Ancient Greeks called dora the gifts they used to exchange to each other or offer to please their gods. Dora – Gifts of Nature (link) is the name that Vincenza Ferrara has chosen for her organic and eco-friendly farm located in Villarosa, near to Enna. Really an evocative name, that through its Greek etymology recalls the fruit that the earth gives to everyone who is respectful and who grows it patiently.
Vincenza, a young Sicilian entrepreneur, has a first level degree in Philosophy and a Master degree in project management and European founding. After her graduation, she decided to combine her love for Nature with economic opportunities that EU usually offers to everyone who, like Vincenza, wants to put himself to the test. So, by making the most of her abilities, Vincenza has created Dora, a farm that produces organic and eco-friendly extra-virgin olive oil. Now the excellence of Vincenza’s farm is internationally recognised and on last April Dora took part in the Slow Food Day in order to present its products to the local community.
A fruitful dissemination of knowledge
In this period Dora is an hosting company within the EYE – Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (link) programme. EYE is a cross-border exchange programme which gives new or aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to move to another Participating Country acquiring new skills from experienced entrepreneurs. The exchange of experience takes place during a stay with the experienced entrepreneur, which helps the new entrepreneur acquire the skills needed to run a small firm. On the other hand, the host benefits from fresh perspectives on business and gets the opportunities to cooperate with foreign partners or learn about new markets.
From the 1st of April 2015 the Centre for Creative Development “Danilo Dolci”, as Intermediary Agency within the EYE programme, started its first exchange lasting 5 months between Vincenza, as host entrepreneur, and Sarah Wolferstan, a young English entrepreneur who is involved in the olive oil production. Sarah has arrived in Sicily together with her family aiming to improve her husband’s olive grove that is located in Villarosa.
Sarah will work with Dora farm until September. According to her, the experience she’s living with Vincenza is invaluable: she is involved in different activities and by working closely with Vincenza she can verify how a successful business works. At the same time Sarah is gaining new skills and an adequate know-how by working directly in the field. Sarah has already created new commercial relations both in Italy and in the UK and she is ready for the launch of her own enterprise this autumn.
In a period like this, when launch an enterprise on one’s own seems to be the hardest thing, stories like that of Vincenza and Sarah are a message of hope that also newspapers such as La Sicilia (link) wanted to tell.
If you need more information about EYE, please contact antonella.alessi@danilodolci.org
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