First Festival for Shambhalabamba

Which communities are missing from the ecovillage map? Help find and connect the projects near you with the Global Ecovillage Network and create their profile with public data and reach out to them and get them engaged! Volunteer with the GEN-International Platform team, Eva and Rodrigo, to help make this an amazing resource for the world.

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.

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

Creativity will be spread through the valley whilst we live in community. A time where creative people meet, work together or next to each other and share inspiration and knowledge. Artists are warmly welcome to enjoy the creative atmosphere while being devoted to their art works: sculptors, paintors, writers, musicians, … At the same time we are happy when people want to supporte the works on the synthesis of arts “Valle de Sensaciones”. During that time we might treat some questions relevant for creative living in community, like: How much free space do I need within communitarian life to be able to unfold my creativity and dedicate myself to art work? How can communitarian life and work inspire my creativity? What do I need to find fulfillment through joining a communitarian creative project? This projects are planed for this period: * Clay construction on an outdoor shelf * Finishing the mandala roof above the goddess temple * Construction of a sweatlodge with integrated rocket heater * Construction of a cane dome as prototype of our future cultural center * Finishing the mosaics on the compost toilet * Woodwork and painting on our treehouses * Artistic permaculture landdesign