Erasmus+

Internet Web Solutions (IWS) successfully presented the Upskilling Rural project during two multiplier events held on 18 and 19 May 2026, engaging a total of 36 young participants with a strong interest in developing entrepreneurial initiatives in rural environments. The first event took place on 18 May at the premises of IWS’s associated partner Arrabal and gathered 23 participants. Attendees were predominantly young people from rural areas who expressed a clear motivation to launch or develop entrepreneurial projects. The second event was held on 19 May at the Youth Centre of the Alhaurín de la Torre City Council, a municipality in the province of Málaga, and brought together 13 young people, all of whom live in rural settings. Participant recruitment for both sessions was carried out through the social media channels of Internet Web Solutions and its associated partners, ensuring targeted outreach to young people interested in entrepreneurship and professional development in rural contexts. Each session followed a structured and participatory format. The events began with an introduction to the overall objectives of the project, highlighting its focus on empowering young people in rural areas through accessible, high-quality digital training. This was followed by a detailed presentation of the free online training courses available on the project platform, as well as an explanation of the learning pathway required to achieve the “Rural Champion” certification. Participants were also introduced to selected activities included in the “Events & Holidays” section of the platform, designed to complement the training content and foster engagement through interactive and experiential learning. The presentations combined PowerPoint resources with live demonstrations of the project’s online platform, allowing participants to explore the tools and materials in a practical and intuitive way. After the presentations, attendees were divided into several focus groups to encourage open discussion. These group sessions focused on the main difficulties young people face when attempting to start a business in rural areas, as well as on the perceived usefulness of the project’s content in addressing these challenges. The discussions provided valuable qualitative insights into real barriers such as limited access to resources, lack of tailored training, and isolation from entrepreneurial networks. The events concluded with a plenary feedback session, during which participants were invited to share their opinions on the relevance of the training topics, the quality and clarity of the materials, the most interesting aspects of the project, and areas for potential improvement. Participants were also asked to reflect on which elements of the training they could realistically apply in their daily lives. Overall feedback was highly positive. Participants particularly appreciated the diversity of the content, its practical orientation, and the gamification elements integrated into the platform, which were seen as key factors in making learning more engaging and applicable to real-life entrepreneurial contexts. Several participants highlighted the direct usefulness of the project for rural entrepreneurship: “The content is very practical and realistic. It doesn’t just talk about entrepreneurship in theory, but shows concrete steps that I can apply to start a project in my village.” “What I found most valuable is that the courses are adapted to rural realities. Many examples and tools are things I can actually use where I live, not just in big cities.” “The platform helped me understand that entrepreneurship in rural areas is possible. The gamified activities and practical exercises make it easier to learn and stay motivated.” Through these multiplier events, Internet Web Solutions reaffirmed its commitment to supporting young people in rural areas by providing accessible training, practical tools, and a clear learning pathway to foster entrepreneurship and professional development beyond urban environments.