HCC Key contributions:

• Practice group

  HCC led the Practice Group in Romania, creating safe spaces for farmers, women, local leaders, and NGOs in the Brașov region to openly discuss wellbeing challenges and explore solutions. Through these meetings, communities identified pressing issues such as low income, out-migration, and lack of recognition, while also discovering social innovations like women’s associations, eco-tourism initiatives, and educational projects. By combining dialogue, foresight exercises, and hands-on exchanges, HCC helped farming communities connect with innovators, build pride in their identity, and see new pathways to improve wellbeing and resilience.

• Social innovation

  HCC helped identify social innovations that address wellbeing challenges in Romanian farming communities. A standout example is the Saschiz Women’s Association (Vecinătatea Femeilor), which has transformed traditional community networks into a source of pride and resilience. Through events like the Rhubarb and Zacuscă festivals, local product baskets, and even health fairs, the women of Saschiz have shown how tradition, solidarity, and creativity can strengthen rural life. Their inspiring journey was captured in a video telling their story, sharing their achievements with a wider audience.

• Hosting events

  HCC was proud to host the FARMWELL partners’ meeting in Brașov, a two-day event dedicated to planning the project’s final activities. Alongside productive discussions, we offered our partners an authentic experience of rural life in Bod commune. Together, we visited the Rognean family orchard, tasting apples, juice, and plum brandy, then met the Popică families, who shared their passion for raising over 800 Ţigaie sheep, 400 Ţurcane sheep, and a herd of Bălțata Românească cattle. The field trip concluded at HOF Hărman Local Gastronomic Point, where our hosts delighted us with dishes from their own garden and local producers. The visit highlighted the pride and dedication of small farmers and producers in the region, leaving partners inspired by their resilience and traditions.

• LAGs meeting

  HCC leveraged its partnership with Ținutul Bârsei LAG to explore how Local Action Groups across Romania perceive and can integrate social innovation into their development strategies. We designed and hosted a dedicated workshop for LAGs, creating a space to deepen understanding of the concept and to identify ways to embed it in local strategies. The discussions revealed diverse perspectives shaped by local contexts, but one strong common message: LAGs see the need for better information, stronger collaboration, and active community engagement. HCC highlighted solutions such as building informal networks of experts (psychologists, accountants, marketers) around LAGs and tapping into the cultural heritage of communities to improve wellbeing and strengthen local identity. This approach demonstrates our ability to connect innovation with practice, equipping LAGs to act as catalysts of social wellbeing in rural areas.