After two years of experimentation, meetings, and dialogue, the Erasmus+ Youth PEACE project – Promoting Collective Action Together for a Peaceful Europe – has come to an end. More than just a project, PEACE has been a true laboratory for citizen participation, enabling hundreds of young people from rural areas to debate, propose, and take action on the major issues facing our societies today. From local discussions to the European Parliament, this collective endeavor has demonstrated that another voice on Europe exists: that of rural youth.
The PEACE project was built on a simple observation: young people in rural areas are often far removed from decision-making and participation spaces, even though they have a lot to say about the issues that concern their future.
For two years, young people from various regions of France gathered to discuss a central question: what does it mean to build lasting peace today? Through workshops, debates, and collaborative projects, they explored the links between peace, citizenship, civic engagement, intercultural dialogue, inclusion, and sustainable development. This initiative builds upon the World and Other Education (EMA) activities carried out by the MFRs (Rural Family Homes) and aligns with European youth participation initiatives.
The highlight of the project, the Festival of Rural Youth Committed to Peace, brought together nearly 120 young people at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. For several days, the participants debated under conditions of a genuine democratic exercise. Divided into working groups, they drafted, amended, and then voted on a joint statement based on three main themes:
- inner peace;
- peace with others;
- peace with the world.
From these discussions emerged nine recommendations aimed at strengthening youth participation, promoting European mobility, developing intercultural dialogue, recognizing civic engagement, and encouraging more inclusive and sustainable territories. The young people then presented their proposals to institutional leaders and decision-makers, demonstrating their ability to contribute to European debates on key issues for the future of these territories.
Beyond the figures, PEACE has had a tangible impact on participants. Evaluations conducted throughout the project show a significant increase in self-confidence, public speaking skills, and a sense of legitimacy in participating in democratic debates. Many young people report a better understanding of how European institutions function, as well as feeling more empowered to take action in their local communities. For some, this experience has been a first step towards other forms of engagement: participation in youth councils, involvement in associations, advocacy efforts, or European projects.
Educational teams also highlight the emergence of new dynamics in schools, with increasing emphasis placed on youth representation and civic participation.
The closure of PEACE does not mark the end of the adventure. The project directly contributed to the creation of CONNECT-R , a new Erasmus+ initiative that will lead to a European meeting in 2026, bringing together young rural people from several countries at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. This new step confirms young people's interest in these spaces for dialogue and reinforces the MFR movement's ambition to sustainably develop civic participation initiatives at the local, national, and European levels.
Beyond the events themselves, PEACE leaves a deeper legacy: that of rural youth gaining confidence in their ability to debate, propose solutions, and contribute to the major challenges of our time. For while peace is built within institutions, it is also built in local communities, at the grassroots level. And young people in rural areas have demonstrated that they have a vital role to play in this collective endeavor.
