Building Alliances in Peñalba: RuralMakers and RuralMakers 2.0

Between November and January, Peñalba de Santiago once again became an international meeting point thanks to the two Partnership Building Activities (PBA) we organized from Valdeorras Vive: RuralMakers and RuralMakers 2.0.

We brought together associations from 15 different countries, coming from places as diverse as Curaçao, Georgia, Turkey, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Czechia, or Kosovo. It was a true cultural mosaic in which diversity became the group’s greatest strength.

The main goal was to support these organizations in the practical process of designing and preparing an Erasmus+ application, with a focus on the upcoming calls. To achieve this, we worked in a very hands-on way: from understanding how to fit ideas into the program’s priorities, to defining objectives, activities, and methodologies that would shape future projects.

In both projects, we used the activity room of Espacio Genadii, kindly provided by the Fundación Hospital de la Reina, as our working and collaboration center. In addition, as tradition dictates, we visited the Palacio de Canedo and learned about the remarkable example of rural entrepreneurship represented by Prada A Tope, showing participants how innovation and local culture can generate impact in rural areas.

But beyond the technical side, there was space for what truly gives meaning to a PBA: getting to know each other, sharing experiences, and discovering possible synergies. Each organization presented its work, its local reality, and its vision for the future, enriching the cultural exchange among such different contexts.

During both projects we also visited Ponferrada, where we met with the youth and rural affairs representatives of the City Council, and organized an activity with the IES Gil y Carrasco high school, bringing the non-formal education dimension of the Erasmus+ program closer to hundreds of students and their teachers.

In the case of RuralMakers 2.0, during January we were surprised by a heavy snowfall in the village, creating a spectacular setting that added a magical touch to the sessions and outdoor activities.

Peñalba, with its unique surroundings and inspiring character, provided the perfect setting to work in a close and collaborative atmosphere. Between working sessions, walks through the village, and informal conversations, alliances were woven that are already giving rise to new joint initiatives.

These gatherings strengthen our commitment to building international networks from the local level, supporting other entities in their Erasmus+ journey, and consolidating Valdeorras Vive as an active partner in the development of European projects with social impact.

📌 More information:

• RuralMakers

• RuralMakers 2.0