YFCU all set to host European Rally

The European Rally is one of a number of events and seminars organised under the overarching umbrella organisation known as Rural Youth Europe that has 22 member organisations in 18 European countries and represents the interests of approximately 500,000 young people living in rural areas.

During the European Rally, teams of five young people from each member organisation will come together for the week long programme.

The European Rally each year is hosted by a different country within the organisation and the theme is selected by the host in order to be suitably representative of their communities and everyday life for their young people. The theme for this year- which has been chosen by the YFCU - is ‘Bridging Diversity, Growing Together’ and this will be reflected throughout all activities and visits during the Rally week which will be held on 30th July to 6th August at CAFRE, Greenmount Campus.

The event is being sponsored by Danske Bank with support from DAERA, The Ulster Farmers’ Union, Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster, Rural Youth Europe, Erasmus and Jim Nicholson MEP.

Helping launch the event last week at Stormont was the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Michelle McIlveen MLA who commented: “I am delighted that my Department is able to support the YFCU and I commend the work that they do in championing the needs of young, rural people right across Northern Ireland. The strong theme for this year’s Rally and the activities planned around it, will give our young people the opportunity to explore many common issues that affect them, regardless of where they come from. I wish them all a very successful and informative Rally and I am confident that the YFCU members will be great ambassadors for Northern Ireland.”

President of the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster, Roberta Simmons commented: “We as an organisation are delighted that young people from throughout Europe will be rallying together to look at the issue of ‘Bridging Diversity, Growing Together’ as we play host to the European Rally. In a packed week of activities, visits and discussion forums; teams representing rural youth organisations from as far afield as Latvia, Sweden and Germany will be visiting. The European Rally is a significant event and an opportunity for us to showcase not only our Association and industry but also to showcase Northern Ireland to teams from all over Europe.”