EDE - South Africa

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