At a time when rural youth face limited economic prospects and urban youth often feel disconnected from nature and sustainable living, the RootED project bridges these worlds, creating a collaborative space where both groups co-create solutions for the future. By blending non-formal learning, digital tools, peer-to-peer collaboration, and entrepreneurial action, RootED empowers youth to transform local resources into sustainable agrotourism opportunities, strengthening rural-urban connections and fostering community-led innovation. OBJECTIVES RootED strengthens the capacity of youth organisations in Erasmus+ programme countries (Spain, Serbia, Turkey) and Mediterranean partner countries (Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia), equipping them with innovative tools and methodologies to engage youth in agrotourism as a pathway to entrepreneurship, environmental awareness, and social inclusion. Through cross-border cooperation, the project directly addresses youth employment, digital and green skills development, and inclusion—fully aligned with the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027 and its core pillars: Engage, Connect, and Empower. METHODOLOGY RootED’s methodology includes: Youth Workers’ Handbook with adaptable non-formal education tools. Interactive RootED Toolkit designed for peer learning and community engagement. Digital Agritourism Academy, open-access platform offering video tutorials, case studies, and gamified challenges. Local RootED Agro-Lab Bootcamps combining learning, ideation, and teamwork. Youth Mobility & International Ideathon where multicultural teams tackle real-world agrotourism challenges. RootED Digital Map connecting rural innovators and youth organisations across Europe and the Mediterranean. Policy Recommendations Paper for embedding youth-led rural innovation into future policy frameworks. IMPLEMENTATION Capacity building for 18 youth workers, Local Bootcamps for 120 youth, International Mobility for 30 youth, Peer-to-peer learning and knowledge transfer
ROOT – Rural Opportunities and Outreach for Tomorrow
Project ID: 101243317
Start Date: 01-06-2025
End Date: 31-05-2026
Project Page: Search – Erasmus+ (europa.eu)
Topics:
- Agritourism
- Entrepreneurship
- Sustainability
- Rural development
- Environmental awareness
- Digital literacy
- Innovative learning
- Non-formal learning
- Recognition
- Natural resources
- Youth work
Coordinator:
CREATIVE STATION


