The European Youth Village (EYV) is an annual title awarded to three to five villages, serving as a small-scale counterpart to initiatives like the European Youth Capital or the European Capital of Culture. The program began in Romania in 2019, and it is now expanding to other EU countries. It invites youth groups from rural areas to apply with a yearlong action plan that engages local youth and authorities in community projects (e.g. festivals, career workshops, cultural or sport events etc.). Selected groups receive mentoring and training to help raise funds and implement their plans. Many groups continue their activities even after their European Youth Village year ends.
Twenty-two rural youth groups, mainly from Eastern Romania, have won the European Youth Village title so far. In addition to mobilizing local resources, 14 of these groups have also succeeded in attracting European funding for their action plans. Furthermore, six titleholders have since grown into formal local associations. Over 3,000 youth from villages participated in more than 350 activities organized by volunteers.
Context
Civic engagement remains underdeveloped in Romania’s rural areas. Compared to urban areas, fewer people in rural communities participate in community life, much less in local decision-making. Although half of Romanian youth live in villages, fewer than 15% of youth-focused NGOs operate in rural areas. Several factors limit civic engagement among rural youth: communities often lack resources and activities for young people, few residents—including youth—get involved locally, and local authorities rarely show interest in engaging with the community.
Srategy
The program is centered around the following three outcomes:
- Having more young people volunteer and act for the public good of their community.
- Increased visibility of the program among rural youth in new regions.
- Increased strategic capacity of the program to ensure growth and sustainability.
The program includes the following types of activities:
Youth mobilization in rural communities.
Mentors will support the title-winning youth groups in ten villages (winners in 2025 and 2026 competitions) as they develop and implement their action plans—through meetings, workshops, coaching, and on-site visits. This hands-on guidance will help groups implement their action plans more effectively, mobilize people and resources, and strengthen their leadership, democratic values, and civic engagement skills.
Outreach events and online campaigns will introduce young people from new regions to the next edition of the program. Around 15 groups are expected to apply for the next edition, up from nine in 2025. Program mentors will assist them in shaping their applications and action plans.
Strengthening the European Youth Village governance team’s capacity to create a strategic vision for the initiative.
The core coordination team will engage in a strategic planning process to define a clear direction for the program’s future growth and sustainability.
Expcted outcomes
More young people volunteer and act for the public good of their community:
- More than 50 young people, part of the ten initiative groups, will design and implement community projects in their village in collaboration with local authorities and impacting other youth.
- More than 1,000 young people will participate in at least one of the 100 activities organized by the ten youth initiative groups.
- at least $ 20,000, mobilized by the ten youth initiative groups for activities in their villages.
Increased visibility of the program among rural youth in new regions:
- 5,000 youth in rural areas are reached by online campaign.
- 50 social media posts, 10 website articles, and two digital magazine issues will feature inspirational success stories for potential applicants.
- 15 intent letters received in 2025 from young people for the 2026 European Youth Village Title.
Increased strategic capacity of the program to ensure growth and sustainability:
- One strategic plan for the European Yotuh Village program developed.