The “READ IT” project is going to be promoted and included in broader networks for a better and sustainable outcome. In Germany the project is now part of the official initiative “Ich bin dabei” (“I take part”) of the Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, Malu Dreyer, and the Mayor of the Verbandsgemeinde Bad Marienberg, Andreas Heidrich. The initiative is going to promote and honour voluntary work and commitment of citizens in local communities. The initiative is implemented by the Verbandsgemeinde Bad Marienberg which is a local authority in the rural area around the Europahaus Marienberg, the lead partner of the project “READ IT”. The VG Bad Marienberg has roughly 20.000 inhabitants combining the city of Bad Marienberg (approx. 6000 inhabitants) and 17 villiages from only 250 inhabitants to around 2000 inhabitants.

The local website of the initiatve by the Prime Minister and the Mayor can be reached here: Initiative “Ich bin dabei” (only available in German language).

In addition to open this project to more people and more local communities in rural areas “READ IT” will be included as a project group within the initiative. Thus the outcome of the project and the results of the European exchange will be made available to all local communities (villages and city) by incorporating local citizens into the network. Concrete realizations of best practices from other countries or results developed in the project have a greater chance to be realized in rural areas.

The kick-off meeting to invite all citiztens to take part within this new initiative / project group is scheduled for January 29th – see here (click for PDF version):