Which factors determine the quality of life in rural areas? How can this quality be further improved in rural parts of the German federal state Saxony-Anhalt? Among others, these were the main questions for the project staff until the end of 2007. Their work was divided into four phases:
Phase 1 “Profiles“: In this part, interviews with citizens were carried out at seven exemplary small and medium-sized towns. At the same time, students of the Hochschule Magdeburg-Stendal (University of Applied Sciences) documented the process by taking photographs and videos; main goal was a first broad analysis of the social environment in rural areas.
Project partner in charge:
Hochschule Magdeburg-Stendal (University of Applied Sciences).
Phase 2 “Mission Statement”: A mission statement was then developed from the interviews of phase 1. Therefore, nexus organized future workshops at every project town; the results delivered the background for seven guiding principles on the way to a high quality of life at the participating towns.
Project partner in charge: nexus.
Phase 3 “Strategies of Action”: During this phase, results from the two previous phases were summarised to form a strategy of action named “future of rural space”. The strategy focused on sustainable living and working conditions in rural areas as well as on the connectivity to support policies on the federal and European level. The strategy of action primarily addresses young people and families.
Project partner in charge:
Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt mbH.
Phase 4 “Manual”: The final phase integrated all prior results into a manual; the goal was to provide later other small and medium-sized towns in Saxony-Anhalt with the information and data collected at the exemplary towns of this project. In autumn 2007, all results were discussed with experts during a final conference.
