Details
- Activity dates
- January 2026 to August 2027 (20 months)
- Programme
- Erasmus+
- Type
- Erasmus+ Youth Participation Activity (KA154)
- Target group
- Young people aged 15 to 30, mostly from rural Alentejo
Rural youth · Erasmus+ 
Rural Talks
Erasmus+ youth participation activity taking more than 200 rural young people in the Alentejo from listening to action, so their voice is heard in democratic life.
About the project
Rural Talks
A 20-month project with five main activities in the Portalegre district, guiding more than 200 young people through a participatory process: listening, co-creating proposals, innovating and handing them to local decision-makers.
Objective
Connect rural young people to democracy: give them concrete, accessible opportunities to take part and bring their proposals to decision-makers.
Why Rural Talks is needed
68% of young people did not vote in the last European elections, and only 29% of rural youth take part in civic activities, against 54% in urban areas (Eurostat). Around 27% feel socially isolated (Eurofound).
They are not disengaged: they lack concrete, accessible opportunities.
A participatory mapping to listen to rural youth, Democratic Labs to co-create proposals, a youth Hackathon on social innovation, the Youth Manifesto delivered to decision-makers and a Final Event to share the results.
The project is led by New Generation Portugal, with Contextos, a cooperative based in Faro, as formal partner, and the support of the municipality of Portalegre.
Around 370 participations in events and more than 15 proposals handed to decision-makers, with Youthpass for all participants.
What will remain
A Youth Manifesto delivered to local councils, a digital participation platform, local youth groups in each municipality and an open-access e-book of methods, in a model that can be replicated in other rural regions.
Ready to take part?
Whether you are a young person, a volunteer or an organisation, there is a place for you at New Generation.