The European Rally is a conference for the member organisations of Rural Youth Europe that allows young people from across Europe to come together for an intensive week long programme of leadership, teamwork, educational and intercultural experience. The programme is based on an educational and developmental theme and includes excursions and a variety of intercultural and social activities. This year saw the 54th Rally, hosted by the Estonian 4H organisation, attended by participants from 19 countries. The theme for the week was “Beware, Active Youth” with the focus being on youth participation in rural areas. The week was comprised of a mixture of workshops, team building activities and opportunities for “international networking”!
 
The Rally team from Macra na Feirme in Ireland was led by Flor O’Gorman (Cork) and comprised of Brian McCarthy (Cork), Alison Holmes (Laois) and Owen Burke (Meath). We departed Dublin Airport at 7.20am on August 1st 2009 and twenty one hours, one gender change (Miss Owen Burke), one lost bag (Owen again!) and one missed ferry later we finally reached Jäneda Mois, Estonia, home of the 2009 European Rally.
 
Despite our late and middle of the night arrival we managed to make it out of bed in time, in our national costume, to attend the opening ceremony lead by Robin Swann, Chairman of Rural Youth Europe, and Kadri Toomingas, Chairperson of the Rally team. The lively ceremony served to provide us with a brief introduction to the Rally and the who’s who of people for the week. Local folk and singing groups provided the entertainment before the ringing of the Rally bell declared the Rally open, and so our cultural learning process began! 
 

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Our days were packed with workshops and team building exercises. The workshops took a variety of forms from a World Cafeteria to Open Space forums and small discussion groups to large plenary sessions. Topics discussed include youth and local community, youth participation, youth policy, health, employment, motivation of young people, relations between international organisations and funding. The workshops served to highlight common issues at the fore for all organisations. It became clear that these issues form a common pattern and that many relevant to Macra are also relevant to equivalent organisations across Europe.
 
On the less serious but equally important side of things participants were required to take part in and complete a series of practical tasks as part of team building games. These served to highlight the importance of problem solving, leadership skills, teamwork and management in achieving common goals. Tasks varied from solving simple arithmetic, lighting fires, sports and quizzes to scavenger hunts. During all these activities participants were constantly rotated, allowing us to meet and engage with different country participants and this gave us the opportunity to gain new perspectives on the issues. 
 

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One of the highlights of the week was the International Buffet which took place on Sunday evening. The best of each country’s traditional foods and drinks were on display for all to sample. The fare, some of a more potent nature than the rest, was sampled in abundance by all, with the “baby Guinness” and smoked Irish salmon on homemade brown bread going down particularly well.
 
Tuesday night saw the teams take to the stage in all their glory to perform their pieces as part of the Country Entertainment evening. The evening allowed all nationalities to provide a brief insight into their culture, national song, dance and games as well as entertaining their fellow participants. The Irish sketch consisted of a very “rough” outline of Irish history with references to our national sports, Celtic tigers and Celtic pussycats, the encouragement of healthy rivalries with any nation that has ever invaded us (on or off the sporting field!) and a short song about a wild goat! 
 

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Wednesday saw us all part ways in Jäneda to go on excursions to surrounding towns and places of interest. We visited the homestead of Anton Hansen Taamsaare – a very famous Estonian author that every student must study in school, local youth centres and some of the many manor houses in the area. It was a very enjoyable day and allowed us to experience some Estonian heritage. In the afternoon we were placed in the care of local (or not so local!) host families who whisked us off for a whirlwind 24 hour introduction to the Estonian way of life. From university tours to saunas and lying on the beach as well as a trip to Tallinn we had the chance to see how Estonia functions outside of Jäneda.
While Alison, Brian and Owen were experiencing the highlights of Estonia Flor was confined to actually doing some “work” when he attended the General Assembly of Rural Youth Europe. This was only after he had a near death experience while canoeing (apparently it was more white water than gentle stream!) for four hours with a little man from Northern Ireland! Despite this he recovered well to fly the Irish flag by giving an informative presentation on Health and Well-being in rural youth at the Health workshop preceding the General Assembly. 
 

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The week concluded with a gala banquet (where we had potatoes as usual!) and the passing of the Rally bell to the representatives from Sweden which will host Rally 2010.
 
The Rally was an amazing learning experience in terms of both culture and life skills. We had the opportunity to see a different country and way of life, mingle with 18 other nationalities, raise and discuss not only problems but solutions - all in a highly motivated and energised environment. Participating in the Rally allows you not only to have a fantastic experience but also gives you the privilege of representing your country and your national organisation at such a prestigious international forum for young people. We would all go again in a flash and encourage everyone to think about going on a Rally; be motivated and aim high.
 

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“Think global, act local” is the theme of next year’s Rally in Sweden so why not put it into action now.
 
Beware, active youth have returned!!
 
Alison Holmes, Owen Burke, Brian McCarthy and Flor O’Gorman
Macra na Feirme Rally Team