In October 2024, I had the prospect to take part in a 15-day rural entrepreneurship program that reawakened my entrepreneurial spirit and deepened my love for rural Galicia. This system, known as Fixar, took me to Anceu Coliving, a singular coliving area tucked into the guts of the Galician countryside close to Pontevedra.
Over time, I’ve roamed the world as a digital nomad, discovering group and creativity in coliving areas from Marrakech to Budapest. But Fixar wasn’t simply one other cease alongside the best way. This initiative felt like a homecoming—a reminder of my roots, my passions, and the transformative potential of rural residing. It was about connection: to others, to nature, and to the entrepreneurial spark that had been quietly ready to reignite after two years spent largely at house, balancing work and motherhood.
What Is Fixar?
Fixar is a groundbreaking rural entrepreneurship initiative, the primary of its form in Galicia, supported by Galicia’s authorities and funded via the European Union. With a finances of €123,800, its mission is to revitalize rural Galicia by fostering innovation and sustainable group improvement.
This system passed off from July to October 2024, welcoming 60 individuals from numerous backgrounds. Half had been “ambassadors,” entrepreneurs already based mostly in rural areas, and the opposite half had been people able to embrace rural entrepreneurship. These individuals had been break up amongst three inspiring coliving and coworking areas: iSlow in Costa da Morte, Sende in Ourense, and my house for 2 weeks, Anceu Coliving.
The overarching objective of Fixar is easy but profound: to reveal that rural areas, typically seen as quiet and sleepy, will be vibrant facilities of creativity and alternative, rivaling city hubs like Madrid or Lisbon.
Why I Joined Fixar
It had been some time since I participated in something remotely like this. Life had shifted dramatically over the previous few years. After giving beginning to my daughter, my days revolved round her, and my entrepreneurial tasks took a backseat. I craved inspiration, connection, and an area the place I may dream huge once more. Fixar arrived on the good time, simply over an hour from my house in rural Galicia however providing a much-needed reset.
Strolling into Anceu Coliving, I used to be struck by how acquainted but refreshing it felt—a reminder of the transformative energy of those areas. They’re not nearly work; they’re about group, shared goal, and residing deliberately.
Anceu Coliving: A Rural Haven
Situated close to the picturesque village of Pontecaldelas, Anceu Coliving is greater than only a coliving area—it’s a labor of affection by its founders, Agus and Africa, who returned to their roots to breathe new life into this rural nook of Galicia. Along with their staff—Se, a theater-loving multitasker; Rosa, who saved the area operating easily; and their canine Pandora, Pepe, and Liño—they’ve created an area that’s as welcoming as it’s inspiring.
The group right here is simply as exceptional. Ana, a cosmopolitan soul now settled close by, runs a cellular bookstore that brings tales to life on the go. Victor, aka Rural Champs, affords boxing courses to locals and guests alike, fostering each health and connection. Nacho, a part of Rural Hackers alongside Africa and Agus—an affiliation combining artwork, expertise, and social impression linked to the ECNH—is planning to maneuver to the area along with his accomplice. He performs an energetic position within the rural Galician entrepreneurship scene, contributing recent concepts and vitality.
Along with momentary residents and new arrivals, these inspiring people added depth and vibrancy to Anceu, making it a very dynamic setting.
On high of the folks, right here’s what makes Anceu particular:
- Lodging: Snug en-suite rooms that mix rustic attraction with fashionable facilities.
- Coworking Areas: A number of choices, together with a dog-friendly workspace and comfy breakout areas.
- Leisure Facilities: A swimming pool, a café-library nook, and out of doors terraces for stress-free or brainstorming.
- Nature at Your Doorstep: The encircling forests and rivers supplied moments of peace and inspiration, even in the course of the almost fixed rain that accompanied my keep.
Sustainability and Group
Sustainability was woven into each facet of Anceu. Meals orders had been positioned communally, with recent produce sourced instantly from native farmers. Dinner turned a cherished ritual: each evening at 8 PM, we gathered for a vegetarian feast (no pasta or rice!) ready by rotating cooking groups. These meals weren’t nearly meals—they had been about storytelling, connection, and collaboration.
