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Technology club Albrechtice nad Orlicí – Tékáčko 

Czech Republic

Introduction

In 2018, the Technology Club – Tékáčko was established in Albrechtice nad Orlicí, designed for children and youth who are interested in creating new, interactive and fun projects, want to learn the basics of robotics, learn the processes of programming, orient themselves in graphic design and 3D printing, work with CNC tools, develop their creativity by building their own objects, or just understand in detail how modern technologies work and how to use them. It is not a classic « circle », but a professionally equipped leisure activity – a practical workshop « from design to realization », where children try, explore, discover, where they are not afraid to disassemble something, make mistakes and learn from them. 

The main method is teamwork on « projects », the outputs are regularly presented, children participate in robotic competitions, etc. In addition to the regular « teaching » sessions, thematic workshops are organised, as well as suburban camps during the school holidays, which are attended by others interested in the subject. 

Presentation of the project

Project location: Albrechtice nad Orlicí, Královéhradecký kral, Czech republic 

Tékáčko is becoming a center of polytechnic education in the region, using new non-traditional forms of teaching and their combination with formal education. The breadth of equipment – 3D printing, cutting plotter, CNC milling machine, sandbox, graphic programs, digital sewing and embroidery machine, 3D scanner, robotic kits, programmable units or Lego model railways with programmable safety systems, etc. makes Tékáčko unique not only at the regional but also at the national level. This is evidenced by the inclusion of Tékáčko in the Regional Network for the Support of Talents, the results of children in various national competitions, and the fact that the Tékáčko project was selected for the presentation of IROP and the use of EU subsidies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOFgQhjMF7Q. 

The benefits of the project are not only for the participants of the Tékáčko activities themselves but also for the whole region, as the pupils « transfer » their knowledge and way of thinking and working to other children in the school and become their inspiration. Tékáčko is a place where children can not only realize themselves but also increase their professional knowledge and practical skills and thus significantly develop their competencies for the future labor market in the Industry 4.0 era.  

Impact on other groups in the region:  

– Citizens, entrepreneurs, and companies in the region: the existence of a modern club with facilities for the professional growth of pupils in non-formal education with a focus on technical fields and working with digital technologies.  

– Primary and secondary school pupils: the opportunity to join the club’s activities, to develop their talent in the field of polytechnics and thus better prepare for their future profession  

– Primary and secondary school teachers: inspiration for the use of technology in individual subjects, to learn how to work with it (preparing teachers for teaching robotics, digital literacy, etc.) 

 – The municipality of Albrechtice nad Orlicí: increasing its prestige in the region and becoming a leader in non-formal technical education  

– Employers who can in the future get ready and motivated employees from among the graduates of the club’s activities 

the role of LEADER in the project: 

MAS supports schools in the region also in the field of IT, robotics and technical education, the Tékáčko center provides methodological support to schools, trains pedagogues, and school pupils attend classes there. 

Tékáčko was also involved in the children’s camps project with the aim of helping working parents during the holidays. 

LAG also implemented a project to support non-profit organizations in Regoin, where Tékačko was one of 30 project partners. The project aimed to support gifted children, training of lecturers and sharing between organizations. 

Tékačka management are members of LAG and actively participate in LAG projects and activities. 

Emblematic character of the project

One of the LAG’s priorities is the support of quality outdoor education for the 21st century, the support of cooperation between organizations – here is the cooperation of LAG, non-profit organizations, municipalities and local companies. 

The aim is not to learn to master specific technologies, but to show the essence of things, to work in a team on « projects », to help and inspire each other, and to discover one’s own talent. The use of modern technology thus serves to foster creativity, discovery, innovation. 

The club encourages pupils to avoid waste and to be environmentally friendly and sustainable. This year, for example, it purchased a recycler to process PLA/PETG waste from 3D printers. 

The project is LEADER’s priority because of supports children in acquiring technical knowledge because the region doesn’t have enough technically qualified schools. This leads to more kids being prepared for Industry 4.0. They also cooperate with many tech companies in the region. They combine the knowledge of older, more experienced people, and modern technologies, for the best result for the children. 

The project also comes as a hub for teachers, where they can get new knowledge about modern technologies. This can also be useful for other LAGs because they can collaborate.  

Finally, the project respects horizontal topics, it is wheelchair accessible, gender equal, and there are many girls in the club. It also promotes environmental responsibility. Overall, the project prepares young people for their future in the tech field. 

