Today, an increasing number of young people living in rural Europe are socially and civically marginalized. There are several reasons for this, including geographic isolation, the growth of rural poverty, difficult access to employment, and low levels of participation in international projects.
These young people are largely unaware of the international mobility opportunities offered by programs such as the European Solidarity Corps, Erasmus +, where resources are offered for their professional and personal development.
However, there are many rural youth organizations that are striving to boost youth participation in their communities, but face increasing difficulties in securing this long-term commitment.
There is a lack of knowledge of the resources personified by local heritage to attract young people involved in local life. At the same time, rural heritage conservation groups are fighting to mobilize young people. Cultural heritage, whether tangible or intangible, is key to the identity rural areas and yet it is at risk of disappearing without effort to pass it on and “recover” this heritage from the point of view of the youngest. However, this heritage represents a legitimate conduit to promote active European citizenship as well as a source of employment for young people with little or no academic qualifications.
The project addresses two of the six rural development priorities supported by the REDR (European Network for Rural Development, programming period 2014-2020): Priority 1 (Transfer of knowledge and innovation) and 6 (Promote social inclusion, reduction poverty and economic development in rural areas).
The main objective of the project has been to enhance local agricultural traditions and rural heritage through the creation of a new professional profile for young workers: “Advisor for the promotion of cultural heritage in rural areas”, capable of using digital tools to create awareness of rural heritage, especially among young people and parties actively involved in the project’s theme.
The project envisages the participation of rural youth workers as a direct target group, providing them with the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to help young people respond to the challenges of rural areas.
They have actively participated in all phases of the project implementation (online learning course, pre-departure course, training and monitoring course, outreach activities).The specific objective of the project is to create a new professional profile whose main task will be to enhance the valuation of rural heritage by using appropriate digital skills and social skills to create an empowered community awareness spirit, both locally and internationally.
Fosterage rural heritage by youth workers
Project ID: 2020-2-ES02-KA105-015460
Start Date: 01-08-2020
End Date: 31-10-2021
Project Page: Search – Erasmus+ (europa.eu)
Topics:
- Creativity and culture
- Rural development and urbanisation
- ICT – new technologies – digital competences
Coordinator:
ASOCIACIÓN SER JOVEN
