Study Session 2025 – Budapest

Rural Advocacy: Building Skills and Empowering Change-makers Across Rural Europe 

Rural Youth Europe (RYE) in cooperation with the Council of Europe and the European Youth Center in Budapest (EYCB) are organising the study session “Rural Advocacy: Building Skills and Empowering Change-makers Across Rural Europe”. The study session will bring together 35 young people from rural communities of Council of Europe member states with the aim to empower a new generation of rural youth change-makers by equipping them with the advocacy skills and knowledge needed to actively engage at local, national, and European levels. This platform will foster meaningful participation, amplify their voices, and strengthen their impact on rural development and societal change.  

The objectives of the study session are:   

• To bring together rural young people from across Europe and to provide a space for interaction;  

• To raise awareness on the importance of advocacy, European democratic processes, the institutions as well as the topic of meaningful rural youth participation;  

• To build capacities and equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary so they can advocate for their needs, ideas and meaningfully participate in political processes and society as rural youth change-makers;  

• To create a new generation of rural youth advocates and leaders, equipped with the needed competencies and tools to participate at the European level and become RYE’s new generation of representatives.
    

The study session will take place between Sunday 16th of March until Saturday 22nd of March 2025 (travel days included) at the European Youth Center in Budapest, Hungary. The sessions will take place between 17th and 21st March. We are looking for 35 participants, mainly 18-30 years old (also participants older than 30 years are welcome to apply). The working language will be English. There is a participation fee of 50 euros per participant that will be collected by RYE and paid to the Council of Europe. All the costs for accommodation, food and traveling will be provided by the Council of Europe.
  

We are looking for enthusiastic young people who are:  

• Between 18-30 years old (also applications from interested people older than 30 years are welcome);  

• Living in a Council of Europe member state (you can find the list here);  

• Able to attend the full 5-days-educational-activity in English + 2 travel days;  

• Respectful and eager to learn;  

• Interested in the topics of the study session, to learn more and bring a change in your society.  

You can apply by filling the form here by Tuesday, 21st of January 2025. You can contact office@ruralyoutheurope.com for any questions or clarifications. 

 Participants in need for a visa: If you would like to apply to the study session and will need a visa for Hungary to attend the activity, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Please note that the visa will be provided only for the duration of the study session and all participants are expected to attend the full programme of the activity. 

Apply now!