The participating partners in the RUSDELA project have identified a lack of knowledge about sustainability when it comes to rural decision makers and key figures. Also when we see how far sustainable development principles are used in European communities, we recognize that there is an initiation “green cities” in Europe, but something similar does not exist for villages (or smaller towns).We have identified several needs interconnected at the social level. After the era of wide industrialization, sustainable development knowledge is missing in less developed rural areas of Southern and Central Europe. Also when we see how far sustainable development principles are used in European communities, we recognize that there is an initiation “green cities” in Europe, but something similar does not exist for villages (or smaller towns). Since local decision makers have a highly influential role in defining and carrying out the goals of development in small rural communities, it is essential that these actors can gain motivation for sustainable development and means to access information. It is especially important to give them tools to tackle complex problems related to development, for example by addressing the individual, social, economic and environmental aspects of poverty, unemployment and discrimination.Participants:For the pilot testing, 2 trainers per partner will be trained (14); and further 5/ partner in the multiplication events (35). Trainers will be selected from aspiring people with expertise in sustainable development and adult education. The pilot testing of the RUSDELA toolkit will be targeted at local decision makers and key figures from disadvantaged rural regions in each country (5/ partner; 35). During the final multiplication event, further 30 people will be addressed with the RUSDELA toolkit, from NGOs, municipalities and other affected stakeholders (180). Altogether, the RUSDELA project will directly involve 264 participants. Activities: The RUSDELA – Rural Sustainable Development for Local Actors projects activities: After a short preparation phase will begin the first phase of Toolkit Development (phase 2, by the project partners. The first version of the toolkit will be tested on a test-training. (phase 3) As a part of toolkit development is a pilot test training, and a train the trainers activity as well. Based on the results of the test-training, the final toolkit (phase 4) will be compiled. During phase 5 will happen the project multiplication, with a multiplication event by each partner. Phase 6 will be the final, project closing phase. Methodology: The methodological approach of the project is to create an intellectual output for non-formal adult education. During the project the training will be also tested, and it will provide feedback for the project partners to compile the final version of the toolkit. Results:The results of the RUSDELA project will be twofold. A toolkit will be developed, a sustainability training / manual for decision makers of small (smaller) rural communities in disadvantaged regions in Europe. This toolkit will be developed by the RUSDELA project partners, and it will be freely accessible after the project for all those who are interested in sustainable local development, for decision makers, experts and members of the civil society as well. A further result will be that the IO material will be tested by trainings conducted in each country. This “test-training” will have the result in a wider recognition of the project among practitioners in the field. Trainers will be also trained, who – after finishing of the project – will be able to use the curricula in their own setting. With a new toolkit and guideline RUSDELA will widen the available knowledge and create a new methodology and knowledge-base about sustainability and rural development. It will helps adopt new adult education methods at international and at national level alike.The project establish a wide international network of organizations and it can serve as a platform of cooperation for succesful future partnerships based on the experiences and knowledge accumulated during the developement of RUSDELA.Impact and long term benefitsThroughout the trainings and meetings the capacities of the partner organizations will be strengthened. These events give new skills, improve existing ones and shows new approaches to the partners. The participants who benefit from the project bring home the gained knowledge and skills and share with others; decision makers, trainers, leaders of other organizations, collegues, partners. Through these interactions an increasing number of beneficiaries are being generated. Because of that a snowball effect is also generated. As an indirect result, available knowledge about sustainability issues and participatory processed in rural communities will increase.
Context/background of the project Issues of the Sustainable Development, Rural Development, development of disadvantaged regions and the interconnectedness of these, are burning issues in our present time. UN launched in 2015 the Sustainable Development Goals providing a guideline how to generate necessary changes in our societies. The rationale of the Rusdela project was that there is widely available information about sustainable development however these are either general information for the wider public or specialized curricula for formal education. Non-formal education designed for decision makers working in their community consisting tailor made knowledge does not exist in native languages. This is especially missing in less developed rural areas of Southern and Central Europe. Also there is an initiative of “green cities” in Europe but something similar does not exist for villages, smaller towns. The project was carried out internationally, as southern and eastern parts of Europe have similar qualities, facing similar problems related to sustainable rural development: agricultural tradition; geographic disconnection from economically advanced centrums; accumulated disadvantages with historical and economic reasons; poverty and unemployment. Given the character of the topic and the target-groups we used a multidisciplinary approach. Objectives The objective of RUSDELA project was to bring interdisciplinary knowledge to rural communities through decision makers, key figures and the civil society. The academic type of knowledge has to be transformed to meet the practical challenges the target group faces in their day to day work. The other objective is to increase the wellbeing of rural communities through their decision makers. Number and profile of participating organisations; Butterfly Development (HU): NGO, rural development, implementation of non-formal adult educational material, working with local decision makers Materahub (I): counselling body, trainings for public and private bodies to foster social change, graphical and website design Manra (E): association of municipalities, developing and executing trainings mainly for entrepreneurs, cooperation with local Development Agencies BDA (BG): NGO, regional development, promoting democratic and integration processes in the context of Knowledge Society Maich (GR): academic and research body, curriculum development of sustainable development and organic agriculture Resiliencie (E): NGO, promoting community resilience, ecological sustainability and economic sovereignty through capacity building, ecosocial design, strategic planning and monitoring SPI (PT): private company, advisory work related curriculum development for formal education institutions regarding rural development, lifelong learning. Description of undertaken main activities After a short preparation (phase 1), phase of Toolkit Development (phase 2) was started. The first version of the toolkit was tested on different test-trainings (phase 3). Based on the results of the test-training, the final toolkit (phase 4) was compiled. Phase 5 was dedicated to the project multiplication, with a multiplication event by each partner. Phase 6: project closing. Results and impact attained The results of the RUSDELA project is twofold. We developed a toolkit, which provides both theoretical and practical, methodological knowledge about sustainability for decision makers of rural communities in disadvantaged regions in Europe. This toolkit is freely accessible (see: www.rusdelaproject.eu, also available at: http://www.bffd.hu/rusdela-projekt90, http://www.bffd.hu/rusdela-project91) for all those who are interested in sustainable local development, for decision makers, experts and members of the civil society as well. A further result is that the IO material is tested by trainings in each participating country. This training also resulted in a wider recognition of the project among practitioners in the field. The participants were also trained to be able to use the curricula in their own setting after the closing of the project. With this toolkit and guideline RUSDELA is widening the available knowledge of target groups and creates a new methodology and knowledge base about sustainability and rural development. The project established an international and domestic network of organizations and it can serve as a platform of cooperation for successful future partnerships. Longer-term benefits Throughout the trainings and meetings the capacities of the partner organizations were strengthened. These events gave new skills, improves existing ones and showed new approaches to the partners. The participants of trainings became able to bring home the gained knowledge and skills and share with others: decision makers, trainers, leaders of other organizations, colleagues, partners. Through these interactions an increasing number of beneficiaries will be generated as a snowball effect.