Rural Youth Europe

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Rural Youth Europe

Rural Youth Europe is an international non-government organisation promoting rural youth issues and supporting rural youth organisations in Europe.

The main themes we work on are:
- Youth participation
- Exchange of best practice
- Intercultural dialogue
- Sustainable regional youth work
- Participation in the formation of (rural) youth policies
- European citizenship
- Networking between rural youth organisations
- Intercultural learning through participative youth work

16/08/2026

Meet the national teams of the European Rally 2026!

Over the next week, these teams from 20 rural youth organisations across 17 countries will be learning together, sharing ideas and representing rural young people from every corner of Europe.

Today was all about getting to know one another and diving into our first sessions, exploring how artificial intelligence is already influencing our lives, our organisations and our rural communities.

Now, we're getting ready for one of the most anticipated traditions of every European Rally... International Buffet Night! More on that soon.

The European Rally is co-funded by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe and Movetia.

16/08/2026

The bell has been rung... the European Rally 2026 is officially underway!🇨🇭

This week, over 100 young people from 17 different countries and 20 rural youth organisations have come together in Landquart, Switzerland, for our annual European Rally.

Over the next week we'll explore how AI and digital transformation are shaping rural communities, develop leadership skills, challenge misinformation, and share ideas that can make a real difference back home.

But above all, it's about bringing young people together to learn from one another, build friendships across borders, and celebrate what it means to be part of Europe's rural youth community.

Welcome to the European Rally 2026!

The European Rally is co-funded by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe and Movetia.

15/08/2026

Give it up for our outgoing RYE Board! 👏

During today’s General Assembly, we elected a new Board. But before we introduce you to them, we want to shine a spotlight on our outgoing Board members.

Today, Ketrin Kastehein, Rosie Bennett, Fiona O' Leary and Michael Koch concluded their mandates, marking the end of their time on the RYE Board.

Over the past few years, Rural Youth Europe has seen significant development and growth, and that is a huge credit to this incredible group of young people.

Martin Siemen, Petter Jacobsen and Jana Apala will continue their RYE journey in new Board roles... more on that soon!

In the meantime, join us in thanking and celebrating this brilliant group for everything they've contributed to Rural Youth Europe 💚

15/08/2026

Inspirational club of the year! ✨ After a highly competitive judging process, we’re excited to reveal the three finalists for Inspirational Club of the Year in the Rural Youth Europe Awards 2026.

This award celebrates clubs that go above and beyond to support rural young people, strengthen their communities and create opportunities for members to develop, connect and thrive.

Meet our 2026 finalists:

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Bute Junior Agricultural Club – SAYFC Young Farmers, Scotland
�From becoming Scotland’s National Club of the Year to launching the Bute Mini Agricultural Club, Bute JAC has created new opportunities for young people while inspiring the next generation through hands-on agricultural education and strong community involvement.

🇱🇻 Līvbērzes 4H Club – Latvijas Mazpulki - Latvian 4H
�Established only in 2024, Līvbērzes 4H Club has already made a remarkable impact through environmental projects, community events, international exchanges and support for young people from Ukraine. Their enthusiasm and commitment have inspired other clubs across Latvia.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Penrith Young Farmers Club – National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs, England
�During its 90th anniversary year, Penrith YFC has combined celebration with service to its community. From reviving the Penrith Rally after 25 years to major fundraising, mental health initiatives and public events, the club has demonstrated the very best of Young Farmers.

A huge congratulations to Bute JAC, Līvbērzes 4H Club and Penrith Young Farmers Club on making the final three!

But which club will be named Inspirational Club of the Year 2026?

The winner will be revealed during the Closing Ceremony of our European Rally in Switzerland on Friday 21 August.

13/08/2026

🗳 Voting is now OPEN! The public vote for the Rural Youth Europe Awards 2026 – Project of the Year is now live on our Instagram page!

The three shortlisted projects have been selected by our judges, and now it's over to you. Your votes will contribute 20% of the final score, with the judges' scores making up the remaining 80%.

Head over to our Instagram, read about each of the three fantastic projects, and cast your vote by liking your favourite project.

⏰ Voting closes at 12:00 CEST tomorrow (Friday 14 August).

Good luck to all three finalists, and thank you for supporting the incredible work being done by rural young people across Europe!

12/08/2026

After an extremely competitive judging process, we’re excited to reveal the three finalists for Project of the Year ✨

This category celebrates projects and events that demonstrate the power of young people working together – creating positive change, strengthening communities and bringing new ideas to rural Europe.

