• The program is aimed at young people between 18 and 26 years old, with higher education in progress and ties to Cantabrian municipalities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants.
• The objective of this initiative is to place young people at the center of the territory, so that through innovation and leadership they can drive the revitalization of rural Cantabria.

“Gaudeamus igitur iuvenes dum sumus” (“Let us enjoy ourselves while we are still young”). The Botín Foundation places young people at the heart of rural development in Cantabria through the "Talento Rural Joven" (Young Rural Talent) Program , a training program aimed at young people between 18 and 26 years of age that promotes innovation, the development of personal skills, and collaboration for the benefit of the rural world in the region, in this case Cantabria.

Thus, the "Young Rural Talent" training program is structured into three blocks, each with three-day in-person coaching sessions and an experiential approach that not only seeks to inspire young people but also to foster a positive and lasting impact on Cantabria's rural environment.

To this end, the selected students will attend classes, workshops, and conferences aimed at developing digital skills and resilience to current changes. In addition, participants will have the support of a team of professionals who will guide them throughout the program in defining a collaborative project that responds creatively and innovatively to the challenges of rural environments.

Goals

The "Young Rural Talent" project was created for young Cantabrians with roots in rural areas—residents of municipalities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants—and with higher education, precisely to address the challenges it seeks to alleviate: depopulation and aging, as well as resilience to climate change and new digital environments.

Its objective is to improve the living conditions of those living in rural areas and generate a positive economic impact in the area. The program was created with a cooperative spirit, based on the premise that new rural challenges require social and collective responses through collaborative projects.

The schedule of performances is as follows:

• Selection Process:
  • Application Period: January 25 to February 23, 2024.
  • Evaluation Period: February 24-27, 2024.
  • Selection of Participants: February 27, 2024.
• Training Cycle Calendar:
  • Program start: March.
  • Nansa Valley Stage: March 8-10.
  • Madrid Stage: July 8-10.
  • Santander Stage: November 8-10.
  • Final session of Young Rural Talent: December

Background

"Talento Rural Joven" (Young Rural Talent) was born from years of experience by the Botín Foundation with young Cantabrians from the Nansa Valley and Peñarrubia, during which initiatives have been implemented for the socioeconomic development of the region through:

• The support of the association “Entre Valles” , formed by a group of young people from the Nansa Valley with a strong connection and responsibility for the future of their territory.
• Attendance at the European Heritage Days of the Nansa Valley , with the participation of regional and local institutions, the Ministry of Culture, private organizations, and a significant group of volunteers from the area.
• Coordination of the 1st Congress “Young People Investing in Rural Areas.”