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Welcome, Rural Innovators!

The second edition of The Women’s Academy for Rural Innovation took place in Croatia from 17th to 22nd November 2024. Participants embarked on a life-changing experience! 
The programme combines intensive learning with personal enrichment and networking. Mornings are filled with a combination of panels, workshops, roundtables and masterclasses, while the afternoons include teamwork sessions. There is also a period of free time every day for participants to relax and reflect on the days’ learning. Every evening, participants enjoy a traditional Croatian dinner prepared with local products.
With a line-up of top-level experts and mentors, participants learn new skills and approaches and have the chance to discuss how new tools could be implemented in their own rural environment. They hone practical skills such as public speaking and setting up a business which will equip them to get out there and make a difference in their community. We hope that they made lasting friendships with participants from similar walks of life in other countries.

Day 1

Participants arrive and settle into their surroundings. They explore the area and then meet both tutors and each other for the first time. The programme is introduced in more detail, and participants spend their first evening together, getting to know one another over a traditional Croatian dinner.

Day 2

The Inspiration and Empowerment Day kicks off with the Inaugural Ceremony. The ceremony marks the official beginning of The Women’s Academy for Rural Innovation and features welcome remarks and keynote speeches from some of the top speakers and mentors. Participants then begin their first activities of the week with group work and a teambuilding session dedicated to nature’s potential for value creation. This is followed by a masterclass in leadership and an evening spent practising yoga and reconnecting with their inner selves. 

Day 3

The Business and Tech Day begins with sessions teaching students about product development and the hidden power of social media. This is followed by a panel on the ethics of AI and emerging technologies. After lunch, participants explore the business potential of generative AI and take a deep dive into career paths in cybersecurity and opportunities for remote work. After a masterclass in storytelling by a media luminary, students gather with speakers and mentors at a networking dinner exploring rural Croatia’s culinary treasures. 

Day 4

On the fourth day, the focus is on Sustainability and Balance, with a workshop on securing funding as a female entrepreneur and a panel session on innovation for a sustainable future. This is followed by an inspiring session on the road to financial freedom. The afternoon starts with a teambuilding session on nurturing mental health for sustainable communities, followed by the always highly anticipated masterclass in public speaking. The day wraps up with an empowering evening session where inspiring mentors help students boost their confidence and clarify their vision.

Day 5

The final day begins with the Group Presentations where participants pitch the projects they have worked on together all week. There is also an inspiring session on advocacy and community engagement, followed by a panel discussion on global collaboration. The afternoon focuses on the potential unlocked by greater connectivity and a deep dive empowering women to foster rural development. Later that day, participants get ready for the Farewell Gala and Awards Ceremony, where they receive their certificates and the week-long programme draws to an official close.

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