Description

Rural youth across Europe often face limited access to youth work capacity, fewer youth-friendly spaces, and weaker representation in local decision-making. The “From RURAL to PLURAL” approach shifts the focus from isolated actions to integrated ecosystems: from isolation to connection; from mono-structures to diverse, interlinked local systems; and from young people as “beneficiaries” to young people as co-creators with municipalities and community actors. 

We will use the European Youth Village and the experience of the previous European and National Rural Youth Summits as our learning lens. Participants will meet local youth initiative groups, municipal actors and practitioners, visit Sancraiu - a European Youth Village youth-friendly community, and work in mixed-country labs to translate learning into project concepts and policy-oriented follow-up. 

This study visit aims to:

Strengthen participants’ shared understanding of the European Youth Village and ERYS model as a practical framework for rural youth empowerment and participation. 

Build the capacity of rural youth organisations to translate local needs into participatory projects and partnerships using Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps opportunities. 

Support National Agencies and rural actors to connect policy intentions with grassroots realities, using the rural youth ecosystem lens for follow-up actions.