Rural Europe on the move English_chap7_13 | Page 67

The Energy of youth
Portugal is not
so far away
Artur, whom we met in the Algarve
in Chapter 5, has also noticed a
youthful resurgence in his region.
“We still have problems of course with
the ageing of our villages and the
countryside but there is also this new
young generation coming back from
abroad to the Sierra,” he reflects. “It is
still a small but very dynamic group.
Many come back to the place of their
parents or grandparents and bring a
spirit of new entrepreneurship. They
reconnect with their families’ history
5. Anneli Kana - right -, during the Estonian Rural Parliament 2017
and are usually highly educated.
Many come from urban areas, have
worked in other countries, speak
several languages, and want to live
a countryside life with their children.
Nor is Estonia...
In our Nordic neighbour country
always also looked towards our young
people as equal partners and our hope
for the future. This is why Kodukant is
They have access to resources which Estonia, we also see very active the older generation does not, such as young rural entrepreneurs with a naturally surfing around the internet. strong youth civil society in rural They are interested in new ways of development. The NGO Kodukant, living sustainability and spirituality, meaning ‘home place’, hosted the want to make the countryside their Sustainable Mystery Tour back in 1998 new world. Their new views and and is now well recognised in Estonia. expectations bring us new creativity in We have much in common, such as thoughts and practical action. We are bringing together tradition with young Rural Forum, I have found NGO work
now able to offer new services to the entrepreneurial spirit. to be one where young people can
people without the unique focus of just
Anneli Kana, former General
so strong today.”
Young people
steering rural
development
From my work with the Latvian
develop themselves and their career
making money but to live a better and Secretary of Estonia’s Kodukant quite quickly. Within a short period
independent life.” movement: “Kodukant as an Estonian of time, I found myself managing
rural movement and as an NGO has large scale projects with real
become strong and recognised by responsibility, running day-to-day
officials and governments, because we communication, event organising,
were from the beginning deeply rooted document analyses, teamwork,
in our Estonian rural culture, history accounting, search for funding and a
and national identity. We were singing lot of other activities with grassroots,
with thousands of our people to call for policy makers, decision makers and
freedom in 1988, before the wall came international partners - passionate
down. We were organising ourselves people being involved to keep the
in rural women’s clubs. But we have show on the road. I saw this notably
“Their new views and
expectations bring us
new creativity
in thoughts and
practical action.”
Artur Gregório
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