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Dear ,

As summer ends, we’re still glowing from this year’s European Ecovillage Gathering in Hungary, where hundreds came together under the theme “Tending the Roots.” It was a special moment to celebrate 30 years of the Global Ecovillage Network — honouring our foundations while sowing seeds for the future.

We paused our usual August newsletter during the Gathering and General Assembly, but we’re happy to now harvest the collective wisdom, joy and inspiration from those unforgettable days.

With love and in community,
Ziska and Lena on behalf of the GEN Europe Team

🔍 Content table

1. News from GEN EU

• GEN Europe General Assembly 2025 Recap
• Welcome & Goodbye to GEN Europe council members
• GEN Europe Gathering Recap: Tending the Roots
• GEN Anniversary Book - First Draft Available
• Finance Admin Annika on her connection with GEN Europe
• The Sustain-Ability project website is now live!

2. Project Updates 

• Adult Education online info session – discover new opportunities with GEN Europe  
• Share your training courses with the GEN Europe network
• Projects priorities survey

3. News from around the network

• Humánica Festival LOS PORTALES
• Autumn Open Doors in Arterra
• Community Building Intensive Week in Glarisegg
• Open Vacancies in Sunseed
• The House of Possibilities – The ecological new building of the ZEGG community

4.  Volunteer and Erasmus+ training opportunities

• Long-term ESC for GEN Europe in Arterra Bizimodu
• Funded Permaculture Internship, Ecovillage Schloss Glarisegg, CH
• In Service to Life – A Training for Conscious Peacework
• Facilitating Climate Dialogue, 2 module Training

5. Trainings & Courses (non-funded)

• EDE Crete
• The Art of Relating

6. Invitations from our partners

• Looking for Local and Regional Authorities for a Horizon application
• European Day of Community-led Initiatives
• Become a Demonstrator with the Regenerative Communities Fund
• Showcase Your Ecovillage in the New European Bauhaus Festival 2026
• Ecoprise at EPALE
• Ecoprise Newsletter

7. News from YTS

• YTS is searching for a Mentoring Coordinator 

8. Opportunities from beyond the network

• FLIARA Final Conference – Women Shaping Rural Futures
• EC4RURAL: European Conference on Rural Energy communities

We're excited to share a summary of the key outcomes and discussions from our recent General Assembly in Manas Garden, Hungary! It was fantastic to connect, share ideas and make important decisions about the future of our network.

Dive into the public report with pictures to see what we accomplished together! If you want to re-read the creative staff sketch, you can find the text here.

If you want to dive into the nitty-gritty details, read our internal members report here. 

We’re sending a huge wave of gratitude and love to Jake Jay-Lewin and Theodora Radulescu, who have been such a gift to the GEN Europe network as Council Members over the past three years. Thank you both for all the energy, care and wisdom you’ve shared with our community! 

At the same time, we’re happy to welcome Anne Bretschneider, Neus Valls and Ronja Tammenpää into the Council! We know they’ll bring lots of passion and dedication to these roles, and we’re so excited to see what’s ahead.

Stay tuned for the new council members introductions in the next Moon Cycle! 

The 2025 European Ecovillage Gathering in Hungary was an extraordinary journey through the past 30 years of our movement – from roots to branches, seeds to fruits, to the power of community! This transformative event brought together friends from around the world in a magical Opening Ceremony, celebrating GEN's 30th anniversary.

We began by honoring our roots, listening to the stories of beginning and becoming while celebrating those who first tended the soil of the ecovillage vision. The second day celebrated the vibrant branches of our global network, learning from representatives of GEN Africa, CASA Latina, GEN Asia and Oceania, GEN North America, and GEN Europe, with voices joining from every continent. The third day focused on planting seeds for the future. With children playing joyfully in the lake, we listened to Anna Kovasna's inspiring words about sailing towards beautiful destinations while navigating storms. NextGEN representatives shared their vision for the future, as we experienced an expanding field of community through workshops and heart-opening activities.

During the final day, we reaped the fruits of our collective work and opened space for voices less heard. The GEN Ukraine delegation shared their current realities while we honored the pain of ongoing conflicts worldwide. Keynote speaker András Takács reminded us to nurture our deep love for life, maintain ecological thinking, and embrace our power while seeking new strategies.

As we closed, we gained more power within the community with our shared learnings and connections, opening space for voices less heard, and celebrating our 30th anniversary with a dance of butterflies – a reminder of the constant transformation at the heart of our work.

📷 Have a glimpse into the atmosphere of the Gathering in our Flickr Album.

