Smart Village in Scotland will be a world first

Young people in Scotland are being invited to join a focus group to help develop a pioneering world first youth-centric Smart Village.
Working together...building connections so that young people can learn skills, build new relationships and trade.Working together...building connections so that young people can learn skills, build new relationships and trade.
Working together...building connections so that young people can learn skills, build new relationships and trade.

They will be championed to collaboratively build vibrant, creative and sustainable rural economies in the places they call home.

The Smart Villages concept is driven by the European Network for Rural Development.

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Rural digital villages combine physical and digital communities to improve their resilience, building on local strengths and opportunities.

Smart Village Scotland has partnered with the Rural Youth Project to create the Rural Youth Project Smart Village.

Their aim is to build a super-connected community that will function as a space for young people to connect, build or expand their enterprise skills and to trade.

Jane Craigie and Rebecca Dawes are co-founders and directors of the youth project.

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Jane said: “The Smart Village is an opportunity to provide a digital place that really benefits young people in many aspects of their rural lives.

“We are particularly excited about the marketplace where young people can sell products and services.

“As a buyer from Smart Village ‘shops’ you will know that for every pound you spend, you will be supporting a Scottish young person and investing in their community.”

The village will also be a space for young people to network and form mentoring relationships with their peers, older businesses and community leaders.

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Rebecca said: “Young people will also have access to learning resources to support them in building a vibrant, creative and sustainable rural economy in Scotland.

“With other Smart Villages in development across Scotland, this will be the first dedicated rural youth Smart Village in the world. It is certain to attract both European and international partners as it establishes.”

With the aim to launch the project this winter, young people are being asked to join a focus group on September 10 to help shape the platform to ensure that it is what young people want and need.

Those interested in attending the focus group can register at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bring-your-chat-online-tickets-117783392297.

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