Ports are enclaves that generate employment, wealth, and economic impact. The training of qualified professionals is the key to ensuring the viability and competitiveness of the port industry.The VET_LOGICC project will reinforce the Vocational education and training (VET) system on two Latin-American coastal countries (Costa Rica and Colombia) relevant for the maritime transport and international trading thanks to a 3-axis methodology based on Education &innovation, governance and the relationship with the labour market. VET_LOGICC will contribute to the development, employment and economic growth in Colombia and Costa Rica by means of developing an inclusive and sustainable network of educational and sectoral institutions as well as better equipped individuals and organizations in the transport, logistics and port sectors thanks to an innovative methodology based on: Curriculum Review & Development, Skills training on Terminals and Port Operations, Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Digitalization and International Mobility. VET_LOGICC will transfer to Costa Rica and Colombia the successful experience in training that the ports of Valencia and Rotterdam have had for more than 30 years (supported by three experienced European entities on education and innovation: Fundacion Valenciport, STC International and CINOP). Two technical vocational educational institutions, Sena (Colombia) and CunLimon (Costa Rica) will be acting as end user of the VET program with the purpose of i) enhancing the skills and knowledge of the instructors and students, ii) having a better link with the industry and iii) establish long-term partnerships, between the EU and Latin America. The Colombian University Uninorte will facilitate the link between both Latin American VET entities and the European educational bodies. The knowledge generated will be expended and replicated among Europe and Latin American countries thanks to an outreach campaign.

The project “Creative Rural Empowerment And Thinking Innovative Villages and Ecosystems through Cacao” - CREATIVE CACAO will be implemented by 7 different organizations from 6 countries, (DE, IT, FR, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia) over the course of 18 months, starting on August 2018.It responds to the following challenges: rising levels of unemployment, promotion of sustainable, smart, inclusive growth and participatory processes among youth and the general migration trend from rural areas to urban ones. The main objectives are:• To provide youth with technical cooperation, innovation, and specialized knowledge on Cacao• To conceive and promote sustainable rural communities taking advantage of their assets, attracting and retaining businesses and residents of all ages, particularly youth, and ensuring that economic development results in lasting improvements, making a critical connection between economic competitiveness, agricultural and quality of life : Re-Thinking Villages It relies on the following activities:• Int’l Training in Brazil (28 participants). Topics: Agriculture and rural life as mean of re-integration into the society; Youth in global participation democratic processes; Re-Thinking Villages idea and ways of implementation.• Int’l Training in Colombia (28 participants). Topics: Cocoa production; The challenges and threats for cocoa producers; Cocoa marketing systems in cocoa producing countries; Good agricultural practices and sustainable farming; Evolution and economics of cocoa processing, quality aspects, characteristics and analysis of cocoa beans.• Int’l Training in Italy (28 participants). Topics: cocoa trade, focusing on developing awareness, knowledge, and skills; Sustainability and traceability developments in the cocoa supply chain; Understand chocolate chemistry and flavour as well as the ingredients and processes that contribute to taste; Understand the processes and machinery needed to turn dried cocoa beans into chocolate• Job Shadowing in Bolivia (6 participants) with the aim of involving relevant actors from youth work, education, politics, administration and businesses, promoting wider take up of results and outcomes. The project foresees three main dissemination activities: the Conference in Colombia, the Int’l Forum in Italy and the event in Bolivia, during which the outputs will be presented, 1) motivational and educational media production (social marketing, advocacy tool and educative entertainment); 2) academic and technical publications.The partners will integrate good practices derived from this project and the new skills developed in existing and planned offers for young people and youth workers. The trained youth workers will act in their local communities as multipliers helping to create an enabling environment, that genuinely assists young people in creating own business, in finding better or new employment opportunities and in becoming promoter of innovative rural villages and ecosystems.