EUFRAS-YPARD Young Advisors Mentoring & Training Program 22/23

EUFRAS has partnered up with YPARD (Young Professionals FOR Young Professionals for Agricultural Development) to bring forth the EUFRAS-YPARD Young Advisors Mentorship and Training Program which aims to encourage youth toward a career in extension services and more specifically, to understand the value of being in RAS and their contribution to food security.

YOUNGEUFRASYPARDERASMUS+

9/8/20222 min read

Extension and advisory services are crucial in keeping current farmers and future farmers interested in producing food and contributing to food security. However, extension and advisory agents face similar challenges to young farmers in entering and staying in the sector, including access to opportunities, credibility, and support.

To tackle the problem and its root causes, EUFRAS has partnered up with YPARD (Young Professionals FOR Young Professionals for Agricultural Development) to bring forth the EUFRAS-YPARD Young Advisors Mentorship and Training Program which aims to encourage youth toward a career in extension services and more specifically, to understand the value of being in RAS and their contribution to food security.

This program, which will launch in November 2022, will offer training and mentoring to young advisors in the European region with a focus on sustainable and just food systems. The benefits of the program include the opportunity to practice hard and soft skills that can offer young advisory agents the tools to have an effective and rewarding career in extension and advisory services. Additionally, participants will receive the CECRA (Certificate for European Consultants in Rural Areas) Full Certificate.

Both YPARD and EUFRAS are thrilled to embark on this collaborative project to ensure that young professionals have the tools they need to thrive in today’s competitive market.

You can read the full course description here!

For more information please contact the YPARD-EUFRAS coordinator, Valentina Martinez-Salazar (valentina.martinez@ypard.net)

To apply for this program please send the completed application form and your CV to Līga Cimermane (liga.cimermane@llkc.lv) by October 26th, 2022.

Training Dates:

(Nov 28 – Dec 2) Nov/Dec 2022: YEUFRAS Program Kick-Off in Slovenia, Novo mesto CECRA Training Module 1 CECRA Training Module 2 + Mentored farm advisor visit

(25-26) Jan 2023: Digital CECRA Training Module 1 w/ participants

(22-23) Feb 2023: Digital CECRA Training Module 6 Project management w/ participants

(21-24 ½ days) March 2023: Digital basic agricultural economics course

(19-20 ½ days) April 2023: Digital course on Farmer’s health, work organization and gender issues

(May 29-Jun 2) May/Jun 2023: Ireland CECRA Training Modules 7 & 9 + Mentored farm
advisor visit w/ participants

(21-22 ½ days) June 2023: Digital training (contents TBD)

(19-20 ½ days) July 2023: Digital networking (contents TBD)

June-July 2023: Individually arranged meeting at the mentor’s field office w/ mentor (3 days foreign advisory visit including supervised advisor farm visit)   OPTIONAL

August 2023: Capstone Project – individual work

(8-9) September 2023: YEUFRAS Strategy Workshop Prague, Czech Republic

(10-14) September 2023: EUFRAS/IALB/SEASN Conference in Dresden, Germany CECRA Certificates + closing meeting

The program combines classical trainings with a mentoring approach and networking elements. The program offers space for 20 Young Advisors (Mentees) and 10 Mentors. The program’s working language is English.

Project No. 2022-1-LV01-KA210-VET-000082892

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.