WORLD VISION ROMANIA - PROUD TO BE A FARMER PROJECT
Agriculture is a key pillar of Romania’s rural economy, contributing 4.5% to the national GDP in 2022 and offering significant potential for future growth and investment. However, unlocking this potential requires more than land and resources, it depends on a new generation of well-educated, motivated farmers and agricultural specialists.
The “Proud to Be a Farmer” project responds to this need by strengthening the capacity of Romania’s agricultural high schools to deliver education that is both modern and aligned with local economic realities. The broader “Growing through Agricultural Education” initiative, launched by World Vision Romania in 2015, has grown to a national scale, now working with all 59 agricultural high schools across the country.
As part of this national effort, the A. R. Foundation supports five key high schools, helping them become hubs of modern agricultural learning. The project integrates Agriculture 4.0 technologies, hands-on practical training, and direct collaboration with agribusinesses to improve both teaching quality and student engagement. Investments in pedagogical greenhouses, teacher training, and digital tools ensure that students not only learn about farming, but also gain the entrepreneurial mindset and skills needed to succeed in the agricultural sector of tomorrow.
Equally important, the project works to elevate the reputation of farming and agricultural education among students, parents, and the wider public helping reframe agriculture as a forward-looking, rewarding career path.
The “Proud to Be a Farmer” project was selected for its strategic and systemic approach to revitalizing agricultural education, and for its role in bridging the gap between education, innovation, and real-world agricultural practice.
