House, focusing on effective youth climate communication.

• The last youth training in Yenice, Turkey gathered 23 participants for workshops on waste management, recycling, climate adaptation and Erasmus+ project design.

• Participants engaged in hands-on activities like garbage collection walks and woodworking with recycled materials, fostering sustainable habits.

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The newsletter introduces the DigiTech CO2 Calculator, a free web-based tool created by People of 2050 and partners to help NGOs, social enterprises, entrepreneurs and event managers measure and reduce their carbon footprint.

• The calculator is structured in seven sections (general info, transportation, local transport, meals, accommodation, event materials and energy use) to provide accurate carbon accounting.

• It helps project managers plan sustainable events, estimate emissions and explore offsetting options while raising awareness among stakeholders.

• Each partner from Norway, Denmark, Romania and Italy will organize multiplier events with NGOs, associations, social enterprises and young entrepreneurs to showcase the results.

• These events will include presentations of the project, demonstrations of the calculator and evaluation sessions, aiming to empower participants as “climate heroes.”

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The Business 2030 project concluded in April 2024 after two years of supporting sustainable development in SMEs.

Final dissemination events were organized in Denmark, France, Italy, Cyprus and Switzerland, engaging entrepreneurs, SMEs and VET providers.

Highlights included events at Copenhagen Business School, DTU SkyLab and large gatherings like Made in PME SUD in France, which attracted over 5,000 attendees.

The project presented its key results: a sustainability self-assessment tool (SAT), a toolkit and a free MOOC on sustainable business practices.Interactive workshops and collaborations showcased practical applications, particularly in circular economy principles, CSR and green business models.

SMEs expressed strong interest in using these tools to improve their sustainability strategies.

The project leaves a legacy of practical resources, training and frameworks to empower SMEs in their transition toward sustainable business models.

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The DigiTech project (Digital Entrepreneurs and Climate Heroes) supports NGOs, social enterprises and entrepreneurs in reducing their carbon footprint through digital tools.

• A key result is the DigiTech App, a free web-based tool for carbon accounting in events and organizational activities, developed by People of 2050 and partners.

• From 20–22 March 2023, partners met in Perugia, Italy for training, engaging 14 participants from Norway, Italy, Romania and Denmark in workshops on climate communication, sustainable technologies and green entrepreneurship.

• The project also produced a DigiTech Guide, offering practical tools to help organizations integrate sustainability into their projects and travels.

• Next steps include launching the DigiTech platform, hosting video interviews with green entrepreneurs and organizing national events to share project resources and inspire climate action.

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The newsletter introduces the finalized DigiTech Guide, a practical tool for NGOs, associations and social enterprises to measure and reduce their climate footprint.

• The guide supports leadership with KPIs, reporting tools and strategies to become effective “Climate Heroes,” from cutting emissions to promoting sustainable practices and advocacy.

• During the 4th transnational meeting, partners agreed on priorities such as finalizing interviews with green entrepreneurs and uploading resources to the IO3 platform.

• Each partner will contribute 10 resources (5 in English and 5 in their native language) on sustainability, digitalization and climate action.

• The consortium stressed the importance of collaboration and collective action to strengthen outreach and impact.

• Future steps include preparing the final project report, organizing national dissemination events and ensuring long-term use of the project’s tools and outcomes.

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From 5-9 September 2022, the Creative Climate Camp took place in Sansepolcro, Tuscany (Italy), where young people from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and England gathered.

• Through art, culture and collaboration, participants explored sustainability, climate change and creative ways to engage communities.

• Activities included performances, collective walks with symbolic elements (like the pink ribbon), art workshops such as cyanotype printing and the LANDSHAPE exhibition at CasermArcheologica.

• The camp connected art and science, with projects addressing issues from urban rewilding to melting ice in Greenland, and visits to sustainable initiatives like Traperos de Emaus.

• The C6 initiative emphasizes creativity as a driver for climate action, linking local culture with global sustainability challenges.

• Upcoming: a hybrid event (20–23 January 2023) connecting Oslo, Copenhagen, and Sansepolcro to share the C6 World experience more widely.

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The C6 consortium (partners from Denmark, Italy, Norway, Sweden and the UK) launched the Creative Climate Training Camp in Copenhagen (24–28 January 2022).

• The camp used the city as a learning stage, exploring low-carbon living, zero waste, cycling innovations and blue-green infrastructure.

• Workshops and exhibitions, like “70% Less CO2” and The Writing of Nature, connected art, design, science and sustainability.

• Participants addressed issues from fast fashion’s footprint to urban planning and food systems, fostering awareness and creative solutions.

• Around 25 young people from five countries engaged in interdisciplinary learning, tackling climate anxiety with solution-oriented collaboration.

• Creativity was used as a driver for climate action and new green leadership among youth.

• Outcomes included partnerships with NaturPress, cultural exchanges and preparations for further C6 events in Italy, Sweden and Oslo.

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The project kicked off on January 14, 2022 and is coordinated by People of 2050 (Denmark) together with the World Climate School (Norway), Fatti d’Arte (Italy), Yenice Çok Programlı Anadolu Lisesi (Turkey) and Centro Integrado Politécnico FP Lumbier (Spain).

• Running for 18 months (Jan 2022 – July 2023), it targets youth aged 16–26, aiming to raise awareness on sustainable development, ecology and green lifestyles.

• Activities include three transnational coordinator meetings (in Denmark, Italy and Norway) and three youth workshops (in Denmark, Spain and Turkey).

• The project uses art and creative learning to engage youth in ecological values and sustainable behaviors.

• Inspired by the SOER 2020 report, it responds to biodiversity loss, climate change and resource overconsumption by fostering individual responsibility.

• Local NGOs, schools and organizations support implementation, ensuring regional impact and wide participation.

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The creARTive project (Jan 2022 – July 2023) engaged youth (18–30) from Denmark, Italy, Spain, Turkey and Norway through three Creative Art Camps and local activities.

• The initiative links art, culture and climate education, using creativity as a tool for sustainable awareness and youth empowerment.

• At the Stockholm+50 event in June 2022, the World Climate School contributed to cultural and educational activities such as the Children’s Stone Circle and the Peace Ceremony.

• Trainings in Copenhagen, Sansepolcro and Pamplona explored topics from climate change and sustainable art to sports, circular economy and local community action.

• Personal testimonies highlighted how music, art and intercultural exchange fostered resilience, hope and collaboration among youth.

• The project also partnered with Humming for Peace and launched global activities such as African Youth Legacy at COP27 and school initiatives in Zimbabwe.

• The newsletter emphasized water as a missing piece in climate debates, alongside urgent calls for green jobs, climate justice and ecological transformation.

• Upcoming: the Climate Festival in Oslo (Jan 2023) and further C6 World initiatives to connect creative youth and climate action worldwide.

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Business 2030 (launched January 2022) supports SMEs in transitioning to sustainable business models and enhancing staff skills in environmental sustainability.

• The project involves six partners from Denmark, Italy, France, Germany, Cyprus and Switzerland.

• The kick-off meeting took place in Copenhagen (February 2022), followed by desk and field research on SMEs’ sustainability practices and VET offers.

• A Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) was developed to help SMEs evaluate their progress toward the green transition.

• Next steps include using SAT results to design a toolkit and online resources for SMEs and Business Support Organisations (BSOs).

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