Youth in rural areas a flavour of the approach of the theme in France By Dorothée Duguet from the French rural development network support unit

In 2006: national statistic study on youth 12 million young people (15-29) in France no homogenous distribution (according to the life cycle) 15-17: they live with their parents same distribution as the whole population 18-24: in major towns to study or start work over 25: close to economic activity areas Rural youth in France: facts and figures

University of Toulouse: survey show that rural areas are seen by young people as: a trap (nothing to do, remote, everybody knows everybody...)...but also... a protecting area (attractive and quality area, protected and protecting) a place where to live (notably in couple with young children and with access to wider networks) Rural youth: a complex link to countryside

Too often, rural youth is seen as a threat, a difficulty... which has no future in the countryside Rural youth: a complex image for some...

A need to: - change the image of young people - enable the active participation of young people in the development of the rural area they live in: not just give information but consider them as partners - give them a seat in all the monitoring and decision making committees... even if they do not use it! Rural youth: a true resource

a global approach: a transversal public (transport, housing, training, health, citizenship...) qualification: companies find it difficult to settle in rural areas (not enough qualified people) develop relevant training courses BUT do not forget CHOICE! mobility: is freedom (opens to town, its services, its culture, its modern image) invite young people to leave... and come back! temporary affordable accommodation to start: in the Rhône Alpes region, locals rent out a cheap room to facilitate integration and attractivity of the area support: to implement their projects (daily projects: access to leisure activities, to culture, etc. / more complex projects: development of an activity, creation of a company, etc.) Rural youth: a resource which needs...

dont just say it is possible... show it is possible: communicate about the happy and relevant experiences to rural stakeholders and to young people themselves. Why not in the countryside? A French association (NGO) has produced a 52 minutes movie: European young people chose to settle in the countryside after a city experience ( movie leads to debates experiment new ways of building exchange: in the Bourgogne region, young people have been invited to express their vision of rural areas using photographs. The direct result was interesting but the work was also an excuse to start a dialogue between the young people and the other stakeholders support experimentation: set up programmes for young people having just obtained their diploma to try the rural way of life in their region of origin or in another region (system Place aux jeunes imported from Quebec to France) Rural youth: the importance of communication

networking is underway cooperation projects exist/are being set up any further initiative will push things forward:. at EU level. at national level. at regional level. at local level. at individual level Rural youth: a very... European issue

Thank you ! Dorothée DUGUET French rural development network support unit /