Connecting Rural Youth Work - International Youth Work Practices for Rural Youth Organisations

The event will illustrate how the European Commission funded programmes, Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps, can be used to gain these invaluable experiences for young people. It aims to highlight good practices in rural youth work, the needs and challenges faced in rural youth work, and how these can be addressed through international youth projects and collaborations. Participants will also have a chance to meet similar organisations from across Europe who are looking for partner organisations to work with. 

Aims and objectives 

The event's overall aim is to promote the value of international youth work for rural youth organisations and to equip the participants with a good understanding of what International Youth Work is and how they can use Erasmus+ and ESC funding opportunities to expand the work they deliver through their rural youth services.  

The main objectives are to: 

• Develop rural youth organizations' competences in international youth work and international volunteering. 
• Inform the participants about the opportunities offered through the Erasmus+ and ESC programmes 
• Highlight good practices in rural youth work, as well as needs and challenges and how they can be addressed through international activities 
• Offer networking opportunities for future partnership building. 

Participants’ Profile 

People working directly and regularly with young people in rural areas. This includes youth workers, youth leaders, youth service managers and volunteers who:  

• Represent an organisation active in rural youth work that is interested in developing international projects through the Erasmus+ or European Solidarity Corps programmes and it's based in one of the Erasmus+ Programme Countries & partner countries. 
• Have no previous experience with the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programmes (if you don’t know what these are yet, you will after the course!)  

Can work in (international) English 

We encourage applications from participants of all/any religious and ethnic backgrounds; of all genders and of all abilities. We will do our best to support individual needs.  

Team: 

This event is organised by Léargas the Irish National Agency for the Erasmus+ and ESC programmes as part of their involvement in the Strategic Partership for Inclusion action coordinated by SALTO Inclusion & Diversity.