Developing an image of the rural areas in which youngsters would like to live

• To support youngsters in acquiring the necessary competencies to envision, transmit, and work towards the rural areas where they would like to live.
• To bridge the gap between youngsters in rural areas and decision-makers
• To build a community of youngsters committed to innovating in rural areas

Activities:

• Development of a Youth Participation Activity (Erasmus KA154-YOU) application together with a group of youngsters from rural areas
• Implementation of the training program, gathering 30 youngsters from 6 European countries in the rural region of Galicia (Spain)
• Development of national, concrete micro-projects to make the first steps in building their "utopian" rural area at home
• Development of a "manifesto" with the ideas gathered and sharing it with decision-makers

• Citizen
• Non-governmental / civil society organisation
• Public authority

• Communication and/or Advocacy
• Rural development strategy
• Capacity Building

• KA154-YOU application developed and presented (February 2025)
• Project kick-off (June 2025)
• National groups selected (July-August 2025)
• International exchange program implemented in Galicia (September 2025)
• Manifesto developed (October 2025)
• Manifesto shared through local events November-December 2025
• National micro-projects implemented (October 2025-March 2026)
• Online closing event (April 2026)

Outcomes:

• Youth-led training and international exchange program
• Manifesto with youngsters ideas of their "ideal" rural areas
• National-based micro-projects in rural areas

• Empowered youth as agents of change: Young participants develop leadership, project management, and advocacy skills, enabling them to contribute to the sustainable development of rural areas.
• Manifesto for the future of rural areas: A youth-driven manifesto that reflects young people's vision for "ideal" rural areas. The manifesto is shared with decision-makers to inspire future rural development initiatives.
• Implementation of local micro-projects: National micro-projects are carried out in participants' rural communities, translating the manifesto's values and ideas into concrete local actions.
• Strengthened youth networks and community engagement:  Connections are established among youngsters, youth organizations, and rural stakeholders, fostering collaboration for rural development.
• Increased influence of rural youth voices: The dissemination of the manifesto increases the visibility of youth perspectives on rural development, ensuring that young voices are at all levels.