As a leading web hosting provider, SiteGround has the knowledge, experience, and technology to enable anyone to launch an online project. The democratization and approach of web publishing stimulates the local economy and the creation of new businesses. In addition, SiteGround's commitment to sustainability allows for scalable and environmentally friendly growth. And although the technology is there and accessible, that final push is needed at a local level from people committed to rural areas. It is in these situations when those groups of people who have the ability to change things, draw our attention and receive our support.
Rural Hackers
On our way, we have had the luck and opportunity to meet the Rural Hackers team at WordCamp Pontevedra , creators of a movement that is revitalizing the rural way of life thanks to learning, technology, creativity and art. They are an action group, with the purpose of creating a new ecosystem revitalizing rural life through an international community and solving problems locally. Their motto is “Think globally, act locally and revive rurally.” It was love at first sight
The RuralHackers team is made up of África Rodríguez, Ignacio Márquez and Agustín Jamardo. They have launched a series of projects, initiatives, events and get-togethers that are in perfect harmony with our values and goals. Their headquarters is Anceu Co-living and they are creating a real impact in this rural area of Galicia.
Last September 2022 we had our first joint collaboration at WordCamp Pontevedra in the so-called “WordPress in action”, a day full of activities in which Fernando Tellado, our brand ambassador, gave a workshop called “WordPress from scratch”, aimed at anyone who wanted to get started and learn how to use the most widely used CMS in the world.
The collaboration grew due to the good harmony and the coincidence in values and mission of Rural Hackers and SiteGround. Today, SiteGround provides hosting services to Rural Hackers projects and also provides funding for most of their activities. Here are some of the activities they have already launched since then with our help.
Curiositech
Supported by the European Union, it is an exchange event in which young people between 18 and 30 years old, from different countries, improve their technological skills to have a greater impact in the rural world.
In this 2023 edition, a mural was created on the traditional dance of Anceu that represents the identity and culture of the town, with the participation of local people; and the websites of four local non-profit entities were created thanks to the sponsorship of SiteGround, Aurea and the WordPress Community through its Do_Action initiative, and thanks to the collaborative work of 32 young people from Greece, Sweden, Malta, Italy and Spain.
The websites of Cubelos Aldea, which is an initiative for environmental protection and the fight against fires, were created. The Mercado de la Tía Ni, where you can find information about the cultural events that take place at the Mercado de Tía Ni and information about book sales. Casas Indianas, a website created in collaboration with Teresa Taboas, architect and author of the book “Os Brasileiros”. On this page you can find photographs and descriptions of Indian houses, as an example of the heritage of emigration. And the fourth website is about La Casa do Pobo de Anceu, a social and community venue managed and run by all the local greece whatsapp number data associations of Anceu, including Rural Hackers, the Comunidad de Aguas and the Comunidad de Montes. All these websites are hosted on SiteGround hosting services.
Residences
They last one or two months and their main objective is for a person or a group of people to stay in Anceu and work on specific projects, ranging from teaching English and technology to the town's inhabitants, creative writing workshops, or refurbishing the Casa del Pueblo for local associations, among many other projects.
It is an ongoing initiative and this year they have scheduled more than 10 residencies with participants from all over Europe. SiteGround is collaborating with a financial endowment to make the residencies possible. Some examples:
Javier, Anís: they developed algorithms for the creation of digital art, mixing it with local art and the help of the residents of Anceu. The aim was to open the debate on the relationship between humans and AI, challenging traditional definitions of artistic creation and reflecting on the profound role that technology plays in society today and that it will play in the near future.
