1 Hungarian Telecottage Story and Perspective by György Nagyházi Hungarian Telecottage Association www.telehaz.hu

A movement that started „from below”, from a little village (Csákberény) The basis have been the need for community and village development All important actors of the village have taken part in the preparations It was a collective creative enterprise process The beginning 1993-94 2 www.telehaz.hu

A movement that started „from below”, from a little village (Csákberény)

The basis have been the need for community and village development

All important actors of the village have taken part in the preparations

It was a collective creative enterprise process

Working to change the public opinion, the turning point - 1996-98 Self-sacrificing work of the enthusiasts Founding of the Hungarian Telecottage Association Continuous press campaign for two years An American aid program (1997, 30 Telecottages) The national government starts to support the initiative 6 www.telehaz.hu

Self-sacrificing work of the enthusiasts

Founding of the Hungarian Telecottage Association

Continuous press campaign for two years

An American aid program (1997, 30 Telecottages)

The national government starts to support the initiative

Mission of the Movement Telecottages are local, community based responses to the challenges of the information society. Their mission is to provide equal opportunities for everyone, especially for rural communities Telecottages are the most effective actors in rural development, helping to diminish economic and cultural obstacles. www.telehaz.hu

Telecottages are local, community based responses to the challenges of the information society.

Their mission is to provide equal opportunities for everyone, especially for rural communities

Telecottages are the most effective actors in rural development, helping to diminish economic and cultural obstacles.

How the telecottages are operating, and what are they doing? Each telecottage is an independent organisation The Telecottage is an electronic public access point They need to meet the Telecottage minimum criteria (Technical, organisational and service) Providing public services (educational, social and public information) Services for local businesses (office, communication, financial, and commercial services) Services for NGOs 9 www.telehaz.hu

Each telecottage is an independent organisation

The Telecottage is an electronic public access point

They need to meet the Telecottage minimum criteria (Technical, organisational and service)

Providing public services (educational, social and public information)

Services for local businesses (office, communication, financial, and commercial services)

Services for NGOs

Telecottages in Hungary - present and future Currently there are 400 operating telecottages The biggest rural community network in Hungary The Hungarian Government neglects the network potential since 200 0 8 www.telehaz.hu

Currently there are 400 operating telecottages

The biggest rural community network in Hungary

The Hungarian Government neglects the network potential since 200 0

Telecottages in Hungary - present and future New tasks has been assigned to the network, but no financial resources ( tax administration, land registry, etc) Local NGOs and the villages supporting the telecottages The business sector also provides support (Microsoft Hungary) www.telehaz.hu

New tasks has been assigned to the network, but no financial resources ( tax administration, land registry, etc)

Local NGOs and the villages supporting the telecottages

The business sector also provides support (Microsoft Hungary)

Telecottages in Hungary - results Public ITC access for 1 million citizens Telecenter based employment creation – 350-400 jobs and 1500 volunteers Telecottage know-how export – Telecottage program in Yugoslavia and in Romania www.telehaz.hu

Public ITC access for 1 million citizens

Telecenter based employment creation – 350-400 jobs and 1500 volunteers

Telecottage know-how export – Telecottage program in Yugoslavia and in Romania

Best practices in agriculture Assistance for farmers in administrative issues (tax, farm subsidies) Some telecenters are the management organisation of their micro region’s LEADER program Centers for Agro-tourism (operating the web based reservation systems) www.telehaz.hu

Assistance for farmers in administrative issues (tax, farm subsidies)

Some telecenters are the management organisation of their micro region’s LEADER program

Centers for Agro-tourism (operating the web based reservation systems)

Best practices in agriculture Providing the facilities for the state agricultural officer for his/her office day in the village, preparing the farmers’ official documentation Organizing trainings and disseminating information for the farmers and the locals in general It is the center for local and micro regional programs and projects

Providing the facilities for the state agricultural officer for his/her office day in the village, preparing the farmers’ official documentation

Organizing trainings and disseminating information for the farmers and the locals in general

It is the center for local and micro regional programs and projects