29 representatives of the youth wings of 14 political parties from across the country participated in the Multi-Party Rural Eco Hackathon, organized within the framework of the Swiss Electoral Support Programmme, by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and the OHRID Institute for Economic Strategies and International Affairs. The event concluded with the signing of the first joint Declaration on Rural Development, a document that unites the vision of young political leaders for more sustainable and prosperous rural communities.
The Declaration is the result of a three-day intensive co-creation process, in which the young participants, through teamwork and support from experts, prepared specific recommendations on:
- Local environmental risks – waste management and illegal landfills;
- Protection of natural resources and local ecosystems;
- Climate change and its impact on agriculture and rural life; and
- Youth ecotourism and opportunities for rural entrepreneurial development.
By signing the Declaration, the political youth demonstrated their maturity and responsibility, sending a clear message that the key challenges in rural communities are more important than party differences. Their shared vision is for the future of rural areas to be based on sustainable development, mutual cooperation and concrete solutions for citizens.
This document represents an initial chapter, the beginning of a process in which the ideas and recommendations of the youth will be further developed and incorporated into future electoral programs and policies for rural development. With this declaration, the youth have shown that they are ready not only to discuss, but also to act, to lay the foundations for policies that will serve the communities and ensure a better life for current and future generations.
