Empowering rural women through creating small sustainable businesses

Challenge 

Many women from Debar and Centar Zupa are unemployed and have no income. However, very few are actively looking for work and are officially registered as job seekers. As a result, the extensive local and traditional knowledge and skills of these rural women are not being used for the benefit of themselves and the region. In addition, the region suffers from a high migration from rural to urban areas due to the lack of employment opportunities.  

Objective

This project aims to provide practical guidance to rural women in Debar and Centar Zupa on how to set up and run their own small sustainable businesses based on traditional products. This will also enrich the tourism offer in the region and thus counteract the rural exodus. The first objective is to build the capacity of at least 10 rural women to set up their own sustainable small business. The second objective is to ensure the long-term sustainability of these businesses by promoting their products in at least two tourism facilities.

Approach

The project will train and mentor at least 10 rural women through workshops and study visits to similar and successful initiatives at the European Green Belt in North Macedonia and Albania. The women will identify viable products for tourism, develop and implement 10 business plans with the support of trained mentors, and establish connections with tourism facilities to ensure business sustainability.

Expected Results

An expert from the local farm “Spirit of Prespa” will mentor the rural women in creating 10 business plans and prototypes. Products will be showcased at two tourism entities in Debar and Mavrovo National Park and presented at the project's final event. Collaboration between rural women networks in Debar and Prespa will be fostered, supported by social media campaigns and promotional videos.