Freeway - To Live on the Countryside in Europe

To Live on the Countryside in Europe

In Europe there aren't only big cities, much of the continent is actually sparsely-populated areas. It's important for the European Union to support and save the smaller societies and prevent people from moving out.
Many of the pupils at Parkskolan live a couple of miles outside the town Örnsköldsvik. They have to spend quite much time on the bus to get to school, entertainments and other activities. But what makes them stay on the countryside and what can you actually do there?

We live in a little village on the countryside and for many youngsters it may seem boring and monotonous to live so far from all the hustle and bustle, but as a matter of fact it has its advantages.

A placid life near the nature
For us it takes nearly an hour to get to the nearest town and it really is rural, with the forests right outside the door, but despite these facts we really like it. Our childhood has been very stimulating and safe thanks to the harmonious and peaceful environment. When we were children our parents never needed to worry when we were out playing,

because everyone knows and helps each other in our village.
Many things have been arranged by the people in our village. Soccer is of great interest to as well parents as children and most people are engaged in the local sport association. Because of this a very good grass-pitch and a nice clubhouse have been built. The sport association also arranges

a big summer party, pubs and something we call " The canoes day" each year, when almost everyone in the village meet and have a great time together.
One family in the village offers people from the cities and other countries to come and stay on their farm. Among others Japanese and Germans have visited them.

The things that entice people into coming to the countryside is mostly the beautiful nature, all the animals and the great opportunities to outdoor life.
The youngsters sometimes spend their weekends together watching films or playing pool in the clubhouse. In the summers they also grill by the lake.
This is just some of the things you can do when you live far from the cities. It is only a matter of interest and will.

Long distances and poor range
Of course there are also disadvantages with living on the countryside. It's very far to almost everything. If a fire starts in a house it's not certain that the firemen get there before the whole building has burnt down or if someone needs immediate care the ambulance may not always get there in time.
When you live in or near a smaller town the range of jobs, education and entertainment are also more narrow. Often there's not much to do in the weekends or in your spare time. People have to spend much money on petrol and it sometimes gets expensive when they are out shopping. The shops in smaller places can have higher prices than the ones in the cities because of the low competition.
The consequences from all this are that more and more people, especially youngsters, move to the big cities.

The EU's contributions and support to the country
The European Union tries in different ways to prevent people from moving out and therefore give money to projects of different kind. According to Gunnar Wahlén at the County Administrative Board in Härnösand, companies can get economic support if it's proven that they are able to expand and increase the employment. The EU can give money to farmers for example for investments, but they don't give a certain sum, it mostly depends on the extent of the project. In most cases the finances is parted into three pieces;
- 40 % is privately paid
- 60 % is shared by the European Union and a national authority.

We personally think that the European Union should increase their support to the countryside and especially to the youngsters. If anyone on the whole will live on the countryside in the future the possibilities and ranges have to get better.
Many youngsters here in Örnsköldsvik share our opinion and this is shown in a research we've made in our school.

More than half of all youngsters thought that the bad possibilities of job and career were the main reason why people move from the countryside.
52% of the girls and 32% of the boys thought that more people would stay if the entertainment increased. Some other suggestions to make people stay were to create more job-opportunities, to increase the possibility to study and to improve the public transports.
About half of all girls and 40% of the boys are going to move from Örnsköldsvik when they have finished Upper Secondary school.

This research is made with 70 boys and girls aged between 16 and 19.

What is it like to live on the countryside in your country and what kind of support does the EU give?