International Countryside

Do you want to meet other youth workers from countryside, villages, rural centres and small towns, where distances, human resources and size of the organisation can cause challenges for international youth projects?

We know that international youth work can be done in in villages and small towns, regardless of the challenges. We also know the impact of these projects can be much larger in small places than large cities.

Practices from Eastern Finland

We will look at the cooperation of actors in a Finnish region South Carelia. During the study visit you will see how international activities were initiated in the region with the help of the largest town and how the small villages learned to adopt international activities as a permanent part of their work.

You will meet young people who have been part of international projects, see how projects have been carried out in small places and explore what kind of benefits of regional cooperation gives.

Objectives:

• compare realities of rural areas in different parts of Europe
• understand how international youth projects can be done in the rural areas
• see examples of projects and working ways
• find partners for future projects
• explore the opportunities of EU's youth programmes (Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps) in rural settings

Participants from the countryside

Do you carry out regular youth work or youth activities in a rural setting? If you are working in a public or non-governmental organisation in a small rural town, in a village or in a coutryside centre, you can benefit from this study visit.

You should be over 18 and and your role in the organisation should be active - maybe you organise regular activities directly to the young people in your organisation or you want to develope your organisation towards international projects.

It does not matter, if you have never organised an international youth activity. This can be your step into the European projects. If you have experiences, you should be curious to explore new ways in working in projects.

If you are from a big city and  or you represent a university student organisations we will not prioritise your application. If you are a volunteer in your organisation, your role should be relevant in the planning and implementation of the organisation's activities.

Municipal youth work and NGOs

The study visit will visit the City of Lappeenranta, Municipality of Rautjärvi and Lemi 4H Organisation. We will be accommodated in Lappeenranta and visit the other villages in the region.

Participants from Europe and Eastern Partnership + Russia

The call is open for all Erasmus+ Programme Countries, however, the following countries have signed up as partners and therefore we will prioritise applicants from Austria, Belgium (FR), Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, United Kingdom, Finland and Switzerland.

If you are from some other country, you can apply, but your country may not have reserved money for sending participants to this activity. If you want to know how the travel costs are covered or if your country is sending participants, you have to contact the national agency in your own country.

You are welcomed to join the study visit from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan or Armenia. If you will be selected, Finland will cover your travel and visa costs.