Tackling rural poverty, together

High-level Round Table: Voices for Rural Development – Dialogue of Generations

Voices for Rural Development

Young professionals working in and for rural areas discuss their ideas and visions with heads of state on 22 October 2009 at the European Development Days in Stockholm

Why do young people and young professionals stay in rural areas? How do they shape rural livelihood and agriculture in the 21^st century? How will rural areas adapt to climate change? Will rural communities across the continents become avant-garde in mitigating the environmental footprint? How can rural communities participate more actively in local policy making?

See the video, uploaded on 24 Oct 2009 (15MB to load)

A group of twelve young men and women, aged between 20 and 35 years, actively engaged in agriculture and rural development in Asia, Africa, South America and Europe, will meet with high-level conversation partners and discuss these and other questions. The unfiltered perspective and the personal life stories and visions of the YARDs and their exchange with high-ranking representatives is a highlight of the European Development Days 2009. As ambassadors of their rural communities and networks they will voice their questions and concerns and thereby raise awareness and assure that the issues of rural development remain firmly fixed on the political agenda.

More about the YARDs at the European Development Days 2009 on page 3.

See the video, updated on 26 Nov 2009 (30MB to load)

Goals

With the roots firmly in rural areas, the YARDs can:

1. build up an information network to collect successful ideas and initiatives by and for young people in rural areas;
2. function as catalysts identifying and motivating young people to put their innovative ideas, initiatives, and knowledge to service for rural development, develop projects and bringing them together with International Donors;
3. promote rural development worldwide, as a solution for global problems through conferences, communication tools and press work.

The YARDs

The Young Ambassadors for Rural Development are a group of 12 young women and men selected from rural areas all over the world. The YARDs actively strive to influence and improve the situation in rural areas through their involvement in national organisations and through the international YARDs network.

More about the YARDs on page 2 …