Pictures

RG RYCON z.s. 

NAD Orlicí, o.p.s. 

Czech Republic 

VILLAGES OF PORTUGAL

(LEADER Cooperation project)

Portugal

Introduction

The “Villages of Portugal/Aldeias de Portugal” are an interactive and collaborative network of villages, based on sharing and using the methodology and principles of the LEADER approach for the co-construction of a development and valorization project for each village, based on its resources and potential and in the involvement of the community and local actors, led by the Local Action Group in each area with the support of ATA – Associção de Turismo de Aldeia, a national association dedicated to capacity building marketing and promotion and dissemination of local endogenous resources.

Presentation of the project

The project’s intervention area is Mainland Portugal and its objective is to enhance the cultural heritage of rural areas, reinforcing the demographic fabric of the most isolated regions. In this way, it is possible to promote social inclusion and alleviate poverty in these territories. Promoting its villages and empowering its community, in order to consolidate the “Aldeias de Portugal” network, expanding its representation at national level and the expected social impact.

With the active participation of 16 Local Action Groups, the project was able to classify 61 villages, providing significant improvements in the quality of life and the preservation of rural traditions in Portugal. This achievement is the result of the promotion and conservation of rural heritage, using memory and local identity as essential resources.

Community involvement is crucial to success, and each local stakeholder must contribute with their work, thus ensuring the continuity and success of each village project. The importance of exploring the deep emotional bond between inhabitants and their village is also highlighted, using this bond as a driver for local development. Each local person/organisation personal investment not only ensures the continuity of the project, but also strengthens the feeling of belonging, essential for the sustainable defence and promotion of each village.

Emblematic character of the project

The Network Villages of Portugal is a driver of aggregation and valorization of sustainable dynamics that aim at the development of the territory, through the dynamization of its endogenous resources and assets that characterize its identity.

1.Cultural Preservation: Many villages have significant cultural and historical value. Preserving these aspects not only maintains local identity, but can also attract cultural tourism.

2.Local Economic Development: Investing in infrastructure, promoting rural tourism and supporting local economic activities in villages generates jobs and stimulates economic growth in rural areas.

3.Environmental Sustainability: Villages, often located in natural environments, benefit from strategies that aim to balance economic development with environmental conservation.

4.Social Inclusion: Combat rural depopulation, promoting social inclusion and providing opportunities for rural communities.

5.Increased Quality of Life: By investing in local services, such as education, health and leisure, villages can improve the quality of life of their inhabitants and attract the return of “children of the land”.

In summary, the « Villages of Portugal » project and network play a crucial role in the LEADER supported Local Development Strategy of each LAG partner, as they represent strategic locations in their areas to drive sustainable economic development, preserve culture and promote quality of life in rural areas, promoting social inclusion and combating poverty in these territories.

The most emblematic activities of the Aldeias de Portugal are registered on the social networks:

https://www.facebook.com/AldeiasdePortugalATA

Some villages already have their own social networks, such as:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087857500059

https://www.facebook.com/bocoaldeiadeportugal

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083126269262

Activities in several villages include remembering/reactivating community traditions related to agrifood heritage, creation of new events to promote local products, local participator assemblies to decide on future events of the project or training the community to welcome visitors with the initiative “Have lunch and dinner with us”:

https://www.facebook.com/AldeiasdePortugalATA/videos/153471021157933

https://www.facebook.com/AldeiasdePortugalATA/videos/6191485110953457

Pictures

ADRITEM – Associação de Desenvolvimento Regional Integrado das Terras de Santa Maria (leading a consortium of 16 Local Action Groups)

LAG ADRITEM (Associação de Desenvolvimento Regional Integrado das Terras de Santa Maria)

Portugal

The Green Experience

Spain 

Introduction 

Rural territory that under the legal umbrella of the company Ruralgimia and our green experiences project, we have:  

• El Rincón de Pau+Las Casuchas: accommodation where guests have the opportunity not only to stay, but also to carry out different activities, in which, among others, are its other two lines of business which are:  
• Mediterranean Bike Tours: Travel agency, which carries out bike trips of several days and allows our accommodations to benefit from these overnight stays and guests of not only our accommodations, but from the rest of the territory, can also do cycling tourism activities such as Bike&Orange, which is where the next line of business comes in…  
• AGC: Farm dedicated mainly to the cultivation of oranges in which apart from marketing its own production (part of it BIO), offers guided tours and in turn makes that for every traveler who makes a bike trip with us, we plant a tree which has the opportunity to sponsor and receive at home their own fruit.  

