Ovenhausen

In 1970 Ovenhausen became part of the district town Höxter in the eastern part of Northrine Westfalia. Since the community participated in innovative digital projects like "Smart Country Side", "Digital competences for citizens in rural areas" , "Dorf.Zukunft.Digital" and "Dorf.Gesundheit.Digital" Ovenhausen became a digital village and known as a lighthouse example for future oriented village development. About 800 participants are using regularly digital applications for communication in the village and in other neighbouring villages. Ovenhausen was awarded for being "integrative commune" and the village is recognized for its networking and cooperation.

Lighthouse in Digital services

The parish council, together with other local stakeholders, have developed a shared vision of how digital applications could be used to improve day-to-day life in the village. In doing so, they were inspired by the concept of the "Caring Community" according to which the residents support each other, in the future increasingly by digital means. Beyond the parish council, all local associations and voluntary groups are committed to this vision. The successful applicationof the village in 2016 to participate in a project jointly initiated by the LEADER regions Höxter and Lippe was then the initial spark for a process of joint experimentation with digital technologies by the villagers that continues until now. A participatory approach is always taken, driven by local citizens volunteering their time and involving all local stakeholders. From the beginning, it was clear that the use of digital technologies in the everyday life of citizens also requires new skills. Therefore, 10 volunteers were initially trained as digital experts who make their newly acquired skills available to all villagers free of charge. In addition, a digital app called "Village Broadcast" was developed by means of a co-creation process. It enables news sharing and social exchange within the village community. Almost 80% of the residents have subscribed to the app, so that by now every household has access to the app at least via a family member. Ovenhausen is now exploring possibilities to use digital technologies for supporting health care and nursing in the village.

READ

Factsheet of Ovenhausen

LISTEN

Podcast of Ovenhausen

Country

Germany

Type

sparsely populated areas

Degree of urbanization

rural

population of 1050

Check out the village strategy:

Digital villages as a blueprint for social innovations in rural area

Village Solutions

Digital village platform

Since 2018 almost all participants are using a digital village plattform. The editorial staff is a team of volunteers called "digital village experts". The staff is supporting the inhabitants in all questions concerning the use of digital tools related to the village plattform. A digital corner of learning in a common building is established.

Living | Mobility & connectivity | Services

Contact Information

Katholische Kirchengemeinde St. Maria Salome Ovenhausen, h-w.gorzolka@gmx.de

https://www.ovenhausen-digital.de
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