Civil Society Days 2016

Social Integration and the role of CSOs 31 May 2016

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Rural Isolation of Citizens in Europe

Laura de Bonfils, Volonteurope

Rural Isolation of Citizens in Europe

Final Report

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Context

• More than half of the EU’s land area is classified as predominantly rural (52% in 2014)

• More than one fifth of the EU population lives in rural regions (27.6% in 2015)

• Rural Regions often lag behind urban and intermediate areas in a number of socio-economic indicators

• People living and working in rural Europe are at higher risk of poverty

• Rural regions across the EU not a uniform group

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Economic, territorial and social patterns

Rural poverty

and social exclusion

Remoteness and low

population density

Low levels of GDP &

economic growth

Stigmatisation and lack of

understanding

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How to approach Rural Isolation

A multidimensional issue requiring a multidimensional response

Economic, territorial and social patterns

Opportunities, services and

infrastructure

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From isolation to inclusion

Rural development initiatives should:

• Promote the endogenous development potential of rural communities

• Involve local communities at every step of the process

• Give rural communities a platform to express their ideas

• Build on existing social, human and physical capital

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Main findings

• That cross-sector collaboration is vital to combatting rural poverty and social exclusion

• That action needs to be taken at all levels: European, national, regional and local

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Main findings

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• Rural Communities should be involved

• Citizens and voluntary

sector engagement is as vital, as government or business action

Concrete effects of rural isolation

Social exclusion

and poverty

Reduced access to services

Poor infrastructure

Reduced educational and

employment opportunities

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The Role of CSOs to fight rural isolation

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• One of the most important actors to promote social integration of rural isolated areas are civil society organisations

• Volunteering and active citizenship are

essential tools for promoting positive and sustainable change

The case studies

• EstYes (Estonia)

• The Imago Mundi Association (Romania)

• The Rural Development Foundation (Poland)

• The Devetashko Plateau Association (Bulgaria)

• Macmillan Cancer Support (UK)

• Volunteering Matters (UK)

• LVKK (the Netherlands)

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The Recommendations #ruralisolation

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Laura de Bonfils, Policy and research coordinator – Volonteurope Laura.debonfils@volunteeringmatters.org.uk

@Volonteurope

www.volonteurope.eu

https://www.facebook.com/Volonteurope/