An opportunity to lead rural youth groups across Europe proved to be a bigger challenge than anticipated when Niall Evans from Brecknock took on a Board position after Brexit and during a global pandemic.
As countries around the world began locking down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Niall Evans was in Italy attending a Rural Youth Europe Board meeting.
“It was very touch and go whether we would actually make it home before the provinces were locked down,” said Niall as he recalls the panic of trying to leave Italy to get back to Wales. “I sort of laugh about it now but looking back, people at home were very concerned.”
The pandemic would mean major changes for the youth organisation – not least cancelling many of the events it organises for rural young people from across Europe. Fortunately, they were already a step ahead when it came to digital communications.
“We were used to the Zoom/Skype/Teams way of working because every other meeting that we had was on Skype. Obviously, you can't come together all the time because it’s too much money to get seven board members, plus staff, across the continent. So Rural Youth Europe was already semi digital.
“We obviously had to go into full digital mode the same as any other organisation and make some difficult decisions on events and whether they were held, which ultimately came down to whether member organisations would be willing to actually send members to the events, as well as the major risks on funding the events.
“Looking back now, Covid almost opened up a whole new platform for the organisation. It's allowed us to lock into the bare bones of the organisation and see how we work rather than going from year to year.”
Rural Youth Europe is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that promotes and supports rural youth in Europe. It was founded in 1957 and is made up of over 20 member organisations, including NFYFC and Wales YFC, from 18 countries and more than 500,000 young people.
Like YFC, it is a democratic organisation that is led by young people for young people.
The pandemic hit shortly after Brexit was officially declared, placing Niall at the helm of a European organisation when the UK was exiting the European Union, and at time of a global crisis.
“There were things to learn from Brexit, certainly for the organisation, such as funding streams and how members join the events. It was a little bit more difficult, due to different countries being funded by different people, which did cause quite a few head scratching moments,” said Niall who progressed to Chair of the Board from 2022-2024.
“There was definitely no real animosity between member organisations or member states. I think we all just sort of got on with it. We dealt with it in the best way possible. We were all rural young people and we came together at a time of, well, certainly through Covid, a time of hardship. It's surprising how, resistant young people can be to major changes. And, we certainly come together in times of hardship to make sure that we're all supported.”
The organisation was originally established after World War II to create a platform for young people to communicate and share best practices. Niall notes that the pandemic only reinforced the fact that rural issues are similar for young people across the globe. The challenge was how, as a culturally different group, they worked together to address those issues.
“I think communication is the key word. As long as people are willing to speak and communicate with each other, most difficulties and challenges can be worked through, especially when there's language barriers,” said Niall who found that the lack of in person meetings would sometimes cause friction when messages got lost in translation. “You'll never agree on everything. All we can do is try our best and try and work together as a team. It's the same challenges. Whether you’re working in a national team or an international team.”
The experience has certainly taught Niall a lot about understanding others and including everyone.
“You’ve got to be aware of everyone's strengths and weaknesses and try to provide a platform for everyone to thrive,” he said.
Embedding inclusion and diversity into an organisation is an ongoing process, with constant room for improvement. Niall’s involvement in YFC and Rural Youth Europe has heightened his awareness of the importance of bringing people along with you on the journey towards greater inclusivity.
“I think we’ve got to be mindful of the members and work together to provide an environment that is both safe and inclusive. I don't think there’s ever going to be a time where things are going to be perfect. We can only strive to provide a safe and inclusive environment for as many people as we possibly can.
“In NFYFC, the membership is very young at the moment and the more support that we can provide for every member, the better.”
Niall has held various positions in Wales YFC and serves on the NFYFC Council, but he never imagined he'd become involved in the European movement or take on the role of Chair – or as he’s jokingly been called ‘the king of Europe’. The skills he has gained from his involvement in Rural Youth Europe, particularly in managing cultural differences during a time of crisis, have enriched him both personally and professionally.
“I saw it as an opportunity to further my skills and meet new people. I have met a lot of new people and worked with some fabulous people on the Board and within the reserve staff team. I learned so much about myself during the process, so I definitely recommend doing it if you get the opportunity.”
For more information about Rural Youth Europe, visit here.
