EDE - South Africa

About the event

The Global Eco-village network (GEN) and GEN Africa initiated the first Eco-village Design Education (EDE) course in South Africa at Lynedoch Eco-village in Stellenbosch, approximately 50km outside Cape Town.

25 Participants coming from varying African countries and abroad gathered at Lynedoch Eco-village in Stellenbosch to witness and take part in the first Eco-village Design Education course held in South Africa. A mixed group of people passionately seeking to (re) connect to other people and find ways to live more sustainably with the earth. The course was funded by Heidehof Stiftung and Lush Cosmetics.

Lua Bashala-Kekana, Lucky Kekana and Kosha Anja Joubert have worked passionately over the past couple years to bring the course into being. In spite of some unexpected knocks (including a last minute venue change) the course proceeded remarkably smoothly and brought together a unique, diverse and micro-cosmic group of people from over 8 countries and four continents.

Lua Bashala-Kekana, Lucky Kekana and Paola Vidulich facilitated the course. Guest Trainers included Kosha Anja Joubert; Ninnette Eliasov; Paulo Mellett; Gillian Wilton; Judy Bekker and Mthunzi Funo.

Connecting
The course started with the Social Dimension which helped to connect and bring bonding to the group and also awaken deep rooted reactions and emotions. The opening evening gave everyone an opportunity to meet and exchange expectations. GEN was introduced on the first day as well as Gaia Education. The group got to know each other over the next few days which brought bonding but also surfaced sensitivities of race, class and gender inequality through continued injustice in South Africa.

The group explored: collective wisdom; community building; rank awareness and visioning considering GEN South Africa as part of a collective Dragon Dreaming exercise. Outings to the Spier Estates Bio Dynamic farm, Khayalitsha Township and later to Cape Town also brought deeper introductions.

Dee

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1 month ago

Social Media Intern

Ecovillage Network logo with sun and moon symbols in purple.
Ecovillage Network logo with green leaves inside a circle.
Ecovillage Network logo with a heart-shaped handshake symbol.
Logo of the Global Ecovillage Network with a stylized flower design.
Logo of the Global Ecovillage Network with interconnected figures.
Social Media Intern for GEN International Hours: Up to 20/month, flexible around your schedule and availability Location: Remote, work with Eva Goldfarb Focus: Instagram + LinkedIn (TikTok if you’re into it!) Hi! I’m Eva, and I run social media for GEN International — the global network connecting ecovillages, intentional communities, and regenerative culture-builders across every continent. I’m looking for a co-conspirator to help me tell the stories of the people quietly building the future: off-grid villages in the Philippines, permaculture farms in Senegal, urban cohousing projects in Berlin, elders passing down land wisdom in the Andes. It’s a wildly rich, wildly underrepresented world, and I want more people to fall in love with it the way I have. What you’ll actually do: Dream up and create content for Instagram and LinkedIn (reels, carousels, stories, captions that don’t sound like a corporate newsletter) Dig into our global network and turn your findings into stories people want to share Pitch your own ideas. If there’s a series, a theme, a format, or a corner of the network that lights you up, that’s what I want you to focus on. What we’re looking for: A natural storyteller, someone who can spot the human thread in a project update or a photo from a faraway village Genuinely curious about ecovillages, sustainability, intentional community, regenerative living Self-motivated and communicative; this is a flexible, trust-based role Why this role: This isn’t a “post 3x a week and don’t ask questions” internship. You’ll have real creative freedom to work on what excites you, learn how a global grassroots network tells its story, and build a portfolio full of meaningful, purpose-driven content. Plus you’ll be talking to people living some of the most interesting, intentional lives on the planet. If storytelling for a better world sounds like your kind of fun, let’s talk.
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5 months ago

From The Ground Up: Ecovillage Design Education

From The Ground Up is a 7-day residential Mini Ecovillage Design Education (EDE) at Entelechy, a 13.5-acre intentional community on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada. August 9–15, 2026. The course follows the Gaia Education EDE framework, covering four dimensions of sustainability: Ecological – Food systems, natural building, energy and water, appropriate technology. Social – Community governance, communication, conflict resolution, collective decision-making. Economic – Alternative economics, cooperative structures, local currencies, social enterprise. Worldview – The values, beliefs, and cultural frameworks that underlie sustainable community – why people want to live this way, and what has to shift for it to last. The course is facilitated by a graduate of both the full EDE and the Gaia Education Training of Trainers programme. It takes place at a working ecovillage where residents live what they teach. Participants stay on-site for the week in wall tents or camping. Communal meals sourced from local Salt Spring farms and Entelechy’s gardens are included. This course is for anyone interested in designing, joining, or strengthening sustainable communities — whether you’re starting from scratch, already involved in a project, or looking to go deeper than a Permaculture Design Course. Up to 22 spots. Application-based enrollment. Early bird: $950 CAD (before June 15, 2026) Regular: $1,149 CAD Payment plans, group discounts, and work-trade spots available. If interested, we invite you to apply here: https://www.entelechysaltspring.ca/ecovillage-design Salt Spring Island is accessible by BC Ferries from Tsawwassen (Metro Vancouver), Swartz Bay (Greater Victoria), and Crofton (mid-Vancouver Island). From the US Pacific Northwest, either by I-5 and ferry via Vancouver, or by taking Port Angeles ferry to Victoria and the

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