Scope

Every day we are faced with the theme of skills, soft skills, and several other factors that underpin the definition of mentors. In a rural context, this activity has economic and sociocultural specificities that imply the use of language and tools adapted to the local context by the so called "rural mentors".

Mentoring has emerged as a fundamental pillar that facilitates the transmission and acquisition of new knowledge and skills, providing learning and growth advantages. Currently around 29% of the total EU population lives in rural areas (Source: United Nations), which are facing relevant challenges such as falling and ageing of population, scarcity of employment opportunities, and decline of basic services. This may lead to the risk of missing the technological boat, with consequent socio-economic and political marginalisation.

Based on these needs, the Rural plus project decided to create a training programme for rural mentors that will allow the acquisition of relevant skills, namely those skills relevant to increase opportunities in key rural economic activities.