The first draft of our GEN Anniversary Book is now ready for download! This digital version features 19 articles with diverse perspectives from across our network, developed during the GEN Europe Gathering in Hungary.

The final printed edition (October 2025) will include 30 articles total, plus photos and enhanced design. We're still awaiting contributions from Declan Kennedy, Kosha Joubert, Albert Bates, Daniel Greenberg, Jonathan Dawson, and several regional representatives.

Download the first draft presented at the European Ecovillage Gathering here!

Editorial Team: Steffen Emrich & Camilla Nielsen-Englyst | Language Editing: Lucas Coutin | Layout Design: Giuseppe Lorrai

At the General Assembly, our Finance admin Annika beautifully described her association with GEN Europe as “a tornado made of words and caused by the wings of butterflies for a better world and future.” We’d love to share here her drawing with you too!

GEN Europe is a proud partner of Sustain-Ability project, empowering young people across Europe with green competencies through innovative youth work, transforming environmental education.

Visit the new webpage and find out more:
🤝 Meet our project partners
📚 Learn about the GreenComp framework
📰 Latest project news
🌟 Our mission and approach

Created in partnership with: International Youth Work Trainers Guild, Replay Network, ART Fusion and ZMAG

Funded by the European Union 🇪🇺

Together, we're building the green competencies that will shape the next generation of sustainability leaders. 

GEN Europe is excited to launch new projects and activities within the Erasmus+ KA1 Adult Education Programme, in collaboration with national networks, ecovillages, and eco-projects from across our network.

Join us for the last upcoming online info session, in which we will introduce you to the possibilities offered by the adult education program and how to implement them in you organisation.

Monday, September 22, h. 17.00: Q&A SESSION FOR DEADLINE PREPARATION
Bring your questions, project ideas, and a willingness to learn! With this last session just before the deadline, we will make sure all questions are answered so that you can submit your project.
Register here!

Find our more about the program on our website!
Mark your calendar and join us!

Does your ecovillage, ecoproject, netwok or organization aligned to GEN Europe offer a commercial training course (non funded)?

Fill this form with the details of the offering to feature them on the GEN Europe website, and to allow organizations with the Adult Education Erasmus+ grant to fund the participation of their members. 

As we gather ideas for new projects, we invite you to share your vision and priorities to co-create the future of our network. This survey will help us identify the topics that matter most to you. Your input will:

• Ensure our work reflects the diverse needs of ecovillages across Europe
• Guide our collective strategy and resource allocation for the coming years
• Highlight where to focus resources, projects, and collaborations

Thank you for co-creating a future woven with shared projects and for nurturing this collective harvest! You can find the survey here. 

Thank you for co-creating our future!

📅19-20-21 September

This year, Los Portales will welcome autumn with a Festival!

In a world that is transforming by leaps and bounds, HUMANICA / Weaving Futures is born as a living meeting space, where hearts, ideas and actions intertwine to reconnect humans with the planet and “non-human” life on the one hand, and with the Universe and its mysteries on the other.

This festival is an invitation to stop, breathe and open ourselves to what is essential: life, community and the Earth that sustains us, and the deep longings that make us grow. For several days, we will gather in a welcoming environment to share knowledge, experiences, emotions and visions that inspire us to be agents of change from courage, love and consciousness.

More info here! 

Arterra opens up their doors for people interested in learning about the Arterra Bizimodu in a weekend format, from September 26 to September 28. There will be communal work, a community meal, a tour and presentation of the project, as well as a question and answer session. Don't miss out on the chance to get to know Arterra!

The price varies depending on the accommodation option chosen.

More information and registration here.

Do you long for genuine connection? For a place where you can take off your masks, feel seen, and help create something greater?

From 19–25 October, Glarisegg Castle invites you for an intensive week of community, presence, and transformation. English & German

This is more than an event – it is a living experiment in how we can grow together as human beings.

If you have always wanted to experience belonging, depth and joy in community – this is your invitation.

👉 Do you feel called? Find more information here!

Sunseed welcomes people from all over the world to share their knowledge and experience, so spread the word! Right now our most urgent need is for an Eco-Construction and Communications Coordinator but we are practicing open enrollment across all departments, so stay in touch!

Apply here!

The first major new building, the House of Possibilities, is on its way! After a year and a half of preparation by the “Kaengurus” group, the building application is submitted and construction is set to begin this autumn.

As an open-source project, the House of Possibilities is designed as a blueprint for other initiatives, sharing knowledge on ecological and community-based building through their webpage and a community funding campaign.