Meet our 2026 finalists:

🇦🇹 Hands Up – Look Who’s Talking | Landjugend Österreich
�A project putting inclusion and accessibility at its heart, raising awareness of deafness and sign language through courses, school activities, community events and campaigns. Young volunteers dedicated more than 1,800 hours to the project, helping to break down barriers and bring the worlds of hearing and deaf people closer together.

🇩🇪 Landjugend macht Awareness (La.m.A) | Bund der Deutschen Landjugend (BDL)
�Developed to make rural youth events safer and more inclusive, La.m.A created an awareness concept featuring trained volunteers, visible awareness teams and dedicated safe spaces. The project has also created resources that can be used at future events and shared across the organisation.

🇸🇮 National Farming Games | Zveza slovenske podeželske mladine
�Bringing rural traditions into an urban setting, the Farming Games gave young people the chance to experience agriculture and rural life through interactive games alongside a student farmers’ market. Young volunteers were at the centre of designing and delivering the activities, helping to connect rural and urban communities.

And now, it’s over to you!

Public voting for Project of the Year opens TOMORROW – Thursday 13 August at 12:00 CEST – and will be open for 24 hours over on our Instagram!

The public vote forms part of the final result, contributing 20% of the overall score, alongside the judges’ scores which contribute 80%.

We’ll share full instructions on how to vote tomorrow, so keep an eye on our Instagram page and get ready to support your favourite project!

The overall Rural Youth Europe Project of the Year 2026 will be revealed during the Closing Ceremony of our European Rally in Switzerland on Friday 21 August.

A huge congratulations to all three finalists! 👏

11/08/2026

The shortlists are in! ✨ After a highly competitive judging process, we’re excited to reveal the first shortlist for the Rural Youth Europe Awards 2026 – our three finalists for Inspirational Person of the Year.

This award celebrates young people who have made an outstanding impact within their organisations and communities, inspiring others through their leadership, volunteering and actions.

Meet our 2026 finalists:

🇸🇮 Mateja Golc – Zveza slovenske podeželske mladine, Slovenia

An incredibly active volunteer with a passion for international cooperation, Mateja has helped create opportunities for rural young people through IFYE exchanges, youth projects and European advocacy. From establishing IFYE Slovenia to representing young farmers through CEJA, her volunteering reaches from her local community to the European level.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Abigail Graham – National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs, England

Over 18 years in Young Farmers, Abigail has contributed at club, district, county, area and national level. From helping secure the future of Walton YFC to developing new opportunities, supporting other clubs and encouraging members to step outside their comfort zones, her commitment to helping others has been at the heart of her YFC journey.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Jillian Kennedy – SAYFC Young Farmers, Scotland

Jillian has made a lasting impact across SAYFC through her leadership, including championing the Respect Campaign and supporting the organisation’s Big Build. She also took on the huge personal challenge of climbing 56 Munros to raise awareness and funds, while continuing her responsibilities as National Chair.

A huge congratulations to Mateja, Abigail and Jillian on making the final three!

But who will be named Inspirational Person of the Year 2026?

The winner has already been selected by our judges and will be revealed during the Closing Ceremony of our European Rally in Switzerland on Friday 21 August.

And this is just the beginning – keep an eye on our channels as we reveal the shortlists for our other Rural Youth Europe Awards categories this week.

03/08/2026

📣 Registrations for the Capacity-Building Seminar “Powering Change: Young Leaders for Energy Communities” are now open!

Join young rural leaders from across Europe in Bilbao 🇪🇸 for a unique learning experience on energy communities, sustainability, and local action. Through workshops, peer learning, and networking, you’ll gain the skills and confidence to bring community energy projects to life.

📍 Bilbao, Spain
📅 1-4 November 2026
👤 For rural youth, young farmers, and rural community representatives aged 18-35
✅ Travel reimbursement, accommodation, and meals included
🗓️ Deadline: 31 August 2026

🔗 You can find more information about the seminar and the application form on our website (link in bio).

24/07/2026

Happy 90th Birthday - CFfI Cymru Wales YFC! 🎉

This week we want to shine a light on one of our member organisations that are celebrating a big milestone this year!

Our Comms Manager Dan went along to the Royal Welsh Show and caught up with Wales YFC Chairman Angharad Thomas.

It has been a very busy week at the show for the YFC team, with a packed programme of competitions, a 90th anniversary parade and even the launch of their brand new single! 🎶

Here’s to the next 90 years! 🥂

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Website

http://www.ruralyoutheurope.com/

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