Rural Europe on the move English_chap7_13 | Page 68

CHAPTER 12
6. My 1st Forum Synergies event, ERSG 2014
in Beaufortain, FR – see Chapter 8
7. Team of LRF during a visit to community
in Kurzeme, LV – from left Anita Seļicka,
Āris Āders, Zane Seredina, Katrīna Idu
at my first Forum Synergies event,
In strong contrast to this perception,
anniversary of our Latvian nation,
the ERSG 2014 in Beaufortain. It was our team of the Latvian Rural Forum three youngsters produced 100
the same year I became a director is ambitious and energetic enough videos about young Latvians and their
of LRF and I was keen to learn from to reach the best possible results work to improve livelihoods of Latvian
existing rural development initiatives in all fields of our work. Maybe this people. We shared these stories
across Europe. In Beaufortain I had is because we are mainly young during the Latvian Rural Community
a delightful opportunity to enjoy people, but also because we involve Parliament in the basements of old
intergenerational co-working, as I experienced and active members manors, and I do hope there will be
had a chance to discuss, organise in the board. I hope we serve as an a moment for similar stories from all
events and even be part of a example for others. We are a great around Europe in the European Rural
management team of a European resource for our country. For the 100th Parliament.
organisation with professionals
that have experience in rural
development, some even 50 years
more than I do.
As a young woman I was welcomed
and seen as equal; and I could use
my set of skills and knowledge, which
of course diverged from the other
more experienced colleagues. Even
though this might seem normal, it
unfortunately still is not always the
case that young people are highly
valued and involved in all levels and
sectors. In 2016, 57% of young people
in Europe have the impression that,
in their country, the young have been
marginalised and excluded from
economic and social life.
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Rural development support
from the Baltic rural civil society
“Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, as among the first countries involved
in the PREPARE cooperation network, have since 2009, with their civil
society advocacy experience in rural areas, proactively followed and
supported the creation of Balkan cooperation platforms. With their
experience of cooperation with civil society in the Balkans, Baltic civil
society groups are now supportive in Black Sea countries through
PREPARE and ELARD. Their successful experience in the Baltic States
helps partners in the Black Sea region in transition from a centrally
planned to a market economy.”
Aris Adlers, President of PREPARE