Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).
The project is addressed to:
Adult trainers in digital education operating in rural Territories
Adult education centres and social organisations
Public bodies involved in digital inclusion
The entire adult education sector can benefit from the results of the DESIRE Project on digital education in rural areas: a compendium of good practises of digital education in rural areas and an online toolkit for running digital courses for adults.
The compendium showcases best practices in digital education for rural areas, offering a wide range of teaching methods, learning tools, and engagement strategies. Available in English, French, and Italian, it serves as a multilingual guide for educators and stakeholders.
The online toolkit offers practical guidance for delivering digital courses to adults, featuring detailed descriptions of learning tools, objectives, target groups, duration, and pedagogical steps. Published in English, French, and Italian, it is designed for broad accessibility and dissemination.
FLORENCE – On February 16, 2026, the city of Florence became a hub for European digital innovation as it hosted two major "Multiplier Events" for the DESIRE (Digital Education Skills in Rural Europe) project. Funded by the Erasmus+ program, the initiative aims to bridge the digital gap in rural areas through a strategic partnership between Familles Rurales (France), Pixel, and Pegaso (Italy).
A Day of Strategic Cooperation
The morning session kicked off at the Pixel offices, where 13 international representatives from various institutional partners gathered to review the project’s progress. The focus was on the strong synergy between the European partners and the successful management of the project’s milestones.
In the afternoon, the spotlight shifted to the Centro Machiavelli, a prestigious Florentine center specializing in adult education and innovative teaching. This historic venue provided an ideal setting for educational professionals to discuss how to better support communities facing digital isolation. 17 people attended the event.
Key Tools for Digital Mediators
Both sessions focused on the presentation of the project’s two flagship results:
• The Compendium of Best Practices: A comprehensive analysis of successful digital adult education practices currently operating in France and Italy.
• The Online Toolkit: A multilingual digital toolkit offering practical pedagogical tools and guidance for mediators working in the field.
A Successful Round Table
Designed as a series of dynamic round tables, the events encouraged active participation, allowing attendees to share unique perspectives and broaden the project’s impact. The day proved to be a significant success in terms of dissemination, fostering new professional networks and reinforcing a shared European commitment to ensuring that rural residents are not left behind in the digital age.
The DESIRE Project Reaches Completion: Three Milestones to Transform Rural Digital Education
The series of transnational meetings for the DESIRE project has officially concluded. This European initiative was launched with the goal of breaking down digital barriers and providing innovative tools for trainers operating in rural areas.
A Three-Stage Journey
The partners' journey began in November 2024 in Angers, France, where partnership members (including Familles Rurales and Pixel) met in person for the first time. That meeting laid the groundwork for the Compendium of Good Practices, enriched by site visits to local organizations such as "France Service" and "Point de Médiation Numérique."
The second milestone took place in May 2025 in Florence, Italy. During this session at the Pixel offices, the group refined the Compendium and officially introduced the Toolkit for Adult Trainers, sharing expertise with sector specialists like Glocal Factory to enhance educational methodologies.
The Final Achievement
On December 11th and 12th, 2025, Familles Rurales hosted the final act of the project. During this third transnational meeting in Angers (FR), the partners proudly presented the final outputs:
The Compendium of Good Practices: A curated collection of successful models in digital education.
The Toolkit for Trainers: A practical resource designed to support the teaching of digital technologies to adults.
The event culminated in the final conference organized by Familles Rurales, a crucial moment for sharing project successes with stakeholders and discussing foundations for future European collaborations. With the review of dissemination activities and the final report planning underway, the DESIRE project draws to a close, leaving behind a tangible legacy for digital inclusion across Europe.
Digital Divide in Rural Areas: DESIRE Project Final Conference Held in Angers
ANGERS (France) – The final conference of the European project DESIRE (Digital Education Skills In Rural Europe) took place on December 11th in Angers. The event marked the culmination of an international cooperation journey aimed at combating the digital divide in rural territories and promoting inclusion through education.
A Bridge Between France and Italy
The project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ program, involved close collaboration between French and Italian actors. Coordinated by the Fédération Régionale Familles Rurales des Pays de la Loire, the partnership included the Departmental Federation of Maine-et-Loire and, representing Italy, the Pixel association and the Pegaso network from Florence.
The central objective of the initiative was twofold:
To foster the sharing of experiences between institutional and associative actors.
To strengthen the skills of digital mediators, both salaried staff and volunteers.
Results Presented: Concrete Tools for Inclusion
During the conference, the main results (deliverables) of the joint work were presented and are now available in English, French, and Italian:
A collection of best practices for digital education specifically for rural zones.
An online toolkit designed for digital mediators operating in isolated areas.
All materials are accessible via the official project platform: desire.pixel-online.org.
Comparison and Future Perspectives
The event in Angers was also a crucial moment to analyze the differences and similarities between the two countries. Although both share programs of similar duration and offer free access for users, structural differences emerged: while France relies on dedicated national funding for mediators, Italy is currently benefiting more from "Next Generation EU" funds.
Particular interest was sparked by the French model of "itinerant vans" (mobile units), identified as an ideal solution for reaching the most geographically isolated people and revitalizing digital mediation points. For the partners from Tuscany, the meeting was an opportunity to study the strong territorial anchorage of Familles Rurales and the involvement of volunteers—a model that could be successfully replicated in Italy.
The conference confirmed that, despite organizational differences, transnational cooperation remains the key to developing innovative pedagogical tools and ensuring no one is left behind in the digital transition.
