🇬🇷 Erasmus+ Training Course in Greece 🌱 Sustainable Entrepreneurship for Rural Youth at Plastiras Lake 🏔️

Rural areas across Europe face a shared crisis: young people leaving, local economies struggling, and opportunities quietly disappearing. Sustainable Entrepreneurship for Rural Youth is an Erasmus+ KA153 Training Course that brings youth workers together at Plastiras Lake, Greece to tackle exactly this — through non-formal education, field visits to real local businesses, and practical peer exchange between four European countries.

🎯 About the Training Course

This training course is organised by Our Ocean Foundation (Norway) and hosted by Villagers of Greece (Karditsa). It brings together 24 youth workers and young people from Italy, Spain, Greece, and Norway — all active in rural or remote areas — to exchange tools, methods, and good practices around sustainable entrepreneurship, rural development, and youth employment.

The approach is facilitation-based: the facilitators guide the learning process and create space for exchange, but the core knowledge comes from the participants themselves and from the local businesses and initiatives they visit together.

📋 Objectives

🌾 Strengthen the capacity of youth workers to support sustainable entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for young people in rural and remote areas

🔄 Exchange practical tools, methods, and good practices related to sustainability, entrepreneurship, and rural development through non-formal education

🌍 Boost international cooperation and knowledge transfer between youth workers, encouraging the adaptation of ideas to local contexts

🛠️ What to Expect

🤝 Team-building activities — to create bonds within the group and build a safe, inclusive learning space

🏘️ Field visits — to local businesses in the Plastiras Lake region, reflecting on real opportunities and challenges in rural contexts

🎨 Workshops — debates, business plan creation, creative thinking through art, and practical exercises

🌿 Non-formal education methods — learning by doing, collaboration, interaction, and reflection throughout

⚠️ Each national group is expected to facilitate at least one workshop during the training — the hosting team will provide full support with brainstorming and materials

🏕️ The Venue

The project takes place at a camp in the Plastiras Lake region, located in a forest at 1,200 metres altitude. Participants share rooms of 3–4 people. Toilets and showers are located outside the rooms within the camp area — these are traditional squatting toilets, common in rural and outdoor settings. WiFi is available only at a specific spot in the camp — bedrooms do not have internet access.

What to bring:

📋 Valid health insurance for Greece

💻 One laptop per national team

🛏️ Single bed sheets — blankets and pillows are provided but sheets are not

👟 Comfortable clothes and shoes — most time is spent outdoors

🌞 Towel, flip-flops, sunscreen, swimwear, hat, umbrella, reusable bottle, toiletries

💊 Personal first aid kit and any medications needed

💵 Some cash — remote areas may not accept cards

🛒 Personal items bought in advance — there is no mini market near the venue

Weather will be warm during the day and chilly at night — check the forecast and pack layers.

🚌 Travel & Reimbursement

Travel arrangements will be coordinated by the hosting team. Participants will either be picked up together from Athens by chartered bus, or travel to Karditsa by public transport and be collected from there. Detailed step-by-step travel instructions will be sent once logistics are finalised.

Maximum reimbursement amounts per person:

💶 Italy — 309€

💶 Spain — 580€

💶 Norway — 580€

💶 Greece — 56€

Travel costs are reimbursed by Our Ocean Foundation via bank transfer after submission of all travel documents and completion of dissemination activities. Insurance, personal expenses, and private transport (taxi, Uber) are not refundable.

🍽️ Food & Practical Info

Food will be mostly vegetarian and vegan — low meat consumption throughout the training. Accommodation and meals are fully covered by the host organisation and the Erasmus+ programme. Inform the team in advance about any dietary needs, allergies, or mobility issues.

👤 Participant Profile

This training is for youth workers and young people aged 18+ who are active in rural or remote areas and motivated to explore how sustainable entrepreneurship can create opportunities in their communities. Participants may be involved in youth work, community initiatives, environmental projects, or small local businesses.

🇮🇹 Italy — Mòvesi 🇪🇸 Spain — Asociación Sociocultural Isla CreActiva 🇳🇴 Norway — Stiftelsen Vårt Hav / Our Ocean Foundation 🇬🇷 Greece — Villagers of Greece

Each country sends 6 participants. Working language is English.

💡 Not sure how Erasmus+ training courses work or what the programme covers for youth workers? Everything is clearly explained here: https://youthworkshub.org/15096/

🌍 Eligible Countries

🇮🇹 Italy 🇪🇸 Spain 🇬🇷 Greece 🇳🇴 Norway

📅 Activity Dates

🛬 Arrival: 2 June 2026

🗓️ Activity days: 3 — 9 June 2026

🛫 Departure: 10 June 2026

📍 Plastiras Lake, Greece

⏰ Deadline

As soon as possible!

📬 How to Apply

📝 Application Form: https://forms.gle/CU3BAwqtY8XZqDXF8

📎 Infopack: https://shorturl.at/4YxK5

📧 Host organisation: villagersofgreece@gmail.com

✋Important Notice

Youth Works Hub does not represent or act on behalf of any organization listed on this platform. All project details are sourced directly from official ESC and Erasmus+ databases. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official project page or contact the hosting organization directly. Youth Works Hub is not responsible for any changes made to project details after publication.