Type 8: description and recommendation

In comparison to the average your village is affect by decline in the strongest way. The relationship between young and elder population groups is very disproportionate. The elder population group is growing very strong, whereas the young population groups are diminishing. There are considerable more emigrants than immigrants. The family relationships are concentrating to the close neighbourhood very seldom, so that you have to worry about a higher risk of empty houses in the next 20 years already.

There are two possibilities: either your village has problems in one of the two branches (economy or social life) or it is in a mediocre situation in both of them. To find out your strong and your weak points, you might try to answer the following questions:

1. Are there many unemployed people but only a few local enterprises in your village?
2. Is there a social life in your village (associations, clubs etc.)?
2a. Are there many inhabitants participating in clubs, associations etc?
2b. Are there some younger ones among them, too?

Your motto is: strengthen your strong points and remove the weak ones! If your economical results are not satisfying, you should try to remove possible problems in this area. In which way could you and the community support local enterprises? If social life is not properly developed - what could be improved, e.g. concerning clubs and associations? Is there a good youth work? How could you improve it?

Try to find ideas how to keep local enterprises in your village and how to animate other ones to settle locally. Are there any local apprenticeships - if not, why not?

Ask local clubs and associations how to involve more young people in their activities. Show clearly to older and more traditional clubs and associations that their existence depends on recruiting young members.

Also: only stable structures are attractive to immigrants. Keep in mind that, because of your very bad demography your village is on the brink of substantial risks. It is essential to fight for keeping your inhabitants on the one hand and gaining new inhabitants of the other hand.

Village examples for this type: