The European Union in the Villages: Listening to Rural Galicia Through Data Democracy

Local Discovery Quest report – Gaxate, Vilán and Anceu, Ponte Caldelas (Galicia), 20 June 2026

4Data Democracy Project – WP7 Local Discovery Quest

For many of us living in the countryside, the European Union can feel like something that happens in a glass building in Brussels, far removed from our daily lives. But on 20 June 2026, we set out to change that. In the small village of Anceu, Ponte Caldelas, Rural Hackers hosted “A Unión Europea nos Pobos” (The European Union in the Villages) as part of the 4Data Democracy project. Our goal wasn’t to lecture or deliver a report; it was to see if Europe could be felt right here, around a shared table and through real conversation.

Conversation over questionnaires

We didn’t want to just “collect data” in the traditional sense. Instead, we spent the morning having breakfast together in Gaxate, Vilán, and Anceu. These weren’t formal interviews, they were honest chats where neighbours, young people, and local leaders shared their dreams and worries for the future of our villages. For us, the fact that people truly felt heard was far more valuable than any spreadsheet.

Later in Anceu, we hosted a “Human Library.” Local innovators like SuidoLab, photographer Darío Eyré, and teams from Alivavá, Do Picho, and Meleiras do Suído sat down as “living books.” They shared their stories of grit and passion for this land, proving that rural Galicia is a place of incredible innovation and care.

The day wound down just as it should: with a massive communal paella, live music, and the kind of relaxed talk that turns strangers into collaborators. It was only one day, but the energy and the connections made are already starting to ripple through the valley.

Beyond the numbers

The official records show 58 people signed in, and we estimate about 80 joined us in total. What we really carried home were the voices and stories. We didn’t just find “gaps” in our community; we found an incredible wealth of local knowledge.

This event was a big moment for us at Rural Hackers. As part of a European-wide effort spanning seven countries, we wanted to show that you don’t have to focus on what’s missing to make progress. By using “Appreciative Inquiry,” we focused on our strengths, our existing local talent and community spirit to figure out where we go next.

Democracy starts with a voice

In places like Galicia, where depopulation and digital divides are real challenges, “data democracy” can sound like jargon. But it’s actually quite simple: it starts when people are invited to speak and help shape the decisions that affect their lives. It’s not about complex dashboards; it’s about lived experience.

Everything we learned will help us build the next steps of the 4Data Democracy project, leading up to a “Vision Factory” where we’ll start turning these rural dreams into data-informed realities.

To everyone who joined us in Gaxate, Vilán, and Anceu: thank you. You showed us that Europe isn’t just a set of rules from Brussels, it’s alive in our villages, in our shared meals, and in our shared courage to build a better rural future together.