From the GroundUp: Fostering Rural Youth
Participation in the EU Agenda

Empowering Rural Voices in European Democracy

The From the GroundUp project is a collaborative initiative dedicated to empowering and involving rural and peripheral citizens, especially young people, in local and EU democratic processes. Coordinated by Sdružení SPLAV, the project brings together 14 partners from across the EU and is supported by the European Union’s CERV Programme.

Project duration: January 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025
Partners: Local Action Groups (LAGs), municipalities, and non-profit organizations from 14 EU Member States

What We Aim to Achieve

Citizens from rural and peripheral areas are often less informed and underrepresented in EU democratic processes. Our project seeks to change this by:

  • Engaging rural youth in democratic participation
  • Providing education on EU policies and rights
  • Encouraging dialogue between citizens and policymakers
  • Fostering cooperation between local authorities and communities

In relation with 2024 European Elections, we want to raise awareness and inspire action. Issues such as hate speech, disinformation, fake news, cybersecurity threats, and political shifts significantly impact rural communities. GroundUp aims to address these challenges and strengthen democracy from the grassroots level.

Events

Webinar: Current Political Narratives Impacting Rural Areas in Europe (CZ), REPORT
Conference: The Role of Youth in EU Democracy & the Need for Fair Elections (PL), REPORT
Conference: EU Citizenship and Identity in Political Processes (SE), report REPORT
Conference: Challenges to Election Integrity – Disinformation & Fake News (GR), REPORT
Webinar: The Maastricht Treaty & EU Citizenship Rights (DE), REPORT
Study Visit: Youth Recommendations to EU Policymakers (FI)
European Conference: Conservative Political Shifts & Rural Life Quality (CZ)
Webinar: Youth-Local Authority Cooperation & E-Democracy (AT)

Join Us in Shaping the Future of Rural Europe

We invite young people, local leaders, policymakers, and organizations to participate in From the GroundUp. Together, we can:

Strengthen youth participation in EU democracy
Promote fair and inclusive political processes
Build resilient rural communities

Follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram
Get in touch: Kristina Garrido, kristina@sdruzenisplav.cz, +420 603 383 527