No organisations doing international projects

Often there are no organisations initiating or with links to international activities in small villages and towns. Most rural NGOs (if any) deal with traditional and local issues, customs, etc. This means that a young person does not get a lot of information about possible international activities and existing youth programmes. If the youth workers and young people don't know about the opportunities, they will be probably never do an international project.

There needs to be an 'international missionary'

• Someone from your local community needs to first find out about all the international possibilities. Since you are reading these pages, we assume you are already informed about some of these possibilities.
• Put yourself on the mailing lists and newsletters of international organisations of your interest: MIJARC, Rural Youth Europe, SALTO Inclusion and, of course, your National Agency of the Youth in Action programme.
• Talk about these international possibilities with people around you. Take part in some international activities yourself (e.g. training courses, seminars, study visits: www.salto-youth.net/training/) and write an article about it in your organisation's magazine, in a local newspaper, etc.

Think laterally and be creative

• You don't always have to do the same thing that others have done before you. Besides the 'traditional youth exchange', you could also do exchanges between local volunteer fire brigades, organise joint concerts of the choir or brass band, or a folklore dance festival,... (if there is no local rural youth organisation in your area).
• You can also organise a volunteer work-camp in your area (see www.sciint.org, www.yap.org or www.alliance.volunt.net) and bring an international youth group to your place - and get help with not-for-profit local projects.
• Informal youth groups are also eligible for Youth in Action funding, so you don't always need to have an experienced international youth organisation to do an international project. But of course, nothing stops you from teaming up with existing organisations and doing activities in partnership.
• Try to find partners on a local level who already have experience of international projects. Ask for their experiences, contacts, useful hints and try to co-operate with them or organise the next project together. You can ask your National Agency to put you in contact with other organisations in your area.

You can also participate in contact-making seminars to meet potential partners or use feasibility visits to get to know potential partner organisations better. Find some offers in the European Training Calendar www.SALTO-YOUTH.net/training/.

Do you have other suggestions on how to overcome the lack of international experience in rural areas? Add them below (log in with your SALTO username or create one)

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