Our main goal was to equip rural youth with the skills, mindset, and confidence needed to take meaningful steps in entrepreneurship. We wanted them to not only gain knowledge, but to actively experience the process of creating, testing, and pitching business ideas in a supportive, real-world setting. At the same time, we aimed to strengthen the capacity of youth workers so they could continue this work long after the project ends. We also focused on creating international collaboration—exposing young people to diverse perspectives and practices through cross-border teamwork. This wasn’t just about business skills; it was about building soft skills like communication, critical thinking, and resilience. The project aimed to show rural youth that they are capable of becoming changemakers in their communities. By involving them in hands-on Hackathons, engaging them in discussions with professionals, and creating structured support from trained youth workers, we hoped to spark a shift—from passive interest to active initiative.
We applied for this project because we witnessed first-hand how rural youth often feel stuck between their ideas and the lack of access to tools, guidance, and spaces where they can grow. Many young people we engage with have the motivation to build something meaningful—especially in entrepreneurship—but they’re held back by isolation, limited networks, or simply not knowing where to start. This issue was even more visible after the pandemic and ongoing economic challenges. We also saw youth workers in our communities trying their best, but without enough resources or structured approaches to support these young people in an impactful, future-ready way. That’s why we designed this project—not just to train youth, but to also empower youth workers to become confident mentors and guides. Through activities like Hackathons, staff trainings, and community events, we aimed to tackle the gaps in opportunity, confidence, and support. We wanted to create a supportive ecosystem where young people could experiment, collaborate, and start seeing their business ideas as real possibilities, not just distant dreams.