CONTEXT / BACKGROUNDRegarding life conditions in rural areas, technological innovations are slower than the city center; consequently daily works mostly depend on manual labor rather than mental energy usage. Therefore, social, intellectual and individual development of young people in the rural areas is accordingly slower. The restricted structure of village life which limits access to educational, social, cultural, economic and sportive activities, especially patriarchal family model and traditional social roles have negative effect on psycho-social development of young people. PROJECT OBJECTIVESImproving empathy skills of participants – especially young people at 6 target village, by means of searching solutions for problems of villagers, their social and cultural lifestyles, economic problems; studying on society in villages as a sociological concept, by all dimensions. Involving young people into the management and coordination of the project, organizing and providing access to social, cultural, artistic activities, competitions; contributing their cultural integration and self development. PROFILE AND NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTSParticipants are economically, socially and culturally disadvantaged young people, who live in urban areas. They live in the city centers; nevertheless, they have limited access to urban facilities. They don’t have sufficient information about rural life and rural people, though they have common issues in terms of living praxis. They have prejudices about rural people and rural life. The participant group consists of 36 young people at 18-30 age group.ACTIVITIES AND METHODOLOGYThe preparation activities will be carried out simultaneously in partner regions. Preparation training will be provided for participant groups in partner regions. Study groups will carry out studies in 6 previously determined villages. Groups will consist of 6 members – 2 participants from each partner country. The groups will be formed regarding gender equality. The groups will contact demarches, religious officials, administrations of schools, and previously determined young villagers; they will carry out research activities by establishing dialogue with rural folk. They will make interviews, take photographs and video films during the activities. - Chats at local public coffee houses: listening to interesting past event/memories from the owners or witnesses- Research on life conditions of rural people (how they earn living, working conditions, what they eat, how they entertain etc)- Research on problems and future dreams of rural young people (unemployment, lack of education, integration, participation, access to cultural, artistic, sportive activities, what they want to become, the future in their dream etc)On the other hand, the participant groups will carry out folk dance activities at basic level with villager young people; they will join the dances, and they will organize a dance competition between the villages by the end of the programme. The music teachers at village schools and folk dance instructor of Public Education Center will guide the activities. By participation of project groups, football, basketball, and volleyball tournaments will be organized for local young people, according to a pre-defined fixture, at sports hall allocated by District Sports Directorate. The winners of the competitions will be awarded. The matches will be guided by sports and physical education teachers in the village school. RESULTS AND IMPACT- Participants improved awareness of their roles and responsibility within EU’s future- Participants improved social and individual development- Participants overcame prejudices- Participants improved perceptual, cognitive, and linguistic competences- Partner organizations gained project implementation capacity- Local folk and sharers – especially at 5 target villages – improved awarenessLONG TERM BENEFITS- By means of partners’ involvement into dissemination strategy of the project, the synergy will be sensed at EU level.- The project will contribute visibility of EU Youth programmes- Participating organizations will develop capacity on EU cooperation.