Other

RURAL ISOLATION: Young people share their experiences

1 min read
Young people from six countries across Europe met recently to discuss their shared problems of rural isolation. Some 62 young people from Worcestershire, Sweden, Italy, Poland and Bulgaria, aged between 15 and 21, stayed at an outdoor education centre in West Malvern for 11 days.

During their trip, the group worked together on projects to discover their common issues and look at what life is like in both rural and urban areas. Youthworcs, Worcestershire County Council's youth service, hosted the event, and it plans to develop a pan-European network to give young people a platform.

Jan Blazak, co-ordinator at Youthworcs International, said: "On the final day the atmosphere was electric. This group became so tight in such a short space of time.

"Many young people living in these countries are being driven away from where they live because of a lack of education or rising house prices. This was a powerful forum for them."

Alongside serious activities, such as meeting West Midlands MEP Liz Lynne and West Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer, the group chased a local farm worker dressed in a chicken costume across fields and over fences as part of a teambuilding exercise. The group visited inner-city Birmingham, Stratford-upon-Avon and the Oxfordshire village of Boughton-on-the-Water during their stay.


More like this

Hertfordshire Youth Workers

“Opportunities in districts teams and countywide”

CEO

Bath, Somerset