CLIMB Project

17/07/2026

As part of the European CLIMB Project and WP2 – Research & Good Practice Mapping, real stories of women’s entrepreneurship from rural and regional areas are being highlighted.

🔎 Eleni Georgala, a lawyer based in Zagora Pelion, shares her professional journey, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities of running a business in a mountainous region. Through her experience, she emphasizes the importance of integrating into the local community, building strong relationships of trust, and leveraging digital tools to deliver high-quality professional services.

💡 Her story demonstrates that professional success in rural areas is achievable through a combination of expertise, perseverance, and active involvement in the local community. At the same time, it highlights the need for stronger infrastructure and support services that can enhance both professional and family life in remote regions.

👉 Stay tuned for more inspiring stories and insights from the CLIMB Project, and discover how knowledge, collaboration, and innovation can support and empower women’s entrepreneurship in mountainous and rural areas.

02/07/2026

As part of the European CLIMB Project and WP2 – Research & Good Practice Mapping, real stories of women’s entrepreneurship from regional and rural areas are being highlighted.

🔎 Angeliki Mitsiopoulou, founder of a wellness and fitness center in Ptolemaida, shares her entrepreneurial journey, highlighting the challenges of launching a new business in a small local community. Through her experience, she emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships with clients, gaining the trust of the local community, and adopting digital tools to improve business organization and growth.

💡 Her story demonstrates how an innovative approach to wellness, focused on women and especially mothers, can create new entrepreneurial opportunities in regional areas. At the same time, it underlines the importance of continuous learning, digital skills development, and the adoption of new technologies to support the sustainable growth of small businesses.

👉 Stay tuned for more inspiring stories and insights from the CLIMB Project, and discover how knowledge, networking, and innovation can empower women entrepreneurs in mountainous, rural, and remote regions.

29/06/2026

The CLIMB project platform is ready!

Starting today, you can visit climb-project.eu to follow all the project’s news and results in real time.

CLIMB is a European project that supports women entrepreneurs in rural areas, helping them develop digital skills, financial management, and business acumen. Because opportunities shouldn’t stop at the borders of big cities.

Like the page and follow the updates—the journey has just begun! 👇

https://climb-project.eu

Climb Project empowers women entrepreneurs with practical entrepreneurship training and rural development support, creating new opportunities for growth, skills, and success.

05/06/2026

Within the framework of the CLIMB European Project and WP2 – Research & Mapping of Best Practices, real stories of women’s entrepreneurship from rural areas are being highlighted.

🔎 Eleni Mavridou, with many years of experience in the agricultural sector, shares her journey in agricultural consultancy, highlighting the challenges of bureaucracy and uncertainty, as well as the importance of trust, expertise, and digital skills.

These experiences provide valuable insights that contribute to the development of targeted tools and actions aimed at strengthening women’s entrepreneurship in rural and remote areas.

Stay tuned for more stories and results from the CLIMB project and discover how you too can strengthen or grow your entrepreneurial journey!

20/04/2026

On 15–16 April, the CLIMB partners met in Thessaloniki, hosted bu the partner OECON GROUP Business and Development Consultants, for a key coordination meeting. This in-person moment was essential to align our work and strengthen collaboration as we approach the closing phase of the project’s first cycle: the research and analysis of barriers women face in rural and inner areas when entering entrepreneurship, as well as the opportunities available to them.

GAL MERIDAUNIA lead applicant of CLIMB Project presented the state of the art on the project management and seated the next steps for the effective running of the project.

During the meeting, Prof. Bernat Claramunt and David Grasoria from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) presented the first findings and a draft version of the initial analysis report. The report will be published soon.

We also started the joint discussion on the next step of CLIMB: the development of training modules designed for women who aspire to become entrepreneurs in rural and inner areas.

Two days of exchange, alignment and shared ideas—an important milestone for what comes next.

Stay tuned for the publication of the first report and the launch of the training phase

27/03/2026

The CLIMB Project brings together a diverse partnership of organisations from across Europe, combining expertise in entrepreneurship, adult education, research, and regional development.

Partner Organisations

🇮🇹 GAL MERIDAUNIA (Italy)

Coordinator of the project, contributing extensive experience in community development, training initiatives, and European
cooperation projects.

🇬🇷 OECON GROUP Business and Development Consultants (Greece)

Specialised in research, policy analysis, and project management, supporting innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe.

🇹🇷 Kadın ve Genç Girişim Merkezi Derneği - K-GEM (Türkiye)

An organisation dedicated to promoting education, skills development, and opportunities for social and economic empowerment.

🇨🇾 H. Priority Trust Services Ltd (Cyprus)

Providing expertise in consultancy, training, and innovation projects that support entrepreneurship and professional development.

🇪🇸 Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain)

A leading European university contributing academic expertise, research capacity, and evidence-based approaches to the project.

Working Together Across Europe

By combining knowledge from five countries, the CLIMB partnership works collaboratively to create tools, research, and opportunities that support women entrepreneurs in rural and mountainous areas.

Together, the partners aim to build stronger networks, empower women with new skills, and contribute to sustainable and inclusive rural economies across Europe.

24/03/2026

The CLIMB Project aims to empower women living in rural and mountainous areas by strengthening their entrepreneurial skills, financial literacy, and digital competences. By addressing the barriers women face when starting a business, the project contributes to more inclusive and sustainable rural development across Europe.

Through research, training, and collaboration, CLIMB will support women who want to create their own opportunities while living in rural regions.

Key Objectives:

🔎 Identify inequalities in entrepreneurship

The project will examine the main areas where women face inequalities when trying to start or grow a business.

🚧 Understand barriers and gaps

CLIMB will analyse the key challenges women encounter when attempting to establish businesses in rural or mountainous areas.

📚 Develop practical training material

Specialised learning resources will be created to help women develop the skills needed to launch and manage their own businesses.

🌐 Create a networking platform

A digital space will connect women from the project’s case-study regions, encouraging collaboration, mentorship, and knowledge exchange.

📢 Promote project results widely

Dissemination activities will ensure that the project’s findings, tools, and opportunities reach a broad audience across Europe.

🏔️ Support rural communities and address depopulation

By supporting women entrepreneurs, the project contributes to
strengthening rural economies and encouraging women to remain in or relocate to these regions.

12/03/2026

CLIMB Project is officially launched!

We’re thrilled to announce that the CLIMB project kicked off in November 2025! Our mission is to empower women in rural and mountainous areas across Europe, breaking down barriers to entrepreneurship and fostering inclusive economic growth.
What we aim to achieve:
- Enhance entrepreneurial skills and financial literacy for rural women
- Develop digital competencies and innovative training programs
- Create networking opportunities, mentorship, and a dedicated digital learning hub
- Strengthen support systems for gender-inclusive rural development

Meet our partnership:
🇮🇹 Meridaunia (Project Coordinator - Italy)
🇬🇷 OECON (Greece)
🇪🇸 Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain)
🇨🇾 Priority Trust Services (Cyprus)
🇹🇷 K-GEM (Turkey)

Together, we’re committed to building a sustainable future where rural women thrive as entrepreneurs and leaders in their communities.
Stay tuned for updates on our journey