Pistes-Solidaires, within the framework of the RurALL project (Rural Active Citizenship Labs), organized its Decision-Making Modelling and Simulation Workshop in Loubieng, Pyrénées-Atlantiques. The event gathered 27 participants in the inspiring setting of Mirasou, a rural ecoplace that has become a symbol of agroecology, social inclusion, and rural innovation.
A workshop rooted in rural realities
The RurALL project is committed to strengthening democratic engagement and civic participation in rural areas. Organizing this workshop in Loubieng, far from large urban centers, was a deliberate choice: it ensured that discussions were grounded in the lived experiences of rural communities.
Mirasou, which hosted the event, perfectly embodies the spirit of the project. Created in 2023, the site spans more than ten hectares, with orchards, gardens, and over 1,200 trees planted to date. It combines low-impact agriculture with spaces for workshops, eco-construction, low-tech innovation, cooking, and volunteering. Beyond farming, Mirasou is gradually becoming a participatory hub, with plans for a grocery, coworking spaces, and even small-scale housing.
Applying the Ideathon method to hospitality challenges
At the heart of the workshop was the Ideathon method, developed by Pistes-Solidaires to encourage creative, structured, and collective problem-solving. The aim of the day was to rethink hospitality practices at Mirasou and beyond, ensuring that ecoplaces remain open, inclusive, and welcoming to all.
The morning began with a tour of Mirasou, which allowed participants to discover the challenges linked to hosting visitors and new members. Working in small groups, participants then tackled three central themes:
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Spaces – from clearer signage and accessibility to creating convivial entry points;
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Activities – designing inclusive events and community gatherings for diverse audiences;
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Welcome kit – providing practical tools and information for newcomers.
Proposals reflected both creativity and pragmatism: eco-friendly signage respecting Mirasou’s values, greater use of volunteers as ambassadors, and new opportunities for local residents and visitors to connect through cultural and educational activities.
Decision-making in action
In the afternoon, participants experienced collective decision-making in practice. After a shared lunch, the Mirasou team presented a participatory budgeting initiative, and each group delivered short presentations of their proposals. The plenary discussion not only assessed feasibility but also encouraged participants to make personal commitments: each person was invited to take one concrete action forward, ensuring that ideas did not remain theoretical.
The importance of community gardens quickly emerged as a recurring theme, reinforcing their role as shared spaces of production, learning, and social cohesion in rural areas.
Looking ahead, Pistes-Solidaires will build on these results during the third in-situ RurALL event, which will focus on community gardens—a theme identified as both highly relevant and deeply inspiring during this workshop.
A step toward rural innovation
The RurALL project once again demonstrated how rural spaces can be sites of democratic innovation, ecological transition, and community empowerment. Through participatory methods such as the Ideathon, ecoplaces like Mirasou are not only testing sustainable lifestyles, but also strengthening the democratic fabric of Europe’s rural territories.
