Education

GEN Education turns applied ecovillage research and experience in five continents into tailor-made trainings for sustainable solution seekers – individuals, organisations and communities across the globe who are curious and engaged in finding beautiful alternatives, innovative solutions and implementing new models of living a more sustainable life.

Our passion is to facilitate hands-on, participatory and positive transformation.

Our vision – a world where empowered citizens and communities design and implement their own pathways to a sustainable future.

From finding inspiration and understanding the impact and nature of ecovillages, through applying ecovillage principles in the creative redesign of lifestyles and communities, to deepening skills and capacities needed to implement ecovillage innovations and solutions in every dimension of sustainability – we have the tools, expertise and experience.

GEN Education is for you if you want to

Embrace ecovillage lifestyles through integrating Ecovillage Principles, innovations and solutions in everyday life, regardless of where or how you live

Transition your project or organisation to resilience through participatory methods and an innovative framework integrating social, cultural, economic and ecological sustainability

Cocreate ecovillages and regenerate social and natural environments through collaborative journeys of transformation and participatory design in your community

Design and implement community-led pathways to sustainable futures and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on a national or regional level through the Ecovillage Development Programme

Address systems change on every level to understand critical leverage points for positive transformation and the relationship between local action and global change.

GEN Education Offers

We know that each journey to ecovillage life is unique, so our trainings are modular, flexible, and designed to fit different contexts, aims and situations. Whether you want to dip in for an inspiring online session or set up a year-long process to create and implement a community resilience plan for your entire bioregion, we have something for you.

GEN Webinars –Interactive online sessions hosted by experts from our network

Ecovillage Introduction – Inspiring short presentations of the power of community-led initiatives worldwide

Ecovillage Taster – A first look at using Ecovillage Principles in your own life, organisation or community

Ecovillage Trainings for Regenerative Communities – Deepening skills to actively apply Ecovillage Principles, design and solutions to transition your own life, community or country to greater resilience. These 5 – 7 day trainings are thematic, and include:

• Ecovillage Training for Regenerative Community Design
• Ecovillage Training for Social Regeneration
• Ecovillage Training for Ecological Regeneration
• Social Entrepreneurship for Regenerative Communities
• Trauma First Aid for Regenerative Communities

The Ecovillage Game – Turning ecovillage design and implementation into a live-action adventure for both individuals and groups (in development)

The Solution Library – Gathering best practices and concrete examples from around the world

Ecovillage Playing Cards – a flexible and creative way to explore holistic sustainability and whole-systems design, available for purchase in several languages

GEN Trainers – Connecting you with ecovillage experts and facilitators  from all cultures and continents, grounded in ecovillage living and with particular expertise in their training area

Through our collaborations, network and partner organisations, you can also:

Browse events, internships, trainings and workshops in our network of ecovillages across the globe

Take part in the month-long and UN-supported Ecovillage Design Education, EDE, certified by GEN’s longstanding partner Gaia Education

Explore social entrepreneurship to marry personal skills and passion with actively strengthening community well-being through Social Innovation for Resilient Communities, SIRCle

Get support developing your ecovillage or community-led project for regeneration through the emerging Community Led Incubator Programme for Sustainability, CLIPS

Access a free online youth sustainability toolbox to empower the work of youth and youth workers through Bridgedale360

Create a custom-made programme run by your institution in an ecovillage campus through CAPE – Custom Academic Programs in Ecovillages