Young LEADER Forum Highlights Youth-Driven Rural Innovation in Finland

From 11–13 June, the EU CAP Network, together with the Finnish National Rural Network, hosted the Young LEADER Forum in Finland. The three-day gathering brought together energetic rural changemakers, local LEADER groups, and representatives from regional, national, and European administrations and organisations.

Designed to showcase the added value of empowering young people within the LEADER approach, the forum blended interactive workshops, study visits, and networking sessions. Participants exchanged concrete ideas on how to boost youth engagement, spark entrepreneurship, and drive community-led local development across Europe’s countryside.

Leila Ben Abdellah attended on behalf of the Mediterranean Youth Council, contributing Mediterranean perspectives to discussions on inclusive, youth-centred rural policies.

The event underscored a clear takeaway: when rural youth are given the tools and trust to lead, they generate innovative solutions that strengthen the social and economic fabric of their communities.