Exception Versus Example: Empowering Young Women in Rural Areas (EVE-EWRA) through conventional and social entrepreneurship
Programme: Erasmus+
Sub-programme: Cooperation for Innovation and the Exchange of Good Practices
Action: Strategic Partnerships for Youth
Duration: 01 July 2015 – 30 June 2017
Participating Countries: Sweden, Spain, Turkey
Project Overview
EVE–EWRA is a two-year project funded by the European Commission through the Erasmus+ programme. It focuses on developing methods and strengthening the networking capacity of stakeholders who work with women and youth facilitation. Each stakeholder may operate differently, but all share the same purpose: to support women and young people in realizing their entrepreneurial ambitions.
Background and Motivation
The idea for EVE–EWRA stemmed from our practical experiences in supporting women’s ideas and observing how these ideas, and the women behind them, are received by society. The project’s purpose and structure strongly reflect our values and philosophical approach to gender and entrepreneurship.
The name Example Versus Exception encapsulates a central theme of the project. In public discourse, successful women-led companies are often highlighted as inspirational examples of female entrepreneurship. However, these successes are more accurately exceptions achievements by women who have managed to overcome numerous, often gender-specific, barriers to success. This framing risks obscuring the structural obstacles that make such stories rare in the first place.
Methodological Focus: Intersectoriality
A key dimension of the project is intersectoriality, which we treat not merely as a concept but as a method. We believe that in order to truly understand and address social issues, one must begin with the assumption that no single sector is capable of solving the problem on its own. Each sector may be highly effective at handling one or more specific aspects of an issue, thanks to long-term collaboration and expertise within that field. Professionals within a given sector often engage in deep, critical discussion with their peers, refining practices and understanding every dimension of the problem from their own perspective.
However, this inward focus can lead to what we describe as “interest bubbles” spaces where professionals continually reaffirm one another’s views and competencies. While this reinforces expertise, it also limits dynamic discourse, reduces innovation capacity, and ultimately hinders the emergence of sustainable solutions.
Through EVE–EWRA (as with many of our other initiatives), we aim to dismantle these bubbles. We do so by deliberately inviting individuals from different professional backgrounds, sectors, and cultural contexts into shared discussions. Participants are encouraged to contribute based on their individual perspectives, without relying on support from their usual professional peers. This approach fosters truly equal and open dialogue, enabling participants to challenge assumptions, encounter new insights, and contribute to the co-creation of innovative solutions.
International Collaboration and Partners
To better understand the specific obstacles faced by young women pursuing entrepreneurship and to examine whether similar patterns are observable in other European countries, we partnered with:
- AEPA Alicante – a non-profit NGO in Spain dedicated to supporting businesswomen
- Municipality of Niğde – a governmental authority in central Turkey
- Individual participants – including women entrepreneurs and scientific advisors who bring valuable field experience and research-based perspectives
Project Activities
The EVE–EWRA project included a rich set of activities designed to deepen reflection and enable international learning:
- Study visits to partner organizations and project sites
- Internal seminars to share knowledge among partners and participants
- Workshops focusing on practical and theoretical aspects of female entrepreneurship
- An international seminar held in Spain, bringing together all stakeholders to reflect on project findings and share results with a wider audience
More information about the project you may find at the EU-commission homepage.
EVE-EWRA: Part III, Spain/Alicante 2017
EVE-EWRA training for young entrepreneurs, Turkey
