01/2013 THE RURAL YOUTH EUROPE MAGAZINE Who won the Youth Project Once an IFYE – competition this year? always an IFYE Managing youth projects Check pages 04 –08 Read on page 09 Find out on page 14 www.ruralyoutheurope.com CONTENTS | 2 Rural p. 03 SPRING 2013 EDITION Youth 02 Contents p. 04 Europe 03 Editorial Brussels Rural Youth Europe (RYEurope) is a European non-governmental organisation for rural youth. 04-08 Youth Project of 2012 competition Established in 1957, it is an umbrella for youth p. 09 organisations working to promote and activate 09 Where are they now? young people in countryside. It provides international training possibilities and works as 10-11 Youth exchange in Finland an intermediary between national organisations and youth organisations and public institutions 12-13 IFYE exchange p. 10 at the European level. Rural Youth Europe is a member-led organisation: democratically 14 Managing youth a project constituted, the organisation is led by young people for young people. 15 Postcards p. 12 Rural Youth Europe aims to: 16 Calendar 2013 • Educate and train young people and create an awareness of rural and social issues. • Actively encourage rural populations and industry. p. 14 • Support the development of new rural youth organisations. • Network with other European NGOs. • Lobby and highlight the problems and needs of rural youth to focus the attention of inter - p. 15 national and national bodies, as well as the general public. Rural Youth Europe unites 26 member info – rural youth europe is published by Rural Youth Europe. Views and opinions expressed in this organisations across 21 European countries. publication do not necessarily reflect those of Rural Youth Europe. Text may The membership base is over 500,000 young include informal translations of statements and documents. Reproduction of people who either live in rural areas or have an articles is authorised provided the source is quoted and copies of the article are sent to Rural Youth Europe. This newsletter is published with the support interest in rural life. of the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe and the European Union (Youth in Action-programme). Responsible editors express their gratitude for all received articles and encourage every member organi - If your organisation is interested to join zation to contribute and to enrich our newsletter. Rural Youth Europe or you would like more information about our events, please contact RESPONSIBLE EDITORS: Mikko Välitalo, Emma Silén ADDRESS: Karjalankatu 2A, 00520 Helsinki, Finland [email protected] or check our PHONE: + 358 45 234 5629 website www.ruralyoutheurope.com E-MAIL: office@rural youtheurope.com WEBSITE: www.ruralyoutheurope.com PHOTO-CREDITS: www.PHOTOS.com, www.fotolia.de, rural youth europe CONCEPT & LAYOUT: madergrafisch (www.madergrafisch.at) 3 | EDITORIAL www.ruralyoutheurope.com Spring, spring, spring! inally, the spring is arriving! When you get the INFO magazine it will almost F be summer already, but then think back a couple of months and remember how Grab your future! – Study visit to the leaves started to grow and how people improve your advocating skills suddenly started to wake up from their winter sleep. In some languages the word “spring” means to run or to jump. That is indeed Brussels, Belgium exactly what the animals do when let out for 2-6 December 2013 the first time after the winter; it’s quite a suita - ble word, isn’t it? russels is the capital of politics and negotiations. The aim of this Talking about jumping and running and being study visit is to deliver knowledge from experts on youth popu - energetic in general – the annual spring semi - B lation. In particular, rural youth as they are in average less inter - nar is soon coming up. This year the theme is ested and less active in politics and therefore less successful in lobby - “coaching for inclusion – closing the gap bet - ing and negotiating. The study visit is about to deliver self confidence ween urban and rural youth” and will take and certain skills to participants to improve their position in all demo - place in Strasbourg in May/June. The semi - cratic processes on national and international level. nar is a co-operation between Rural Youth Europe and the Youth Express Network Y-E- In addition, the study visit aims to introduce the importance of N. Both organisations have worked on the European institutions and their work itself. Participants are about to topic of coaching before and therefore we meet leaders in interactive discussions and workshops. Importance is now have a common study session. As a as well recognised in a wide range of backgrounds of our participants part of the prep team I can assure you that and therefore reinforces awareness that Europe is gathered in diversi - the whole prep