The communal effort prolonged to our workshops and skill-sharing classes, the place every individual contributed their distinctive skills to counterpoint the expertise.
The Coronary heart of Fixar: Ability Sharing and Collaboration
If the bodily areas of Anceu Coliving offered a canvas, the folks introduced it to life.
Ability-sharing classes had been the beating coronary heart of Fixar, the place everybody—from musicians to tech consultants—supplied their data generously.
Listed here are just some of the exceptional people I met:
- Iago: A composer and musician, Iago’s electrical guitars and screens within the dog-friendly coworking area turned an attention grabbing point of interest. His acoustic guitar classes by the fireside introduced heat to wet nights, creating unforgettable moments of music and laughter.
- Maria: A journalist and reiki grasp, Maria shortly turned a detailed pal. Her therapeutic massage workshop was intimate and grounding, and he or she’s brimming with thrilling concepts for the long run.
- Pablo: Cofounder of Dooroti, a startup connecting storage area homeowners and drivers, Pablo introduced startup vitality and his lovable canine Maia to the group.
- Catuxa: A rising star in Galicia’s music scene, Catuxa Salom amazed us along with her work ethic. After most of us had turned in for the evening, she nonetheless composed her distinctive mix of conventional Galician and Argentinian music with an digital twist.
- Oscar: Cofounder of Bregal, Oscar shared invaluable insights into Erasmus+ packages. His discuss was a spotlight for me, as a few of these initiatives profoundly formed my very own life. I couldn’t agree extra when he mentioned these EU-funded packages are among the many greatest alternatives for younger Europeans to develop and join.
- Agata: A part of Cowonders, Agata led two enlightening workshops on nonviolent communication, leaving us all with sensible instruments to enhance our interactions.
- Javier C.: A physician in communication, author, and public speaker, Javier delivered a TED-style discuss on emotional intelligence, staff communication, and management—one of the vital partaking classes of your entire program.
- Carol: A real Renaissance lady, Carol shocked us along with her inventive versatility. She hosted a watercolor workshop, later revealing she additionally has a YouTube channel filled with artistic tutorials.
- Javier B.: A artistic mentor who freely supplied recommendation all through the 2 weeks, Javier’s generosity left a mark on everybody he spoke with. He’s at all times scheming his subsequent huge mission, and I can’t wait to see what he does subsequent.
- David: From high-tech experience to laser-cut wooden artistry, David amazed us all along with his versatility. He led workshops on drilling, investing, private finance, and GPS mapping, offering invaluable data each step of the best way.
Others, together with David’s accomplice Charlotte, who helped us envision artistic futures, Alexandra, a gifted photographer and volunteer group host throughout my time there, a calming Zentangle artist, and a joy-filled Polish resident artist known as Mery that enriched the expertise even additional bringing magnificence into the every single day and scrumptious treats at dinner.
Rain and Revitalization
Although it rained virtually every single day throughout my keep, it solely added to the attraction. The regular downpour was a relentless reminder of Galicia’s lush magnificence. Walks via the misty forests, late nights by the fireplace, and the sound of rain on the rooftops created a singular type of magic.
Wanting Again and Shifting Ahead
Fixar and my time at Anceu had been the stepping stones I didn’t know I wanted to return to full entrepreneurship mode. It was a reset button for my life, permitting me to replicate on my objectives whereas staying current with my household and embracing my roles as a mom, entrepreneur, and rural dweller.
As I sort this from Casa Feliz, my retreat house in rural Galicia, I really feel immense gratitude for the connections I’ve made and the tasks I’ve began to ascertain. 2024 introduced unimaginable highlights—watching my daughter develop from toddler to little child, touring within the van (traversing Central Europe from Spain to the Netherlands, and perhaps even southern Portugal or Morocco by 12 months’s finish), and, in fact, Fixar.
With 2025 simply days away, I really feel energized. The 12 months forward is brimming with potential, and whereas I received’t spill the beans on my subsequent huge mission simply but, I can say this: rural coliving has given me the readability, connections, and braveness to dream greater than ever earlier than.
Would you ever take into account a rural coliving expertise? Let’s discuss—I’d love to listen to your ideas.