🌱 Want to support? Become a cooperative member, offer a direct loan, or help spread the word!

ECOLISE is leading a project application on the topic of Citizen engagement for sustainable land management through local and regional authorities, alongside ICLEI, Gaia Education and GEN-Europe.

We are seeking Local and Regional Authorities interested in co-designing sustainable land management practices with their citizens. Preferred countries are Belgium, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

What does participation involve?

• Co-designing and piloting a Territorial Management Agreement within the city or the region
• Engaging citizens and local stakeholders in awareness-raising and participatory processes
• Contributing to peer learning, capacity building, and translocal exchange with European cities and regions

Benefits to the city or region:

• Advance the city’s or region’s leadership in soil and ecosystem restoration
• Strengthen internal capacity through training, mentoring, and EU policy engagement
• Connect with a strong European network of municipalities, regions, researchers, and civil society organisations
• Receive funding up to 60.000€ (depending on the size of the organisation)

Please connect with abdul.otman@ecolise.eu for more information.

Join this year's European Day of Community-led Initiatives this September!

ECOLISE celebrates the 9th edition of the European Day of Sustainable Communities (EDSC) from 22-26 September, where the outcomes of the national policy dialogues taking place across Europe are amplified, as well as showcasing inspiring grassroots initiatives driving real change.

If you feel interested and want to learn how to get involved, you are invited to join ECOLISE's webinar on 10 September, 16:00-17:30 CET, where a practical guide to participating in the dialogues and engaging online will be shared, to make the most of the campaign.

Register here!

The Regenerative Communities Fund (RCF) has just launched its second call for Demonstrators. Community-led initiatives (CLIs) already active in Croatia, Finland, France, Portugal, or Spain can now apply for financial support and tailored capacity-building to strengthen their projects, amplify their impact, and contribute to a just and regenerative future across Europe.

Those selected will become key partners in mentoring emerging Pathfinder communities, exchanging knowledge and experience, and joining collective advocacy efforts at both national and European levels.

If your initiative works on climate action, regeneration, or community empowerment, don’t miss this chance! The application deadline is 30 September 2025, 23:59 CET.

👉 More details here!

The EU Commission offers the opportunity to showcase ecovillages at the New European Bauhaus (NEB) Festival 2026! This is a unique moment to present our ecovillage initiatives, community-driven projects, and innovative solutions for sustainable living to a broader audience committed to shaping the future of Europe.

The New European Bauhaus (NEB) is an initiative by the European Union that brings together creativity, sustainability, and inclusion to build a future where everyone can live in beautiful, sustainable, and inclusive spaces. The NEB Festival is an interdisciplinary event that celebrates innovative design, community projects, and artistic expressions that contribute to these values.

What’s in it for you?

• A chance to present your community’s initiatives and projects to a wide audience.
• Collaborate with other changemakers across Europe and beyond.
• Raise awareness and connect with potential partners, policymakers, and funders.
• Showcase how your work aligns with the NEB’s principles of beauty, sustainability, and inclusivity.

How to apply:
If you're interested in participating, we encourage you to submit your application detailing your project, its impact, and how it embodies the values of the New European Bauhaus. This is a great chance to amplify the voice of ecovillages and sustainable community living. You can find more information and submit your applications by September 30th here! 

Join the YesToSustainability Coordination Circle! Become Our New Mentoring Coordinator and shape the future of Youth Work. If you’re passionate about regenerative project, youth empowerment, and building things together, this might be your dream role. You’ll be coordinating mentors, shaping youth exchanges in ecovillages, and helping us make a real impact across the world!

Find out more information here! 

Join researchers, policymakers, innovators, and civil society during Rural Women’s Week for the Final Conference of the FLIARA Project, highlighting the vital role of women in sustainable farming and rural development.

📍 European Committee of Regions, Brussels
📅 17 October 2025

The event will share insights from 200+ case studies, present policy tools, and host interactive workshops tackling the challenges and opportunities of women entrepreneurs in rural areas. A dedicated policy session will showcase recommendations to guide more inclusive and gender-responsive rural policies across Europe.

👉 Learn more and get involved!

📅1 October 2025, 09:00–17:00 (CEST)
📍 Hybrid event hosted by the University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain

Discover the latest insights and mid-project results from the EC4RURAL initiative, funded by the EU's LIFE programme, designed to empower rural energy communities across Europe. Participants will explore practical case studies, network with key stakeholders and delve into topics like inclusive energy policy, local leadership and governance for energy transition.

Register by 15 September to attend in person or online.

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