17 de September de 2021
The National Rural Network held a meeting to inform young people in rural areas about the opportunities offered by European funds in terms of employment and training. The event, attended by nearly 200 people, featured speakers from both the fund's managing bodies and beneficiaries.
- There are multiple initiatives supported by European funding that are aimed at boosting employment and helping young people settle in rural areas.
- The RRN is identifying the needs of rural youth to develop initiatives for them.
Projects for young people
- The "Opportunities for Rural Youth through European Funds" conference began with a presentation on Erasmus+ by Manuel Ruiz of the Youth Institute (Injuve) and Alex López, who shared the experience of Kiribil Sarea in Bizkaia.
Through Erasmus+, young people can participate in exchanges with other countries, participate in participatory activities, or explore Europe through DISCOVER EU . The program also provides funding for youth worker mobility and cooperation initiatives between organizations and institutions.
- Sandra García, from the State Public Employment Service (SEPE) , presented the Youth Guarantee , which facilitates access to the labor market for young people between 16 and 29 years of age who are neither working nor studying.
Carmen Cuesta, for her part, shared her experience in rural Palencia, working as a technician for the projects "Emprende Rural Palencia" (Rural Entrepreneurship) run by the Provincial Council, and "Joven Quédate" ( Young Stay) run by the Guardo City Council. The Youth Guarantee allows young people to continue their training and gain their first job experience, with an average labor market integration rate of 60%.
- From the Chamber of Commerce of Navarra , Eva Fontecha presented the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs program , a transnational exchange program that offers budding entrepreneurs and people looking to start a business the opportunity to learn from experienced entrepreneurs who run small businesses in other participating countries. Belén Martínez recounted her experience in this program, including an enriching stay in France, where her "host entrepreneur" helped her launch her project dedicated to creating educational content and disseminating historical and heritage information.
- María Miera, from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food , explained the opportunities offered by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) . A generational renewal strategy has been developed as part of the work to develop the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 .
One of the beneficiaries of this fund, María Jesús Carrasco, recounted her experience in creating Quesería La Maliciosa in the Sierra de Madrid. Funding from the Community of Madrid's Rural Development Program (RDP) allowed her to recover part of her initial investment and survive until she generated her first profits.
Through these types of activities, the National Rural Network aims to disseminate other funds and programs that operate synergistically with the EAFRD and represent opportunities for rural youth. To facilitate access, various entities can provide information or help present their initiatives, such as Local Action Groups, city councils and provincial councils, and the organizations participating in this event.
All information about this meeting can be found at the following link , as well as on the RRN social networks: Twitter , Facebook and YouTube .