The YARD project gives young people from developing, emerging, and European countries the opportunity to attend international conferences and
Development needs people with vision – including and especially in rural regions. Through their personal biographies and experiences, YARDs illustrate just how important rural areas are. At the European Development Days (EDD) held in Stockholm from 22 to 24 October 2009, Young Ambassadors took part in a High-Level Round Table, discussing what makes rural regions attractive places to live and viable in the long term. Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma, and Kenyan Minister Noah Wekesa responded to their questions. An audience of over 200 people listened to the discussion.
contribute their ideas and visions of what sustainable rural regions could look like. They are actively involved in global issues such as climate, biodiversity, water, migration, education, social security and financing. They are ambassadors who encourage other young people to get involved in rural issues. By talking with policy-makers they make sure rural development remains firmly fixed on the political agenda. With their experience and ideas for the future they are a source of authentic information for politicians and the media alike.
Progress to date
The idea for YARDs dates back to the Second European Forum on Sustainable Rural Development held in Berlin in 2007 during the German presidency of the EU Council. It was implemented for the first time in 2008 at the European Development Days (EDD) in Strasbourg. The YARD project was conceived as a communications campaign to anchor the issue of rural development in the international political arena and enhance the public impact of this theme through the media.At the fourth EDD in Stockholm the YARDs fulfilled a new role. Whereas their participation at the 2008 EDD had been marked by spontaneity and creativity, their remit for 2009 was to conduct a structured dialogue with heads of state and other high-ranking guests. The Round Table’s theme was: Voices for Rural Development – Dialogue of Generations. The YARDs were thus part of the EDD’s official programme and were called on to participate and follow protocol as an official group at the EDD, while still remaining true to their creativity and youthful dynamic energy.
As well as taking part in a panel discussion at the EDD, the YARDs also held discussions and interviews with government ministers, high-ranking development cooperation experts, and the media. A film crew accompanied the YARDs as they went about their activities and produced a promotional film, which can be viewed at www.yard-global.org.
Background
The YARDs are a group of young, well-educated women and men, aged between 20 and 35, from rural regions in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America. Their message is: ‘There is a future for rural regions.’ They are very concerned to halt the trend of migration to the towns and cities and to promote the development of areas outside the major cities and thus prevent entire regions from being abandoned. On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), GTZ has been working with other partners to support the young ambassadors since the YARD network was set up in 2008.Services
- Concept development, advice on political communication, topic selection and management
- Business acquisition, process and schedule management, personnel management, financial controlling, advice on fundraising, documentation
- Developing a communications and marketing strategy, press and public relations work, internal communications and interface management
- Event management
- Setting up a network
Further information
Website of the Young Ambassadors for Rural Development> www.yard-global.org
Website of the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development
> www.donorplatform.org
Contact person
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