You and Me – A youth film project for a new European narrative Erasmus Project

Project Title

You and Me – A youth film project for a new European narrative

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for youth

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Youth (Participation, Youth Work, Youth Policy) ; EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy; Rural development and urbanisation

Project Summary

In the EU, 75% of the population lives in urban areas, while 80% of the territory is categorised as rural. Rural areas throughout Europe are often associated with remoteness, population decline, lack of education, infrastructure and services, and risk marginalisation and social exclusion.
With “You and Me”, three young Germans, Greeks and Spaniards grabbed a camera to tell six stories from their rural regions beyond stereotypes and mainstream media narrative, which in the past few years has pitted Northern and Southern Europe against each other.
The participants met in Berlin in April 2016 to learn the basics of filmmaking and develop the concept of their own documentary; from September to October 2016, they split in three mixed groups and travelled through the rural areas of Brandenburg (Germany), Lesbos (Greece), and Aragón (Spain), where they interviewed six young people about their lives in rural areas, their dreams and everyday challenges. In January 2017, the participants came together one last time for the editing and post-production of their footage.
The result is “Ruralink”, a 40-minute documentary featuring a portrait of rural youth from Germany, Spain and Greece beyond stereotypes and mainstream narrative. It provides a fresh look at rural Europe and shows inspired, dynamic young people, committed to reviving their local communities and regions. Through their engagement at the local level, they put into practice a vision of Europe that is based on sustainability and solidarity, challenging nationalist rhetoric and media spin.
After working on their documentary for almost a year, the young people involved in the project have increased their cross-cultural awareness as well as their ability to work in an international environment and in a foreign language (English); they developed a more critical perspective towards mainstream media, stereotypes and prejudices about the countries they visited; moreover, they learnt to use their creativity and their filmmaking skills to break down barriers between people from different cultures and backgrounds. On a long-term basis, they will act as disseminators in their own environment, offering a different perspective to other young people in the rural areas in which they live.
The project was coordinated by Citizens For Europe, a Berlin-based NGO and social business supporting the development of a participatory and inclusive European Union. It was carried out in collaboration with Fondo Natural, an NGO based in Zaragoza promoting environmental protection and social and economic sustainability, and Bridging Europe, an Athens-based non-profit research center focusing on Europe, geopolitics and migration.
European Alternatives Berlin, an NGO focusing on citizenship and political education, assisted the organisation of the premiere screening in Berlin.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 33925 Eur

Project Coordinator

Citizens For Europe gUG (haftungsbeschränkt) & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Asociación Fondo Natural
• Bridging Europe
• EUROPEAN ALTERNATIVES BERLIN E V