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European citizens do not participate equally in the Information society: in fact, the digital gap is moving down from infrastructures to uses. Based on this observation, local authorities in Europe have developed Digital Public Spaces (DPS) promoting e-inclusion.

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An example of E-COOP best practice: The Polish Association for Dissemination of New Technologies and Local Community Development “e-Sochaczew.pl”
The following practice is an indicative example linked to the thematic “Missions, budgets and training for intermediaries to public e-services”.

The following practice is an indicative example linked to the thematic “Missions, budgets and training for intermediaries to public e-services”.

 

The Association for Dissemination of New Technologies and Local Community Development “e-Sochaczew.pl” was formed in 2000 in Sochaczew, a small urban commune in Sochaczewski County, Poland. Its primary goal was to create a centre for the local community, to fulfil its needs and thus integrate and develop it. Through time, its missions evolved as follows:

  • Promoting active civic involvement attitudes in the local community,
  • Supporting creativity among young people
  • Integrating various youth groups,
  • Creating a new and efficient environment for community activities which can be an alternative to the existing organisations in Sochaczew,
  • Encouraging free access to information, which is essential for the development of civic community,
  • Promoting, disseminating and sharing advanced media and technologies.

e-Sochaczew started as an initiative of a few committed persons who wanted to foster the local community by building an internet portal. Nowadays, its activities include not only the management of the portal with specific tools dedicated to local institutions, non-governmental organizations and the inhabitants themselves and internet bulletin news, but also providing social and market analysis, organising workshops, trainings courses, seminars, and also concerts, art and photography exhibitions, theatre performances. This is made with relatively small cost; the budget consists only of virtual server lease costs, office maintenance costs and salary for 3 employees.

The e-Sochaczew portal is an example of “digital cooperative”: it integrates the community through a local information platform, where local organisations can promote their activities by using CMS; it serves as local facilitator of not only information exchange, but also of experience sharing and discussions about important social issues.

 

www.e-sochaczew.pl/

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