Inspired by their participation in leadership initiatives, including the Scottish Enterprise Rural Leadership Programme and the Windsor Leadership Programme, JCM’s Jane and Rebecca have initiated, and will be managing, the Rural Youth Project.
Launched in January 2018, the international initiative is designed to research and better understand rural young people, aged 18-28. It will combine an online survey, year-long in-depth video logs (vlogs) of 15-20 rural young people and a Rural Youth Ideas Festival in July 2018.
The aim is to identify and engage young rural leaders to help them drive positive change within their local rural communities, challenging them to “be the change you want to see”.
During 2018 the target countries for the research are: England, Scotland, Wales and, internationally, Austria, Australia, Canada and the USA. Further countries will be added annually between 2019 and 2022, with the research coming to a conclusion during the Year of Story Telling.
JCM will use their wide-reaching networks within the international agricultural and rural leadership community and the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists to publicise the project and its outcomes. They are managing all aspects of the project including:
- Building the Rural Youth Project website
- Developing and promoting the online survey
- Working with a data analyst to review the results
- Selecting and supporting the vloggers throughout the year
- Curating vloggers’ stories so it has a consistent look and delivers the best outcomes for online engagement
- Writing blogs and case study articles for online and print use
- Managing and generating content for social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, You Tube and LinkedIn
- Media relations to publicise the initiative and its findings in the partner countries across a range of platforms – print, radio and tv
- Curating and organising all logistics for the Rural Youth Ideas Festival
- Sourcing funding and sponsorship for the project
- Presenting the research findings at events and meetings to influence policy and local community improvements for rural young people
- Coordinating meetings with key policy and decision makers to ensure the results generate positive outcomes for rural youth
- Inspiring and enabling rural young leaders to enact change in their local communities
- To be a catalyst to building lasting networks between rural young people globally
Visit www.ruralyouthproject.com for more information or to find out how you could get involved, or speak to JCM about your own project needs email hello@janecraigie.com
