WHAT ?

This project intends to create a Thematic Network that will contribute to the dissemination and consolidation of new training opportunities in the rural realm. Fontes will also allow the contact and the exchange of information and experience among various entities (entreprises, educational organisms, professionals) from the different European countries.

The aim of this European collaboration is to create a durable system in order to facilitate the dissemination of new professions among an ever growing public.
On an experimental basis, the Fontes project intends to extend the effect of the following pilot projects:

• MYKOS: Fungi as a resource of employment, sustainable development and economic diversification within the rural realm.
• ECOAGRO: International project for organic agriculture.
• IRIS: Organic agriculture: an innovatory labour market.
• TRADE ON LINE: A project to create figures of job counselling expert in agriculture and rural areas.
• FOREST - CHESTNUT IN EUROPE: Global and vocational training for chestnut growers
• TURISMO ACTIVO: A new professional profile.
• IN-NATURE: Nature and rural realm interpreter: an innovative training.

HOW?

To achieve its objectives, the Fontes project will perform the following tools:
1. An European Observatory, to valorize the interest and viability of new training models at European level
2. A Resources Centre, as an information centre in new training models -for official bodies and entreprises as well as for target groups-, and also for training homologation and recognition requirements at different levels.
3. A Teletraining platform, through which it is intended to inform about the necessary quality and management conditions for a teletraining centre.
A Good Practises Guide will be elaborated with the final conclusions of the project.

WHERE?

The Fontes project will be developed in all the countries taking part in the established Transnational Partnership: Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic and Spain.

WHEN?

The Fontes duration is two years, beginning on the 1st October 2005.

WHO?

Promoter
UGAL-UPA- SPAIN
León Farmer and Cattle Trade Union
It is an Agrarian Professional Organization at provincial level. It was created to defend the familiar exploitation interests and to achieve the optimum development of the agrarian sector and people who live the rural realm.

CoordinaTor
IRMA S.L. - SPAIN
It is a private company that works in rural development, natural heritage protection and natural resources exploitation; to promote the ecological agriculture, the cultivation of chestnuts, fungi forestry and other associated activities. It participates in different European projects.

Partners
ADRAT - PORTUGAL
It is the Development Association of Alto Tâmega region, in central-northern Portugal. It Ofrece lends technical support, promotes professional capacities and encourages social and cultural actions, as well as those that permit patrimonial defense.

AGROINSTITÚT NITRA - SLOVAKIA
It is a contributory organisation under the Ministry of Agriculture, its main mission is to develop an effective continuing education system in the agri-food sector and support an advisory service.

AYUNTAMIENTO DE HARGHITA - ROMANIA
Situated in the centre of the Eastern Carpathians, the county has 326.222 inhabitants (55.87% in rural area) and a total surface of 6639 sq. km. The Council provides services for the residents of the region and contributes to the local growth by means of development programs.

AYUNTAMIENTO DE LEOZ - SPAIN
Leoz County is located in Navarra, in northern Spain. It has 280 inhabitants and a total surface of 98,1km2. The Council promotes actively local development, work creation and preservation of the natural environment.

C.V.T. AEGEAS - GREECE
It was founded in 1993 by a team of scientists in order to provide vocational training, to make professionals more productive and fight unemployment in the area of Thessaly. Some of its goals are a continuous development of vocational training programs, the use of modern technology applications in education, and linking occupation and training.

CIPA.AT Toscana - ITALY
It is a private training agency founded from the farmers' organisation CIA TOSCANA. it is specialized in training activities in agriculture and in rural areas. Its mission is to promote basic education, vocational training and high formation in the field of agriculture to introduce innovation and facilitate new opportunities for the development of rural areas.

CORANE - PORTUGAL
It is a Development Association for the Raia Nordestina counties (Terra Fria), in northern Portugal. They pretend to promote, support and carry through a more rational exploitation of endogenous potentialities. Corane participates in several European projects.

FOR.ES - ITALY
It is a company for managerial advise, set up in 1987 by several graduates from the Bocconi University in Milan having different professional experience in various business environments.

INFIS - GERMANY
It is a private Research Institute in the field of politics, as well as social and regional science. Some of its main work matters are: social and political questions in the European integration; work and innovation; and regional labour market and development.

PÁGINA DE INICIO	Asociación para el Desarrollo de la Valdorba - Orbaibarrako Garapenerako Elkartea Teléfono - 948 720 500 Fax - 948 75 20 53 E-Mail - info@valdorba.org