Rural Voices 2030

Engaging young rural European citizens in gender responsive approach to soil protection

Young people are often labelled ‘the leaders of tomorrow’. However, this ‘mantra’ has been replaced by a growing emphasis on the role of youth communities as critical agents of change, ‘leaders of today’, of the present, already contributing to the sustainable development of their communities and territories.

Do all young people have the same opportunities to access and mobilise knowledge?

The answer is no.

Several national and European studies and surveys show that there is a greater concentration of Global Citizenship and Development projects in urban areas. This doesn’t mean that there isn’t an effort to reach all young people equally, but that we still have a long way to go.

The importance of amplifying the voices of young people, especially in rural areas, becomes even more challenging if we think about the importance of the issue of social cohesion, which can be strengthened through active and critical citizenship.

We recognise today that the role of young people in resolving the main challenges we face is unquestionable. And there are many challenges we face, one of the least emphasised being soil degradation.

It is estimated that around 95% of our food is directly or indirectly produced in soils, which are home to more than 25% of the planet’s biodiversity and are the planet’s largest terrestrial carbon reservoir. However, 40% of the planet’s soils are degraded… but regeneration is still possible.

With the project Rural Voices 2030 we will analyse the importance of soil as a non-renewable resource and the interconnections between this resource and the key themes of global citizenship, in order to expand the role of young people in promoting sustainable development.

OUR GOALS

Starting in January 2024 and running for 48 months, we aim to strengthen the interest and support actions of young people in rural and remote areas in 14 European countries on global interdependencies and sustainable development, both locally and globally.

By awakening the interest of young people in rural and remote areas in sustainable development, we aim to contribute to better integration of Global Citizenship and Development Education in contexts far from urban centres, ensuring that ‘no one is left behind’.

OUR ACTIVITIES

We will promote a series of innovative activities in line with the principles and values of the EDCG*. Through a participatory approach, the action will not only raise awareness among young people and other development actors, but will also encourage a critical understanding of interdependencies, as well as the role we play and our responsibility in promoting a just, sustainable and dignified world.

We will focus on non-formal education initiatives and base our intervention on the cycle: Map and Analyse – Test – Evaluate – Adapt and Multiply.

We will start by mapping the main actors in development in order to strengthen our partnerships and thus identify good practices that are already being developed. Through capacity building, we will reinforce knowledge about EDCG and the 2030 Agenda, and we will encourage the creation of facilities, conversation circles and other activities that strengthen mobilisation around development.

*EDCG – Educação para o Desenvolvimento e a Cidadania Global in Portuguese, translated to “Global Citizenship and Development Education”

OUR IMPACT

Young people in rural and remote contexts are rarely involved in Global Citizenship Education (GCE) projects, as these tend to be more urban-centred. On the other hand, rural and remote territories face a number of challenges, particularly in terms of climate change, generational renewal, landscape conservation and equal opportunities, among others.

With ‘Rural Voices 2030. Engaging young rural European citizens in gender responsive approach to soil protection’ we will, in partnership, and through the principles and practices of the EDCG, not only respond intentionally to this gap in access to the EDCG in rural areas, but ensure that we raise awareness among 21 million young people in European rural areas about the interconnections between soil, equality and development, 250,000 of whom will mobilise for a fairer, more dignified and sustainable world.

NEWS

Duration

48 months: from January 2024 to December 2027

Co-funded

EUROPEAN UNION