Empowering Rural Youth Through Digital Engagement  

The Rural Youth e-Councils are a core initiative of the RYTA project, designed to enhance the participation of young people from rural areas in democratic decision-making. These e-councils serve as a digital forum where youth representatives and organizations from Italy, Greece, Lebanon, Tunisia, and Jordan come together to discuss challenges, share experiences, and propose concrete solutions for rural development. 

The initiative aims to bridge the gap between rural youth and policymakers, ensuring that young people’s voices are heard and their concerns addressed. Through these structured e-meetings, participants tackle pressing issues such as economic barriers, social exclusion, climate change, and access to political engagement. 

Key Objectives of the e-Councils 

The e-Councils were established with the following goals: 

  • Strengthening youth involvement in decision-making and local governance. 

  • Connecting rural youth organizations across borders to foster collaboration. 

  • Identifying key challenges that hinder rural youth participation in society. 

  • Proposing tangible solutions and policy recommendations. 

  • Ensuring that youth perspectives are included in policy discussions at the national and European levels. 

 

First e-Council Meeting – May 2, 2024 

The first e-Council meeting brought together young representatives and organizations from Italy, Greece, and Lebanon to discuss active citizenship and rural youth engagement. The discussion focused on the challenges preventing young people from fully participating in their communities and local governance structures. 

Key Challenges Identified 

  • The lack of structured youth councils in rural areas. 

  • Economic and entrepreneurial barriers preventing young people from starting businesses. 

  • A growing sense of political apathy and disengagement among rural youth. 

  • Sustainability concerns, including climate change and environmental degradation in rural regions. 

Proposed Solutions 

  • Developing digital spaces for youth to engage with policymakers. 

  • Establishing youth forums and roundtable discussions at the local level. 

  • Encouraging more training and capacity-building programs to empower rural youth. 

  • Leveraging technology and online platforms to connect young people across different regions. 

The session concluded with a collaborative brainstorming activity using an interactive platform, where participants outlined key policy recommendations. 

 

Second e-Council Meeting – June 20, 2024 

The second e-Council meeting expanded the discussion by including participants from Tunisia and Jordan, in addition to Italy and Greece. This session focused on sustainable rural development and the socio-economic inclusion of rural youth. 

Key Challenges Identified 

  • Limited infrastructure and mobility in rural areas, restricting access to education and jobs. 

  • Gender disparities in rural employment and leadership roles. 

  • High unemployment rates, leading to migration from rural to urban areas. 

  • Weak political engagement, with young people feeling disconnected from decision-making processes. 

Proposed Solutions 

  • Establishing virtual meetings between rural youth and policymakers to ensure their voices are heard. 

  • Developing better transport infrastructure to improve mobility in rural areas. 

  • Encouraging rural entrepreneurship programs to support youth-led businesses. 

  • Promoting gender equality initiatives to ensure equal opportunities in rural development. 

During this session, participants also emphasized the importance of building strong networks among rural youth organizations to drive collective action. 

 

Policy Recommendations  

Following the discussions, several key recommendations were formulated to guide policymakers in supporting rural youth: 

  • Increase funding opportunities for rural youth-led initiatives. 

  • Improve digital access and participation mechanisms for rural communities. 

  • Establish national and regional youth councils specifically for rural areas. 

  • Strengthen training and mentorship programs for young leaders. 

  • Integrate youth perspectives into policy frameworks for rural development. 

 

Get Involved 

If you are a young person interested in creating change in your rural community, you can use the RYTA e-learning course to gain the skills needed to organize and implement your own e-Councils. This course provides essential training in civic participation, policy advocacy, and community engagement, empowering you to take action in your local area. 

To learn more about the full description of the Rural Youth e-Councils and how you can get involved, visit: https://platform.rytaspace.eu/