Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ulrich Burkhard on January 22, 2012 at 9:33pm

Hi Klaus,

first I want to thank gkpf for its concern for innovation(s) right on the village level. The population of a small village in Germany (Gertenbach) became motivated again through the "village innovation talk" a project of gkpf. Fantastic!

You know the villages in Germany have lost over two decades a lot of infrastructures. Many commercial buildings (shops, restaurants, workshops etc.), even in the midst of the village centers are devasted. You don't feel TripleA Germany here.

Two days back the villagers have decided on a special village conference to ask for international support.

The village of Gertenbach will become an interesting example in the transition of village social life in Germany. Until now social gathering has almost stopped as all former meeting places have gone over the years. Peoples remain at home sitting alone in front of their TV's.

We are planning a multifunctional village center based on completely new ideas including three emty buildings (an example is attached).

Do you think gkpf could help to stimulate this process in rural Germany as well?

Uli

Attachments:

• Exposé 2641.pdf, 156 KB

Permalink Reply by kubwimana Venuste on January 22, 2012 at 9:42pm

For GKPF to become larger network it will all depend on us! i mean members and especially founders the better you treat the first members the more also these members share with others!

Permalink Reply by Michael Roberts on January 22, 2012 at 11:26pm

Hi Klaus,

I think the GKPF needs to encourage ownership of the network as much as possible.   That is to say, finding small roles for members to play in the life of the GKPF.    I also think youth need to be encouraged to join the GKPF.   They have the energy and new ideas that I think are going to key in this ever more virtual and connected world we live in.

From the business point of view, the GKPF just has to give its members what the members want.   I really do think those networking meetings had great value.   The mobile conference idea is a good one.   Anything that gets people talking and communicating together is great for an org like the GKPF.   So virtual tools like Skype, Google Hangout, chat rooms, discussions boards creates a sense of community and connections between people and organizations.  Through those discussions, ideas and collaborations will emerge.    

Permalink Reply by Alain Berranger on January 23, 2012 at 6:22pm

Dear Ulrich, good to hear GKPF "Village Innovation Talk" had an immediate impact for Gertenbach people. Thank you and Klaus for making the effort and the connection. I often think of ICT4D as critically useful for developing countries and emerging economies, but here is an example of impact in an OECD country and leading European economy! Village social life is down everywhere because of ICTs notably, connecting each home to the world, but in a bit of an isolated way throught TV and internet in the home... so in a way, village citizens (but also urban citizens) are more connected to the world than ever before and at the same time are disconnected from a more substantial real face-to-face village interaction right at home... In France and UK, the café and the pub have lower crowds for the same reasons...  interesting challenge to handle both local and global relevance... I do not have ideas to suggest to do this, but will think hard about possible solutions....

Permalink Reply by Alain Berranger on January 23, 2012 at 6:23pm

So true!

Permalink Reply by Alain Berranger on January 23, 2012 at 6:24pm

I agree with you Michael...How do we get youth interested in GKPF?

Permalink Reply by kubwimana Venuste on January 23, 2012 at 6:41pm

Give them what they want.  young people are always fascinated by being able  identify the issues of primary concern to them and are empowered to develop, implement and manage youth-owned strategies, activities, networks, organizations and campaigns.

so please allow youth to feel ownership and empower them to  implement their ideas!

Permalink Reply by Michael Roberts on January 23, 2012 at 6:57pm

Absolutely right.   Somewhat related youth, are willing to engage at low cost because they are building their reputations.   

To get them involved you need to ask them what they want.   

Permalink Reply by Alain Berranger on January 23, 2012 at 7:32pm

OK, so my question to Kubiwimana (if he is young!!! ;-)) what does he want from GKPF?

Permalink Reply by Alain Berranger on January 23, 2012 at 7:39pm

I would say organize multistakeholders' partnerships and give opportunity to Members to participate in a variety of ways: acquire/contribute knowhow/knowledge, offer services, join the partnership, offer technologies and learning opportunities. I would add: to facilitate online funding of projects (pre-approved by GKPF of course to ensure transparency and accountability!). I would add also: to organize events from time to time on ICT4D subjects; Finally, I would say to mobilize all ICT4D networks for collaboration, coordination, exchanges, etc...

Permalink Reply by kubwimana Venuste on January 23, 2012 at 7:54pm

Dear Alain, i'm 26 years, what i want is to be empowered financially and materialistically( which can be done through various ways such as promotions...)  to be able to implement my owned strategies to resolve my counterparts issues. because young people we strongly believe in our ideas and we can do anything for our plans to be done but mostly we do not have support of materials. I can give an example when i arrived in Kenya; through my foundation we were to host our first college and university students debates and we sent our paper work to Director of Higher education  when he saw our proposal he was moved then he arranged a meeting with us. the problem back then i was 24 and my partner was 23, when he saw us he was surprised he could not believe it and he said you are too young to implement such project.

But the truth is we did it and the program is running.

Dear Alain YOUTH need TRUST in their idea. if we can conceive ideas we are also able to implement them. Just back us up!   

Permalink Reply by Klaus Stoll on January 23, 2012 at 9:40pm

I am happy to inform you that I am at the moment editing 2 papers in connection with the Global Village talks. One will be about concrete next steps for 2012 and another one is about a concrete project Uli is involved. I will make these papers available as soon as possible.

Personally, I have very very high hopes in the Village innovation talks as I see them them as one way to go further with sustainable development and an important movement to support the much needed paradigm change. The promised papers will get us one step further and I think we will do exactly what the title says and make villages global. We have solutions, now it's time to make them real.

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