ASET Center, through the EkoRini Petrelë project, aims to strengthen climate resilience and sustainable economic development among young people in Petrelë, a rural area of the Municipality of Tirana. The project is implemented through a complementary educational initiative called the Winter School on Adaptive Management and Climate Resilience, which addresses the climate, economic, and social challenges of the area by placing young people at the center of the transition toward a greener, more inclusive, and sustainable rural economy.

The main beneficiaries are young people aged 17–24, including students from the “Ibrahim Hasmema” secondary school, unemployed youth, and small business owners. Through structured training sessions, participants will acquire practical knowledge in adaptive management, green entrepreneurship, the circular economy, and the responsible use of natural resources. These skills will enable young people to develop innovative business ideas and better cope with the impacts of climate change.

A core component of the project is the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues, which connect knowledge with action and foster cooperation among local governance, businesses, civil society organizations, and young people. Through these dialogues, concrete solutions will be co-created that integrate economic development with climate adaptation, with particular support for the agri-tourism sector and small businesses in Petrelë.

In a territory where agri-tourism and rural hospitality face multiple economic and climate-related challenges, the project creates real opportunities for young people to take on leadership roles in the sustainable transition. Through education, innovation, and multi-stakeholder cooperation, the initiative aims to increase economic opportunities, improve environmental resilience, and diversify the local economy. The project contributes to the long-term stability of Petrelë, strengthens the voice of young people in decision-making, and is fully aligned with the priorities of the ReLOaD programme, while also serving as a replicable model for other rural communities.