Permaculture: A way to Renovate Traditional Entrepreneurship Erasmus Project

Project Title

Permaculture: A way to Renovate Traditional Entrepreneurship

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for youth

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Environment and climate change; Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education; Social entrepreneurship / social innovation

Project Summary

Now-a-days there are several problems that affect and worry young people. Two of them are unemployment and climate change.

According to the European Environment Agency and Eurostat “The EU is the world’s third largest greenhouse gases emitter (2012).
Within the EU, the top six emitters in 2015 were Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Spain and Poland” which is why more effort is required in these countries.

According to the study, Off target evaluation carried out by the Climate Action Network indicates that “No single EU country is performing sufficiently in both ambition and progress in reducing carbon emissions. Countries can and must to do more to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.” The performance of Spain and Italy to achieve these objectives is evaluated as poor and Poland, as very poor.

The consequences of climate change affect the entire planet, including:
•Rising sea levels
•Heat waves
•Natural disasters
•Drought
•Endangered species
•Diseases
• Economic instability.
• Destruction of ecosystems

On the other hand, according to Eurostat, the unemployment rate of young people in the EU has increased in recent years, especially since the financial crisis of 2008, becoming a major problem for most of the EU Member States. Many of these young people have also been affected by long-term unemployment.

That is why Permacultura Cantabria, Medeina and Oriel determined the importance of carrying out the project “PARTE” to counteract both problems with 2 main solutions: entrepreneurship and permaculture.

In delicate times, in terms of unemployment, like the one that young people are living in Spain, Italy and Poland, entrepreneurship emerges as an alternative way to have an economically independent life, develop professionally and avoid their risk of exclusion.

As a result of a Context Analysis and Focus Groups conducted, it was observed that permaculture is a topic little known by young people. In addition, it is concluded that despite the interest of young people in entrepreneurship, the lack of tools and knowledge to do so, causes fear and frustration, aborting an idea without first developing it. Young entrepreneurs or those who have entrepreneurial tools are focused on traditional models, not achieving sustainability.

For this, our strategic partnership has defined the following objectives:

Increase our insight on permaculture, entrepreneurship and initiatives to contribute tackling climate change in the participating countries.

Create new teaching units for permaculture focused on entrepreneurship.

Empower youth and youth workers with new permaculture tools focused on entrepreneurship.

In addition, the following main activities are planned to achieve the objectives:

Participatory Visit: Oriel: During this visit Medeina, Oriel and P.Cantabria will transfer their tools and methodologies according to their experience in entrepreneurship and permaculture principles. They will also make a presentation about the results obtained in the documentary research in their respective countries

Creation of an interactive book: Tools and teaching units will be created and documented so that young people and youth workers are able to undertake or define a project committed to the environment and society.

Course in Spain: All the participating entities will design a course to transmit the new tools and teaching units to youth and youth workers.

Dissemination Campaign: It will include a conference in Spain, Italy and Poland to disseminate the project, dissemination on the Erasmus platforms, among other activities.

It should be noted that a transnational meeting will be held in Spain, Italy and Poland in order to properly manage the project.

The European Union website states: ” Environmental protection and innovation help to create new business and employment opportunities, which stimulate further investment. Green growth is at the heart of EU policy to ensure that Europe’s economic growth is environmentally sustainable.”

As a summary of the impact, it is expected that young people and youth workers, both participants and those who have access to the interactive book, will be able to create a project or start an entrepreneurial path using a permaculture model, not only in the environmental field, but in any sector. In this way, projects, initiatives and organizations will be created under a sustainable model committed to the planet and society.

The project is expected to contribute positively to continue adding efforts in the fight against climate change and unemployment.

Project Website

http://www.permaculturacantabria.com/parte/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 92152 Eur

Project Coordinator

Asociación cultural y medioambiental Permacultura Cantabria & Country: ES

Project Partners

• Oriel
• FUNDACJA WSPIERANIA ROZWOJU MEDEINA