A new “Persp@ctive” for the sweet business of a rural entrepreneur, with the support of EU4Youth

For Alexandru Socolov, a young man from the village of Răzeni, Moldova, the journey to entrepreneurship began in his childhood, among his grandfather’s beehives. There, among the swarms and the sweet smell of honeycombs, a passion for beekeeping took root. Inspired by this fascinating world and determined to carry on his family’s tradition, in 2018 Alexandru took a decisive step: he bought four beehives and set out on his own on the path of apiculture.

Like many other young people from rural areas, Alexandru had the desire and the skill, but not the resources or knowledge needed to turn his passion into a sustainable  business. He knew that developing a beekeeping farm required serious investments: money, time, equipment, and a lot of patience.

The EU4Youth programme – the support that propelled Alexandru’s business

The support came at exactly the right moment.. Through the National Agency for Employment (ANOFM), Alexandru learned about the “Persp@ctive” project and decided to sign up.

“I saw the announcement and decided to register, just to see what it was about. It was about business, about how to manage a business. And for me, at that time, it was very interesting to learn how I could develop, how I could move forward, and take the next step. That’s how I started the courses“, says Alexandru Socolov.

The support received through the project was not limited to theoretical information, but also involved practical application. Moreover, the training and funding opportunities he discovered helped him advance his business.

“There, I learned how to make a business plan, starting from scratch.. With the projects we developed, we participated in grants. That’s how we won a grant of 50,000 lei, with which we purchased 25 beehive families.. Essentially, it saved us years of work“, says Alexandru.

How strategic partnerships contribute to the success of young entrepreneurs

Alexandru’s success is also the result of effective collaboration between the “Persp@ctive” project, which provided training, mentoring, and funding opportunities; the National Agency for Employment (ANOFM), which identified young people in need of support; and the EU4Youth Phase III Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship programme.

“As part of the Persp@ctives project, we aimed to support young people, especially those from rural areas, young people with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups, by facilitating their access to the labor market. At the same time, we support young people with entrepreneurial skills, so their ideas can be showcased, and some can even launch or develop businesses with the help of the experts involved in the project. Our main partner in this endeavor was the National Agency for Employment, through its territorial structures in the targeted districts, and in some cases, we also collaborated with social assistance services and educational departments“, says Sergiu Gurău, Director of the “Eco-Răzeni” Association, which implements the project in the Republic of Moldova.

“Through initiatives supported by the European Union, young people have the chance to turn their ideas into reality. Alexandru’s success is a clear example that the support provided by the EU4Youth program offers young people in Moldova access to concrete support, as well as the opportunity to become successful entrepreneurs and contribute to the development of their communities“, said Austėja Vilkelytė, Deputy Head of the International Development Cooperation Projects Department, Central Agency for Project Management.

Alexandru Socolov’s success inspires other young people in his community

Today, Alexandru manages a beekeeping farm with 50 beehives and continues to grow. In doing so, he has inspired his entire community, showing the young people in his village that through hard work, education, and proper support, entrepreneurial dreams can become reality, even in rural areas.

“I would encourage young people to take part in training without hesitation. The information you receive gives you confidence, it gives you a foundation. You no longer enter entrepreneurship unprepared or uncertain”, says Alexandru.

The “Persp@ctive” project, implemented in Moldova between June 2023 and May 2025, provided practical and theoretical support to young people from six regions – Ialoveni, Hâncești, Cantemir, Florești, Fălești, and UTA Găgăuzia – for career development and entrepreneurial skills. The collaboration between ANOFM, local social assistance services, and the project team ensured that each participant received support tailored to their needs. The total budget of the project was 294,000 euros.

The EU4Youth Phase III Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship programme, funded by the European Union and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, is being executed by the Central Project Management Agency (CPVA) in Eastern Partnership countries. These include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. The programme will run until the middle of 2026 and aims to provide technical assistance to governmental and non-governmental organisations to tackle youth unemployment and improve employability.