team has been working hard ty. with the project and want to deliver an intere - sting and useful seminar. Aims: - To deliver information and awareness about the work From one project to another; we say congra - of European institutions tulations to Clonakilty Macra na Feirme from - To reinforce advocating skills of youth leaders Ireland who won the annual youth project competition 2012 with the project “Random Objectives: acts of kindness festival”. More about the - To provide lobbying, negotiating and advocating skills competition and the rest of the entries can be for 30 young people found on pages 04 –08. - To understand importance and work of European institutions - To improve socialising and networking process amongst It’s time for me to stop writing now, so I want the participants coming from different backgrounds to wish you all a very nice summer with lots of - To distinguish stage fright and improve public speaking sunshine and productivity! - To develop leadership and coaching skills EMMA SILÉN ROK ROBLEK Board member Board Member www.ruralyoutheurope.com YOUTH PROJECT | 4 Rural Youth Project of 2012 Rural Youth Europe set up a best practise competition for the first time in 2009 to encourage the exchange of project ideas, give inspiration and provide a learning opportunity for rural youth organisations. Winner – Macra na Feirme Enjoy reading about these amazing projects and Random Acts of Kindness Festival remember you can take n July last year, Clonakilty Macra organised the unique Ithree days "Random Acts of Kindness Festival" to sprea - part too with your best ding positivity. The aim of the project was to run something for the community to bring a smile to people's faces and to practise project! show, what people can do when they work together. The slogan was "fun, free and for all ages" and so it was a festival for everyone. The festival started on Friday, when the Town Mayor opened the event with a bubble blowing ceremony. Then a street party was held on the town’s for - ise mer main street and three local bands, two of whom had ct collaborated to write a song about spirit of the festival. t pra ition bes et One business gave away food while another provided p 2 face-painting and balloon modelling. Over 1,000 people om 1 were gathered on the street and all age categories were c 20 represented. After a Kids Sports Day on Saturday morning, a voluntary organisations showcase was held in the afternoon and this 5 | YOUTH PROJECT www.ruralyoutheurope.com Winner – Macra na Feirme Random Acts of Kindness Festival was twinned with a Speakers Corner event. Local groups Some of the Jungle animals were present, traditional Irish and charities could spread the message about what they musicians played while one of Ireland’s best known story - do and recruit new members. Over 20 groups were tellers did a Children’s Storytelling session. Face-painting, represented and all were very grateful to have the opportu - balloons and bubbles were again a feature while a Hula nity to speak on their work in the community. Hoop group joined in to supply entertainment for all pre - sent. Around the town on Saturday, kindness zones were set up, where volunteers distributed gifts donated by local Everyone who visited the Random Acts of Kindness businesses, such as passes to the cinema or theatre or a Festival was just happy and enjoyed the amazing commu - locally produced yogurt. nity spirit. It was a real pleasure to see the joy on faces of those present. The festival received lots of media attention Many collaborative events developed over the weekend. in the media and many newspaper and radio stations For example the Rugby Club joined with the Tidy Towns to reported about the festival and the national TV brought it in carry out a cleaning project on some local St. Vincent de their main evening news. Paul premises. There were several workshops also carried out including drumming, ukulele and breakdancing. For their efforts, Clonakilty Macra will be invited to the next Rally and awarded with the Rural Youth Project traveling The festival ended on Sunday with a Jungle themed BBQ trophy. in collaboration with the Jungle City project. One of the LUKAS HELFENSTEIN , hotels in the town hosted the event and supplied the food. Vice chair www.ruralyoutheurope.com YOUTH PROJECT | 6 1st Runner Up – Wales Young Farmers Beefy’s Bike Ride eefy’s Bike Ride was a Wales-wide charity project barbecues and involved further members of the commu - Bthat involved members of Wales YFC aged from 11 nity, in a voluntary capacity. upwards. Each year, the Wales YFC chairman selects a good cause to promote. The chairman of Wales YFC for Members were encouraged to join Beefy in his cycle for 2011-2012, Dylan “Beefy” Jones, decided in his year of as much as they felt they could.