Rural Communities pushing BEYOND COVID-19

This project covers rural communities in 5 EU countries (HR, SI, IT, DE, HU) and is represented by 5 municipalities and 2 non-profits. All of the partners have faced incredible challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. By working together, they aim to enhance citizen engagement in civil society actions and democratic processes in rural communities. Promoting active citizenship & volunteering in these times has been challenging due to various restrictions. Actions led by CSOs & public bodies have had to be constantly reinvented, which has prevented vulnerable groups (elderly, persons w/disabilities & refugees) from accessing public services and taking part in democratic processes. The project is organized as 7 3-day events (in HR, SI, IT, DE, HU). Each event includes best practices showing how citizens can engage as volunteers in actions that address local issues (re: civil protection, solidarity, environmental protection, social inclusion, education, culture & mental health). The activities are designed so the partners can gather opinions from citizens about the Europe they want. The project will emphasize how the solidarity functions; and how the 2021-27 agenda supports rural areas post-COVID-19 (& in new crises). Workshops, presentations, site visits, group work, and demonstrations will encourage volunteering and enhance understanding about how citizen engagement in local actions in the EU contributes to sustainable growth. The dissemination actions (incl. citizens' guidebook) contributes to informing 350000 citizens (indirect participants) on how they can volunteer in actions and contribute to the post-COVID age. The cooperation agreement defines the partners' long-term priorities & actions. Due to the project, citizens will gain capacities to prepare and participate in actions, improve awareness on how EU policies/values function and improve rural areas; and new cooperation between EU rural areas will be solidified. The project includes 590 direct participants.