Description:
How can digitalisation in rural areas be shaped fairly and with bearing in mind to include everybody and leave no one behind? How can digital offers take up the unique characteristics of rural areas? How can the challenges and chances of the digital world be utilised to connect communities and enable inclusion? The workshop aims to collectively introduce best-practice examples of digitally connecting rural areas in different parts of the world and discuss if and how a tool or a method that works well in one country may also be implemented in other countries. The examples will come from different sectors, such as Agriculture/Farming (icow, Kenya), Social connectivity (Digitale Dörfer, Germany), Internet access and connectivity (https://bluetown.com/) Three to Five speakers are invited to shortly introduce their approach before the floor is opened to participants to voice their opinions, bring in their own examples, and discuss the possibilities of transfers. Participants are highly encouraged to introduce examples from the above named sectors or additionally projects concerning E-Health, Mobility, Access to cultural content, Education, Online Banking, Environmental Issues etc. Questions for the speakers and for each participant to consider before attending the session: • Short Introduction of the sector the project is working in, time frame, successes etc. • Conditions in the country and area the project is implemented • Terms of failure and success • Ideas if and how a transfer is possible and which conditions need/should be given. Proposed Format: Fishbowl: Speakers introduce best-practice examples from different countries (5-10 minutes each); Participants are invited to join in and shortly give feedback, outline their own experiences, and discuss the opportunities and possibilities for an approach to work in a different geographical, cultural, administrative, and social context.