These three projects, under the same umbrella, feed off each other and add value not only to each other, of course, but also to the rest of the stakeholders in a very wide area.  

Presentation of the project 

Our project is located in the Valencian region of Camp de Morvedre in the municipalities of Torres Torres and Algímia d’Alfara. We are in a rural territory with an important traditional agricultural weight, but it is a sector in recession. Therefore, it is necessary to create new alternatives for local development and address problems such as depopulation, abandonment of activity or environmental problems derived from the loss of traditional management of the territory.  

Our objectives focus on taking advantage of local resources such as natural and cultural heritage and traditional agriculture to link them with sectors such as tourism or recreation. Our project goes beyond mere tourist services and provides the client with an experience linked to the territory and that serves as an introduction and showcase of it. With its development, the aim is to expand, develop, innovate and implement new formulas adapted to new technologies, while offering new alternatives linked with respect for the environment and a differentiated products offer. So, we set the following objectives:  

• Provide added value to the territory through the tourist use of its resources.  
• Take advantage of the presence of the Ojos Negros Greenway as the backbone of our cycle tourism offer.  
• Link sectors such as agriculture, cycle tourism and recreation.  
• Generate our own offer of activities and accommodation, relating it to our agricultural activities.  
• Be an innovative and replicable model experience that favors the development of other initiatives in the territory.  

The result of our work has been the creation of 10 rural accommodations, a travel agency and the development of an innovative cycle tourism offer that includes the possibility of trips throughout the Valencian territory with stages in accommodations in various Valencian regions. Today we have a network of more than 200 travel agencies around the world specialized in cycle tourism and that market our packages. Many of these agencies have signed an agreement with us guaranteeing an annual minimum number of tourists for the activity. Our offer consists exactly of:  

• agricultural exploitation  
• Accommodations  
• Gastroshop.  
• Biker’s Boutique.  
• Traveler’s Café  
• Biker School.  
• Cycle routes.  

Currently our cooperative consists of 5 members and 6 employees. We also have various recognitions for quality and our work, such as being members of the Invat.Tur and Creaturisme networks of our regional government and we participate in the Valencian Institute of Tourism Studies. Our establishments also have recognitions such as the Q certificate for tourist quality and are included in the regional offer of « Temps d’Interior ».  

LEADER has provided us with various benefits. On the one hand, it has provided us with financing for the development of various projects. On the other hand, it has also provided us with support and advice during the development of our business plan. In addition, it has also collaborated in the dissemination of our philosophy and project by including us in various promotional and technical publications. Participation in activities organized by the LAG has allowed us to establish contacts and expand our local network of work and associated products. 

Our project has been innovative from various perspectives. On the one hand, it has started from a comprehensive perspective of sustainable use of multiple local resources. On the other hand, it has relied on local networks of producers and the offer of new activity services. Furthermore, we have opted to become a travel agency ourselves and market this powerful offer that was being underused.  

Our proposal faces various major territorial challenges. On the one hand, it helps establish population in a territory at risk of depopulation through the creation of jobs and the hiring of auxiliary services. On the other hand, by supporting the maintenance of agricultural activity we face environmental challenges in the Mediterranean environment such as the fight against erosion, desertification, the risk of forest fires and the fight against climate change. A fight that is enhanced by our promotion of the use of a sustainable means of transportation such as the bicycle.  

Likewise, we contribute to giving visibility to our territory and new forms of sustainable tourism that are frequently unknown in an area dominated by coastal sun and beach tourism. To achieve this, we rely on the use of new technologies and the continuous expansion of our networks at all levels.  

Our project can be transferred from two different perspectives. On the one hand, other territories can replicate our business model in whole or in part. On the other hand, our philosophy and approach of taking advantage of local resources for their valorization on a global scale through the expansion of networks and the intensive use of innovative work and communication methodologies can also be replicated in other areas and sectors.   

