Rural Youth Voices Shaping the Future: Rural Map International Meeting in Poland

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From 20 to 22 October 2026, more than 80 participants from across Europe gathered in Przygoń, Poland, for the international meeting "Space and Participation: Strengthening Rural Youth's Democratic Participation", the second event organised within the framework of the Rural Map project. The event brought together young people, educators, local authorities, researchers, NGOs, and project partners to explore how rural youth can play a stronger role in democratic life and local decision-making.

Activities and highlights

The main conference, held on 21 October, featured an expert panel including representatives from public administration, local government, academia and civil society. Discussions focused on EU Youth Goal #9, "Space and Participation for All", examining how young people from rural areas can become active contributors to their communities through volunteering, local initiatives, youth councils, and participation in decision-making processes.

A highlight of the conference was the World Café activity, where participants discussed key questions related to youth engagement. Topics included youth participation in local governance, barriers to accessing EU opportunities, trust between young people and decision-makers, successful examples of youth participation across Europe, and the need for accessible spaces where young people can meet, create and act together. Across all discussions, participants repeatedly highlighted the importance of trust, support, confidence and meaningful opportunities for youth involvement.

Participants also visited Sędziejowice, where they experienced Polish culture through a performance by the Folk Song and Dance Ensemble "Dzieci z Doliny Grabi". The study visit showcased how local traditions and community initiatives can strengthen social cohesion and intergenerational dialogue.

The programme continued with a workshop using the innovative Futures Wheel and Seeds of Good Anthropocene methodologies, where participants explored possible scenarios for strengthening youth participation by 2040. Working in international groups, they reflected on ideas such as youth councils with decision-making powers, self-managed youth spaces, and youth boards within Local Action Groups supported by dedicated youth funds.

A word from our RYE delegates...

RYE was represented by three young participants: Mihaela Spinenco (18, Moldova), Pawan Raut (24, Germany), and Cosmin Florea (19, Italy).

Reflecting on the event, Mihaela highlighted the value of the international exchange and the World Café discussions: "While every country and youth community is different, the desire for positive change and equal access to opportunities is shared across Europe. The event reinforced the importance of active youth participation in democratic processes." 

For Pawan, the key message was that youth participation must go beyond consultation: "Young people should have real opportunities to influence decisions and contribute to community development. Exchanging ideas with people from different backgrounds helped me better understand the challenges and opportunities rural youth face across Europe."

The Rural Map meeting demonstrated that creating meaningful spaces for dialogue between young people and decision-makers is essential for building more inclusive, democratic and resilient rural communities. The ideas, experiences and connections developed during the event will contribute to ongoing discussions on the future of European youth policies and the role of young people in shaping rural development.

The project will continue with a series of online and in-person events throughout 2027. Stay tuned for the upcoming webinar in December 2026, the next international meeting in Austria in March 2027 and the final event in Brussels hosted by RYE in May 2027.

The RuralMap project is funded through the CERV programme and aims to strengthen democratic participation and civic engagement among young people living in rural areas across Europe.

Find more information about the project here.