The three pillars of SMILE Incubator

How will the SMILE Incubator project make a difference for rural youth across the Danube Region? - By (PP) FOSTER EUROPE

We aim to reverse the trend of outmigration and disconnection by empowering young people in underdeveloped rural communities — and here’s how we’ll do it, step by step:

SO1: Understanding the challenge
We start by assessing the current state of youth participation and leadership in the Danube Region. Through workshops and policy dialogue, we’ll produce evidence-based guidelines and a comprehensive position paper to inform decision-makers and amplify the voice of rural youth.

SO2: Building networks that last
We’re connecting key actors across sectors — from academia to NGOs — to create a strong cooperation network. A shared strategy and an operational toolkit will help facilitators and youth leaders work together effectively on the ground.

SO3: Strengthening skills through social media
We’ll co-develop practical, future-proof capacity-building tools that harness the power of social media to increase youth engagement, visibility, and leadership in their communities.

All 20 project partners from all 14 countries of the Danube Region will work together to make this vision a reality — combining local knowledge with transnational cooperation to build a stronger, more inclusive future.

Together, we are creating a transnational Social Media Leadership Incubator that promotes active citizenship, resilience, and long-term development in rural areas of the Danube Region.

#SMILEincubator #DanubeRegion #YouthLeadership #DigitalEmpowerment #RuralFutures #SocialMediaForChange #FosterEurope