Pictures 

https://fb.watch/o30YgRMtgk/

Accompagnement la mobilité en zone rurale

Guyane Française

Introduction

Rendre la mobilité accessible et franchir les barrières de l’isolement – L’Auto-École Sociale Nomade transforme les défis des régions isolées de Guyane en opportunités. Confrontées à l’éloignement et au développement limité des transports, ces communautés trouvent dans le permis de conduire un ‘sésame’ vers l’insertion sociale et l’emploi. Notre projet novateur ‘va vers’ l’élève, apportant l’apprentissage du code de la route et de la conduite au cœur des territoires éloignés. À bord de notre camion spécialement aménagé, équipé d’un simulateur de conduite, nous offrons bien plus que des cours : nous construisons l’estime de soi et la confiance, clés de la réussite. En partenariat avec les travailleurs sociaux, nous identifions et adressons les obstacles à l’insertion professionnelle. L’Auto-École Sociale Nomade est plus qu’une école de conduite : c’est un pont vers l’autonomie pour les habitants de Matoury et Roura en Guyane française, avec un potentiel pour inspirer et s’adapter à d’autres régions isolées à travers l’Europe.

Présentation du projet

Le programme européen LEADER joue un rôle fondamental dans le financement des initiatives visant à faciliter l’intégration sociale et professionnelle dans les zones isolées où les transports sont limités. L’association, consciente des défis liés à l’absence de permis de conduire, a mis en place un dispositif itinérant. À bord d’un véhicule spécialement équipé d’un simulateur de conduite et d’un espace dédié à l’apprentissage du code de la route, des cours sont dispensés au cœur même des communes éloignées. Initié en Avril 2021, ce projet en cible en particulier les individus en marge du marché du travail, comme les demandeurs d’emplois, les jeunes hors du système scolaire, les étudiants en situation précaire, les bénéficiaires du RSA, les apprentis, ainsi que ceux confrontés à des difficultés d’apprentissage. En mettant l’accent sur la formation au permis B et la sensibilisation à la sécurité routière, l’objectif est double : d’une part, favoriser l’insertion sociale et professionnelle, et d’autre part, lutter contre l’exclusion des personnes vulnérables en renforçant leur indépendance et leur mobilité, éléments clés pour l’accès à l’emploi et à la formation. Le soutien financier de LEADER a déjà porté ses fruits : dans les communes de Matoury et Roura, 35 candidats issus de milieux ruraux ont été accompagnés, avec 12 d’entre eux ayant réussi à obtenir leur permis de conduire et étant en cours de recherche active d’un emploi stable ou d’une formation qualifiante. Forts de ce succès, les responsables du projet envisagent d’étendre leur action à d’autres communes en 2024, affirmant ainsi le rôle de LEADER comme catalyseur de développement régional et d’inclusion sociale.

Caractère emblématique du projet

Ce projet est une priorité pour LEADER car il s’attaque directement aux problèmes de mobilité et de précarité qui sont prégnants en Guyane, deux enjeux qui freinent le développement social et économique de la région. En s’intégrant à la stratégie de l ‘Agglo’GALsous l’objectif « Développement d’une économie sociale et solidaire endogène et territorialisée », le projet répond à un besoin fondamental : l’accès à la mobilité pour favoriser l’insertion professionnelle et l’accès à l’éducation. Le défi majeur auquel répond le projet est donc double : d’une part, il s’attaque à l’isolement géographique des populations en leur fournissant les moyens nécessaires pour se déplacer, et d’autre part, il œuvre contre la marginalisation économique en offrant aux jeunes et aux adultes les outils pour acquérir une autonomie professionnelle. L’obtention du permis de c onduire étant un atout indéniable pour l’accès au marché du travail et aux formations qualifiantes, principalement concentrées en ville. Par ailleurs, le projet illustre une approche collaborative et inclusive, en s’associant avec des organismes locaux comme Pôle Emploi et en s’appuyant sur une structure associative loi 1901. Cette méthode de travail collective renforce le tissu social et économique local et participe à une dynamique de développement partagé. Quant à la transférabilité du projet à d’autres Groupes d’Action Locale, la réussite de ce modèle en Guyane est un témoignage de son potentiel d’adaptation. La cellule de l’Agglo’GAL conjointement avec l’association, est prête à partager son expérience et ses bonnes pratiques. La mise en place de ce projet nécessite une compréhension des défis locaux spécifiques et des adaptations sur mesure. Toutefois, le principe de l’auto-école sociale itinérante peut être appliqué dans d’autres contextes où les problématiques de mobilité rurale entravent le développement socioéconomique. En partageant les outils, les méthodes et les enseignements tirés, le projet peut inspirer et guider d’autres territoires pour mettre en œuvre des solutions similaires adaptées à leurs propres enjeux.

Photos

Auto Ecole Sociale Nomade

Agglo’GAL

Guyane Française