BACKGROUND: Coworking is a new model that involves individuals working independently or collaboratively in shared office space. However, coworking is not only about providing office space for startups, self-employed persons and other. Coworking usually performs two more important functions - there is always educational program provided as well as socialisation program. Hence coworking is a unique mix of 3 very important features: at first - it promotes and help entrepreneurship, including social entrepreneurship ( especially in rural areas); secondly - it bring new educational elements into community, where it operates; thirdly - it always helps in terms of social integration, especially important in rural areas. The rationale of coworking is its triple effect, which can stimulate positive and sustainable effect of socialisation (inclusion), education and entrepreneurship. These elements are critically important in a youth sector, especially in rural areas. OBJECTIVE: Introduce coworking concept to he youth centres in the rural areas - hence, stimulate entrepreneurship and educational possibilities of youth through coworking concept. The project aims to fosters entrepreneurial attitudes, stimulate key competencies and provides new models of business operations in rural environments. NEEDS: The work conditions shift from the office based o the flexible and freelance.It is expected that coworking spaces will be “new models of work” in the context of the ‘collaborative and ‘sharing’ economy (Botsman and Rogers, 2011). Hence, coworking is an alternative way of working, where working environment is shared and coworkers become sustainable entrepreneurs. In the supportive environment they receive also new contacts, social skills, empowerment and education. The most obvious change in the working behaviour is found within youth sector. Hence, youth centres has to become a combination of youth centre and coworking space. At the moment, the lack of relevant knowledge, support and infrastructure is one of the main barriers for proper development of coworking in rural areas and small towns. With more than 7.500 spaces in operations across Europe (2015), coworking is by far the largest bottom-up community based network of entrepreneurs. Neelie Kroes, European Commissioner in charge of the Digital Agenda, has acknowledged coworking as a model which can support the development of digital entrepreneurship in Europe and beyond. The project addresses specific problems related to youth unemployment and self-employment in rural areas: - the need to reduce start up costs (office rent, secretariat costs, room meeting, ICT tools, etc.); - the need to combat the sense of isolation, need for social engagement and civic activisms within relevant social network.; - the need to stimulate self-employment and entrepreneurship by stimulating key competencies. TARGET AUDIENCE: - primary target group: youth living in a rural and small towns. - secondary - youth workers/youth leaders. MAIN ACTIVITIES/RESULTS: 4 Transnational meetings organised in partners countries. 1 Guideline with suggestions how to coworking within youth sector and distributed to wide network of stakeholders. 2 Trainings organised to obtain and share knowledge. 1 Coworking space started in Latvia as role model. 1 Dissemination events organised with at least 30 participants. At least 15 articles about the project will be published in the project partners websites, describing 3 most important processes in the project. 1 network of established among partners with aim to continue cooperation BENEFITS/IMPACT: The main impact expected to have a wider visibility and support towards coworking as a method to integrate in a youth centres to empower youth. Foster development of better infrastructure for entrepreneurship, foster availability of education in youth sector. More specific impact is expected as: - wider acceptance of coworking concept at European level in rural territories as part of the youth work; - improvement of essential support towards educational needs in rural areas in youth sector; - increased amount of empowered youth in Europe; - availability of new coworking spaces integrated as a part of the youth centre in Latvia and abroad.

"Noticing that many European Union countries face problems of youth unemployment, overload of qualified young professionals, the brain drain and the lack of youth involvement in innovative product development, we decided to create a Youth Innovation Center -like operating model - the methodology that could be universally applied to all youth-center-based existing institutions in order to face and solve these problems. The project will create a comfrtable platform for young people to develop their skills and competencies. Youth innovation center will work by the methodology, which will be based on support and mentoring of qualified youth workers and the synergy created by the partnership network of other institutions. The network will be able to help young people learn and be supervised by a variety of business, educational, cultural, social and governmental professionals and specialists who will help young people with their innovative ideas and initiatives in order for them to grow and improve. The project ""iGrow Center“ - is a 24-month strategic partnership initiative, during which young people, youth centers and educational institutions of Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Spain and Greece methodically will plan, develop and implement collaboration platform that fosters participants cooperation between the various economic activities and initiatives in many different fields in order to improve economic performance, knowledge sharing, technology transfer, development of new products, promoting young people's creativity and innovation of application covering new ideas and concepts or new communication and interaction between the well-known ideas and concepts. Youth innovation center‘s main focus will be on the promotion and popularization of innovation, encouraging new innovative start-ups, innovative development of existing businesses, promotion of scientific innovation and business partnerships and activities related to innovation support services. Target groups: Group I - young people (including young people from refugee categories, and young people with social, economic, cultural or other isolation and fewer opportunities); Group II – specialists working with innovative products of science, education, business, social sector, tourism, culture, and government representatives – experts. They will carry out the role of mentors; Group III - youth workers and those working in youth innovation center with youth."