Rural Health Ambassadors: Youth Leading the Way

Project Overview
The "Rural Health Ambassadors: Youth Leading the Way" project aims to address the pressing concerns of healthcare access and quality for young people in the rural regions of Croatia. Recognizing the vital role of the youth in redefining and enhancing rural health standards, we are committed to crafting a responsive and impactful project. Our mission is to amplify the voices of the rural youth, ensuring their active involvement in decision-making processes that directly affect their health and well-being.

Project Objectives
The project has four main objectives:
1. Mobilizing young people to become advocates for health and well-being, leading initiatives that resonate with their peers and their broader rural communities.
2. Engaging youth in the development and dissemination of policy recommendations, emphasizing their critical role in shaping healthcare solutions that affect them directly.
3. Strengthening collaboration between youth and decision-makers through establishing regular channels of communication and partnership between youth, healthcare authorities, local governments, and other relevant stakeholders.
4. Facilitating a cross-European dialogue to inspire best practices in rural healthcare provision that can be adapted and implemented locally.

Project Impact
The impact of the "Rural Health Ambassadors: Youth Leading the Way" project will manifest across multiple levels. On an individual level, young rural health ambassadors will gain vital competencies, awareness, and engagement with health issues specific to their communities. These skills will empower them to become catalysts for change, leading initiatives that resonate with their peers and influence healthcare policies. Young people will be competent to make informed decisions about their health and well-being through access to essential information, resources, and support. On the level of partner organizations, the project will foster strengthened partnerships and network building, enhancing their reputation, credibility, and experience in Erasmus+ YPA projects. Participating staff will have opportunities for skill and knowledge development, particularly in community engagement and rural outreach. The project aligns with the core missions of many organizations and can lead to further funding opportunities and influence in policy-making. Ultimately, it serves as a powerful model for collaboration and innovation, with the potential for lasting impacts on rural health and youth engagement. On a societal level, the project creates an innovative and inclusive model of decision-making involving all relevant stakeholders, which ensures that rural youth’s voices are heard and their concerns are addressed. Additionally, the project will contribute to the fight against health misinformation and work to de-stigmatize mental and sexual health within rural communities. Finally, the project is expected to raise rural healthcare standards and enhance the quality of life for Croatia's rural youth.

Project Activities
The following activities are planned to be carried out throughout the project:
● recruitment of 24 rural health ambassadors across Croatia.
● a series of 5 lectures and workshops to train and empower the recruited ambassadors for their role.
● comprehensive research on life habits and healthcare access for young people in the rural areas of Croatia.
● 8 consultation meetings with young people in Croatia, facilitated by rural health ambassadors.
● 3 study visits to EU countries showcasing higher healthcare standards for rural youth.
● 12 local projects on various aspects of youth health and well-being, developed and implemented by rural health ambassadors.
● 1 youth participation event in Croatia, featuring a hackathon, policy recommendation discussions, and stakeholder interactions. This will involve rural health ambassadors, partner organizations, decision-makers, public health institutions, and other relevant stakeholders.
● 1 reflection meeting with rural health ambassadors to gather their experiences and feedback, document lessons learned, and measure the success of the activities.
● 1 final project report with lessons learned, policy recommendations, and a proposal for future interventions and projects.

Project Duration
March 1, 2024 - September 1, 2025 (18 months)

We Invite
Organizations with a strong background and proven expertise in:
● rural and youth healthcare advocacy and programs,
● best practices concerning healthcare provision, especially targeting rural youth,
● engaging in collaborative projects and networks on a European scale.

Partner Roles and Responsibilities
Collaboration: Actively engage in all stages of the project, from planning to dissemination of results.
Expertise Sharing: Showcase successful models and interventions from your region by hosting one study visit of 24 rural health ambassadors from Croatia.
Participation: Commit to sending three representatives to Croatia for a youth participation event.
Reporting and Documentation: Assist in the compilation of the final report and disseminate project results within your networks.

Criteria for Selection
● Demonstrated history in projects related to youth and health, especially in a rural context.
● Ability to commit for the project duration.
● Established presence and reputation in the Erasmus.

Application Deadline
25th August, 2023 (Friday) / 17:00 CET

How to Apply
Interested organizations are invited to send us an email titled “Project partner - Rural Youth Ambassadors”, detailing:
● A brief statement on why this partnership aligns with your organization's goals and how you foresee contributing to its success.
● Partnership Identification Form (PIF) in .pdf format.

Our email address is udrugasuma@gmail.com.

For further information or queries, please refer to the detailed project description or contact us directly through the portal.

We look forward to fostering a strong collaboration to drive impactful change for Europe's rural youth!