Regenerate 2 Receive: Preparing for the Future of Rural Communities
Erasmus+ Smallscale Cooperation project
RE2RE – Regenerate to Receive was an Erasmus+ Small-scale Cooperation Partnership bringing together five organisations from Germany, Portugal and Spain to explore how rural communities can become more inclusive, resilient and attractive places for young people to live and shape their futures. The project addressed shared challenges such as rural depopulation, limited opportunities for young people and the social inclusion of newcomers, particularly young people with refugee and migration backgrounds.
Coordinated by Village e.V. (Germany), the partnership brought together Plattform Paradies in Lindow, Germany, InPulsar in Leiria, Portugal, Terra Sintrópica in Mértola, Portugal, and MICELI in Catalonia, Spain. Working across different rural and small-town contexts, the partners explored how local knowledge, youth work and community-based initiatives can help young people build meaningful futures in their regions while making newcomers feel welcome.
The project began with a kick-off meeting in Lindow, Germany, where partners shared their experiences, conducted a joint SWOT analysis of their organisations and local contexts, and identified common challenges, strengths and opportunities. This process helped establish shared priorities and create international tandems to support mutual learning and collaboration throughout the project.
In the following months, each partner developed and tested small-scale pilot initiatives in their local context. Through ongoing exchanges with Village e.V., InPulsar and their tandem partners, the organisations reflected on their approaches, shared practical experiences and explored new ways to strengthen youth participation, community connections and inclusion. This hands-on process enabled the partnership to connect strategic discussions with the realities of working with young people and communities on the ground.
The project concluded with a four-day meeting in Mértola, Portugal, where partners presented their pilot projects, reflected on successes and challenges, and identified lessons for future cooperation. Together, they explored how their experiences could inform longer-term strategies for rural regeneration, youth engagement and inclusive community development.
Beyond the individual pilot activities, RE2RE strengthened the relationships, shared understanding and collaborative capacity of the partner organisations. By connecting different experiences and approaches across Europe, the project laid the groundwork for continued cooperation and more sustainable, youth-centred work in rural communities.
A short overview of the individual pilot projects will follow soon and our fingers stay crossed to continue this work in the coming year, building on the partnerships, experiences and ideas developed through RE2RE.