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Description
The project promoter "Wise Greece" having recognized the high percentage of unemployment in Greece and at the same time being active in an open field of labour market for new employees creates the first Academy for Agri-Food Education and Food Innovation. The Academy provides free education and training to vulnerable groups and provide them with all the skills they need to work in the Agri-Food sector or to innovate by creating their own product lines. Specifically, Wise Greece Academy addresses to unemployed women who live in Athens and rural areas in Greece, as well as the women participating in Women''s Cooperatives and, also, to unemployed young people and unemployed people over 50 who face extreme difficulties to find a job.
The trainings include:-basic education about the Agri-Food sector, cooking courses, field visits and hands on workshops in food production labs. Also, empowerment seminars and seminars about the modern methods of cultivation (permaculture, organic, linked to Sustainable Development Goals etc). The trainees will have the opportunity to be connected with producers and mentors, who will act as role models and will provide inspiration to them. Those who wish to pursue an entrepreneurial career in the Agri-Food Sector, will be able to attend more specialized seminars, such as: -product and business plan development, product tastings, sales and exports, seminars for Food Production Certifications, Marketing, Risk Management in the Food Industry and Food innovation , new product lines as well as innovation in food packaging. By the end of the project implementation 1.200 vulnerable individuals are expected to be trained with aim their economic empowerment.
Summary of project results
The project aimed at the creation of the first Academy for Agri-Food Education and Food Innovation "The Business of Food", with the goal of strengthening the vulnerable target groups in Greece. The aim of the project was to provide free education and training to 3 key vulnerable target groups that have been affected in recent years especially in Greece and to provide them with all the skills they need to join the labor market, to work in the Agri-Food sector or to innovate, creating their own product lines which will provide to them a decent income!
The Business of Found seminars focused on education:
1. Of the unemployed women in Athens and the rural areas of Greece, as well as the women participating in Women''s Cooperatives.
2. Unemployed young people and the unemployed people over 50 who face extreme difficulties to find a job.
Through the Wise Greece Academy program, "The Business of Food" seminars were organized, which aimed at unemployed people, students, rural women and members of cooperatives, who wish to join the food production sector and engage in business, thus making a new beginning in their lives!
The seminars lasted an average of 4 hours and included speeches and workshops, presentations by famous chefs, trainings by experts in the field as well as mentoring by successful food producers
The training sessions were tailored to the beneficiaries particular needs. Seminars included:
-Basic education about the Agri-Food sector
-Cooking courses, field visits and hands on workshops in food production labs.
-Empowerment seminars
-Seminars about the modern methods of cultivation (permaculture, organic, linked to Sustainable Development Goals etc)
-Connection with Producers-Mentors, who will act as Role Models and provide inspiration to the participants!
Those who wished to pursue an entrepreneurial career in the Agri-Food Sector, were able to attend more specialized seminars, such as:
-Product and business plan development, product tastings, sales and exports, etc.
-Seminars for Food Production Certifications, Marketing, Risk Management in the Food Industry etc
-Food innovation – New product lines
-Innovation in food packaging and many more!
1.360 people from 200 places from all over Greece attended the educational program "The Business of Food", more than 15 mentors and trainers offered knowledge and guidance to the participants, while two famous Chefs, Argyro Barbarigou and Andreas Lagos, supported the program as role models and shared their own business journeys with the participants.