• Objective 2

    structure and enable collaboration and mutual learning between Pact members
  • Objective 3

    encourage and monitor voluntary commitment for action by Rural Pact community members
Description

The Rural Experience Hub (REH) is a project focused on revitalizing rural areas by fostering intergenerational dialogue, creativity, and resilience to co-create positive futures. It aims to enhance rural quality of life through meaningful dialogue and cultural exchange while celebrating community heritage. The project timeline started with a Kickoff Event in 2025, followed by participation in the European Rural Parliament in October 2025, with further steps to be announced. The REH emphasizes rural development through transformative community involvement and intergenerational exchange, seeking to build a blueprint and first physical model for sustainable rural futures by 2027. The key goal is to jointly shape inclusive, resilient rural spaces that honour heritage and promote social cohesion alongside innovation. We will be shaping these with techniques like Dragon Dreaming, and involve the local directly into decision processes - since they know best what they need.

Commitment's information

Thèmes
Stakeholder beneficiary(ies)
  • Citizen
  • Non-governmental / civil society organisation
Activities
  • Communication and/or Advocacy
  • Knowledge sharing
  • Rural development strategy
  • Events
  • Capacity Building
Expected Outcomes

Milestones and final outcomes for the Rural Experience Hub (REH) commitment:

  • Successful Kickoff Event in May-June 2025 in Posaga de Jos, Romania, establishing a participatory, intergenerational workshop format. It was aimed at people active in rural development, both at local authority and NGO level as well as activeley involved rural citizens.
  • Active participation and advocacy at the European Rural Parliament in Scotland in October 2025, positioning intergenerational dialogue as core to rural policy discussions - this was aimed mostly at policy makers and to improve the visibility of the project in general
  • Creation of a replicable model for rural hubs for NGOs and local authorities that foster community resilience, cultural exchange, and sustainable rural futures
  • Completion of the first project phase by 2027, with a sustainable blueprint for ongoing rural revitalization that integrates heritage, creativity, and resilience. If possible, establishing a first physical example of a REH in Posaga de Jos

Main results

Number of people

800

Number of projects

10

Number of jobs

2

Final results

The Rural Experience Hub kickoff event in Posaga de Jos, Romania (May 30 - June 2, 2025) successfully brought together stakeholders for intergenerational exchange focused on rural development. All in-person spots were fully booked, with further participation online. The event used a participatory workshop approach to share experiences and jointly identify concrete activities and approaches, creating a strategy to advocate for youth and intergenerational dialogue in rural development.

Key outcomes included demonstrating a model for such rural hubs, establishing a participatory dialogue framework, and preparing the intergenerational group's role for advocacy at the European Rural Parliament in Scotland in October 2025. The event set a precedent for discussing intergenerational issues and co-creating paths for rural revitalization driven by community involvement and resilience-building.

For the future, we hope to create a blueprint which is used in 10 communities for an own, local REH.

Organisation/Company information

Dupa Gard

Non-governmental / civil society organisation
État
Ongoing
Funding
Commitment's fund
EU funds, Private funding
Budget
Estimated budget
EUR 170 000.00
Planned additional investment
members of our association will take an active role in guiding the process
Further details
Scope of action
European
Beneficiary country
Romania
Type of territories
Remote rural area, Mountainous area