The SOS – Should I Stay or Should I Go? is an Erasmus+ project working with young people in rural and remote areas across six European countries. It addresses the challenges of an ageing population, depopulation and the exodus of young people, which undermine services, opportunities and communities’ ties to the European Union. The aim is not to ‘tie’ young people to their local areas, but to ensure that no one is forced to leave due to a lack of jobs, services or prospects.

To this end, the project employs participatory methodologies – Participatory Action Research (PAR) and the Reciprocal Maieutic Approach (RMA) – integrated within a framework of Integrated Community Methodologies (ICM). Young people and communities take part in listening workshops, in which they share and analyse stories of migration (leaving, staying, returning, arriving), identify problems and resources, and construct shared narratives about the future of their territories.

Based on this work, SOS has produced two main outcomes, co-created by teams of young people from the six countries:

• a geopodcast that introduces listeners to real places and stories through audio tours;

• a Policy & Action Proposals Paper, containing concrete proposals for youth policies in rural and remote areas.

The project focuses on developing personal skills (leadership, teamwork, civic engagement) and technical skills (social research, audio production, storytelling, advocacy). At the same time, it strengthens networks of rural youth organisations, promotes transnational cooperation and brings young people closer to European politics, in line with the European Youth Strategy (Engage, Connect, Empower) and European Youth Goal #6 – Moving Rural Youth Forward.

SO1: To develop young people’s skills in leadership and community engagement, with a focus on analysing community needs and the participatory collection of local stories, in order to create a shared narrative about rural and remote areas.

SO2: To enhance the appeal of rural areas by promoting local resources and experiences related to the local area and migration, whilst improving young people’s skills in leadership, social research and audio production through the development of geolocated podcasts based on participatory narrative mapping.

SO3: To foster synergies between youth organisations in rural and remote areas of Europe and to provide young people with opportunities for mobility, training and active participation, actively involving members of local communities to influence decision-making and policies relating to rural and remote areas, so that these better take into account the needs of young people, with a view to bringing about effective change at European level.

SO4: Promote the project’s approach and methodologies with a view to ensuring replicability and sustainability, and ensure that the results achieved are widely disseminated.

For young people: greater opportunities to get involved in their local communities, through new skills in leadership, participatory research, communication and podcast production, whilst also opening up avenues for personal and professional development.

For youth organisations: strengthening their role and effectiveness in supporting young people, through the adoption of participatory methodologies and integration into a European network for collaboration, the exchange of best practices and joint advocacy.

For decision-makers and public policy-makers: providing concrete, evidence-based proposals, developed with and by young people, to address rural depopulation and improve youth and regional development policies.

For local communities: a greater sense of belonging, increased participation in community initiatives and greater visibility for the area, through stories and geopodcasts that celebrate local identity and can contribute to social, cultural and economic revitalisation.

The SOS project comprises a series of interlinked activities, including training, fieldwork with local communities and the production of practical resources. In summary:

Recruitment and formation of the SOS Youth Teams

In each country, a team of eight young people (community leaders, young researchers and a creative team) is set up to drive the project forward at a local level.

International training – SOS Community Activation Camp

Young leaders and researchers are taking part in an intensive training course in Italy on:

• participatory methodologies (PAR, RMA)

• community engagement and leadership

• Analysis of narrative data and an introduction to storytelling

This training prepares them to lead the work with the communities.

Community Listening Workshops

The youth teams organise workshops with:

• young people, children and teenagers

• parents

• elders

• returning immigrants and migrants

• Political representatives and community leaders

The aim is to gather stories and perspectives on migration, settlement and the future of these regions, to identify needs and resources, and to foster intergenerational and intercultural dialogue.

International training – SOS On Air Camp

The creative team is taking part in a practical training course in Bulgaria on:

• geopodcasting (design of georeferenced audio trails)

• audio recording and editing techniques

• communication strategies and digital engagement

Narrative mapping and route planning

Based on the stories they have collected, the youth teams identify key points within the area (symbolic locations, places of remembrance, meeting places) and create narrative maps that link places to stories.

Recording and editing of geopodcasts

Interviews, ambient sounds and narratives created by the young people are recorded, and these are then edited into 5–10-minute episodes, forming a 1–2-hour audio tour of each area.

Community testing and local events

The geopodcasts are tested during guided walks with local residents, feedback is gathered, and the final product is refined. At the same time, local events are held to present the project and its results.

European Council of Young People from Rural and Remote Areas

Representatives from the national teams meet regularly to discuss shared challenges, analyse results and jointly develop policy proposals based on the evidence gathered.

Promotional events and the closing festival

In each country, public events are organised to present geopodcasts and proposals. Finally, an international event is held to celebrate and publicise the project’s results.

Training package for young rural leaders

A theoretical and practical guide to community engagement methodologies (PAR, RMA, leadership, participation), including session plans, exercises and tools for replicating the training in other contexts.

Booklet SOS

A concise, user-friendly version of the training package, designed for those who want a quick overview of the main methodologies and activities.

Community Listening Workshops’ Report

A report summarising the findings of the listening workshops in each country: emerging themes, identified needs, key stories and recommendations for action.

Series of geopodcasts (one per country)

Geolocated audio tours, featuring episodes linked to real places and stories from each region, available online and linked to digital maps.

SOS platform / website

A digital space that brings together:

• information about the project

• training materials

• geopodcasts and maps

• news, campaigns and content produced by young people.

Policy & Action Proposals Paper

A document setting out policy proposals and actions, co-created by young people and stakeholders, aimed at local, national and European decision-makers, focusing on:

• tackling rural depopulation

• improving living conditions and increasing youth participation in rural and remote areas.

Communication materials and digital campaigns

• posts, short videos, stories and other content created by the youth teams to promote the project, the stories of the regions and the geopodcasts, thereby increasing their reach and impact amongst wider audiences.