One Village One World (OVOW), as its name suggests, seeks to understand what it truly means for a rural community to be “ready” for digital connectivity, not just in terms of access, but in terms of how that access can actually be used in everyday life. Instead of starting with technology itself, the project begins by looking at everyday realities such as access to electricity, familiarity with smartphones, and current levels of digital awareness within a selected community. To ground this understanding, the project plans to conduct a field-based community survey in Wada, a rural town located near Mumbai, focusing on how people currently use (or do not use) digital tools, the challenges they face, and how they might want to use them for learning, work, or income generation.
Building on these insights, the project aims to introduce simple, practical concepts related to internet access, renewable energy, and digital tools through accessible learning materials, with a focus on how these can support skill-building and small-scale economic activity. It also hopes to include conversations with individuals working in the space of global connectivity, helping connect larger technological ideas to local contexts in a more relatable way. At the same time, the project is exploring the role of solar energy as a foundational support system for improving access to electricity, which is often a key barrier to consistent digital usage. Through this combination of research, awareness-building, and small-scale support efforts, OVOW hopes to better understand how connectivity can move beyond being just an idea, and become something that meaningfully supports livelihoods and everyday economic participation.