This November the UN Climate Summit (COP23) will be held in Bonn, Germany, where the imperative will be how to massively scale-up and effectively implement the Paris Climate Agreement. The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) strongly believes that sustainable communities are already making significant contributions to climate change mitigation and adaptation. … Read more
Africa
A Twin Journey between the Ecovillages Guedé Chantier and Damanhur A mutual learning and support experiment between two large ecovillages - one from Africa and one from Europe - show how North-South collaboration can look.
Brief introductions to Guedé Chantier and Damanhur communities Guedé Chantier is located in the north of Senegal, 480 km from Dakar, on the bank of Doué river and about 12 km close to the Senegalese border with Mauritania. It is an oasis in a semi-arid region with a short rainy season between August and October with less than 400 millimeters. The dry season is the rest of the year. Peak heat is May, and June can reach 45-47° C during the day. Guedé has a population of around 7,000 … Read more
Ecovillage – 1001 Ways to Heal the Planet The Book on Ecovillages
"What a beautifully, lovingly constructed book! It conveys not only the variety and ideals of the ecovillage movement, but the heart of it as well. Kosha and Leila's book affirms the importance of ecovillages not just as an inconsequential alternative in the margins, but as an invitation to transform every place into an ecological collaboration between humans and the rest of nature." Charles Eisenstein The Ecovillage book by Kosha Joubert and Leila Dregger introduces a selection of ecovillage … Read more
What is an Ecovillage? Reflections from the Network
An ecovillage is an intentional, traditional or urban community that is consciously designed through locally owned, participatory processes in all four dimensions of sustainability (social, culture, ecology and economy) to regenerate their social and natural environments. GEN’s definition of ‘ecovillage’ is broad, allowing for many different kinds of communities and projects to be recognised. Because each ecovillage is designed by the people who live there, according to their vision, … Read more
Zambia Greening Schools
Using the innovative ILUD methodology www.seedingschools.org and EDEs the project works through schools as entry points to sustainable community development. Community-led resilience plans for 4 schools will be created and implemented. Children, teachers and local communities of Kapete School, Chongwi, Katuba School, Kapuri Mposhi, Nabukuyu School, Monze and Ashley Jewel School, Chilanga will engage with and benefit from the project. The project is scaling up from a Scottish Government funded … Read more
GEN Africa Conference 2016
Supported by the German Foreign Ministry, the GEN Africa Conference took place during the first week of December 2016 at the Ghana Permaculture Institute. Representatives and delegates from more than 20 countries gathered to share experiences, present their projects and work on the development of the Pan-African Ecovillage Development Programme, promoting initiatives aimed at reducing poverty, restoring the environment, achieving resilience in response to the climate change challenges, and … Read more
COP22 – Pan-African Ecovillage Development Programme
In November 2016, German Foreign Ministry funding enabled 16 GEN delegates to attend the UNFCCC COP22 event in Marrakech. Attended by world leaders and thousands of changemakers working on climate and environmental issues, COP22 was the perfect convergence by which gain exposure for GEN’s programmes. At the forefront of our delegation was the launch of our Pan-African Ecovillage Development Programme (PAEDP) which is putting communities at the centre of the development processes across the … Read more
Improving on the Core Structure of GEN Africa
Sonita Mbah, Executive Secretary of GEN Africa, reports. From it's inception in 2012 until today, GEN Africa has been growing from strength to strength, maximizing its potential in meeting the needs of grassroot communities, improving on the core structure, and showing capacity to manage and build on challenges. More than 50 participants from over 23 countries including Europe and Africa, met at Ghana Permaculture Institute in Techiman, Ghana, from December 1-6, 2016, to reflect, evaluate … Read more
Resilience and Self-Reliance An Update on Regenerative Solutions for Active EmerGENcies Projects
As the call for global climate action strengthens following the COP22 in Marrakech, GEN’s work in climate change adaptation and mitigation through ecovillage development programs is guided by a design based on both prevention and response. One of the pillars of this framework is EmerGENcies, GEN’s emerging humanitarian program. The purpose is to respond to and try to prevent further deleterious effects of climate change (among other forms of crises), in vulnerable communities around the … Read more
Changes in Cameroon Transitioning the Kingdom of Bafut to an Eco-Fondom*
In the Northwest of Cameroon, a whole kingdom is transitioning into an eco-region. In consultation with King Fon Ambumbi II and combining the vision of Mayor Langsi and GEN ambassador, Konkankoh Joshua, a great deal of effort is being invested in creating a transition from rural subsistence farming into a thriving, sustainable, eco-friendly region. Sonita Mbah, Executive Secretary of GEN Africa, reports. Watch the trailer for Bafut Ecovillage: … Read more
