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Dear ,

Winter has arrived, bringing with it a season of reflection. As the solstice approaches, we are invited to pause, look back on the year we’ve lived, and harvest the learnings and experiences that shaped us. What lessons can we carry forward to step into the next chapter of life with intention?

At GEN Europe, this reflective spirit aligns with our own year-end traditions. We’re wrapping up 2023 with one of our bi-annual meetings and taking time to celebrate the impacts, outcomes, and shared harvests of the ecovillage movement. You’ll find more about these reflections below.

But as we honor the past, we also look ahead with excitement. The new year promises fresh opportunities to deepen our connections, expand our reach, and co-create thriving communities. We’re eager to envision this future together with you.

The GEN Europe team wishes you a peaceful and rejuvenating end to the year, filled with meaningful reflections and moments of connection—whether with your ecovillage, your family, or your chosen community. Here’s to a bright and hopeful start to 2024!

With love and in community,
Franziska and Julio on behalf of the GEN Europe team

 
News from GEN Europe
Invitation Solstice Members' Hour

GEN Europe invites you to reflect, reconnect and rejuvenate in our Solstice Members' Hour. We will be reflecting about our year in community and this year in GEN. It will be a cozy space, so prepare yourself a hot chocolate or your favourite tea, maybe light a candle.
We will re-connect with fellow ecovillagers and get inspried and rejuveniated for the year to come!

Come & Join us via Zoom!
Remember when we asked for your vote to win thousands of euros in funding?

We’re absolutely delighted to announce that, thanks to you, we’ve won €5000 from the #WBSherzensprojekte campaign!
We have been deeply touched by all of your support and your help in spreading the word - every click really counted, and we couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you.

From the bottom of our hearts: thank you!
Staff & Council meeting in Findhorn Community

GEN Europe's Staff & Council met again in their bi-annual meeting, this time in Findhorn Community in the North of Scotland. Find out what we have been working on for you in our report. Enjoy!

Staff & Council meeting report here
We want to hear your opinion!
We would love yo hear from you how you perceive the European Ecovillage Gathering, especially since it's evolving and slowly but surely becoming a bigger event. We'd like to sense if it's fulfilling your needs and wishes as a member and what matters to you or not.
 
We would be infinitely grateful if you could fill this survey in by the end of February 2025. So you have time to connect with your fellow network/ecovillage/ecoproject members to discuss and agree on the answers you'd like to provide. Or more than one of you can fill it in.
Fill in the Gathering concept survey here!
Call for Gathering host 2026 & 2027

In 2025, the European Ecovillage Gathering will take place from August 12 to 17 at Manas Garden in Hungary, with the General Assembly held just before, on August 9-11, at Krishna Valley, located 20 minutes away. We are excited to host you in Eastern Europe, where ecovillage culture is steadily growing. Due to another event taking place before the Gathering at Manas Garden, we chose Krishna Valley as the venue for the General Assembly, as it offers a beautiful and practical setting for our needs.

We also want to be transparent in acknowledging that while we are grateful to use this venue, our choice does not reflect an endorsement of their specific religious or cultural beliefs. We believe this will be a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together in a spirit of inclusivity and shared purpose.

We are already looking for the hosts for the Gathering in 2026 and 2027. Would your ecovillage or ecoproject (or one you know of) be interested in hosting this fantastic event? Then please see the details in our host call and fill in the application form it links to by end of February 2025 latest
Apply here!
Gathering 2024 report

Curious to know some numbers about the Gathering 2024 as well as the feedback we received about it? You find all of that in the Gathering 2024 Report enclosed to this email.

Thank you so much for co-creating all these beautiful moments with us!

Read more here!
Launch of GEN Europe Broadcast Channel!

We again have been cooking some exciting new feature for all our members! From now on, you can also access ecovillage & GEN updates in real-time:

Through the new GEN Europe Telegram Boradcast Channel!

Join the GEN Europe Telegram Broadcast Channel!
Project Updates
Around the Networks: Partnership Building Activity in Madeira

The Partnership Building Activity in Madeira brought together 14 NGO representatives from eight countries to network, share ideas, and develop projects, amongst which our Project ESC Arianna for GEN Europe. Hosted by Teatro Metaphora and organized by A.R.T. Fusion Association, participants discussed topics like sustainability, human rights, and social inclusion.

Check out what they have been doing!
News from around the Network
Donation Fund for NextGEN Scholarships - ECCO 2025 Gathering

Hello friends of CASA Latina and the Global Ecovillage Network of North America! 🕸 We want to share an amazing cause to raise scholarships for future eco-leaders to attend the ECCO Gathering in Argentina 🙏. Every donation helps empower young people with the skills they need to make a real difference in their communities 🌎. Please consider donating or sharing the link. Thank you very much. ✨🪡

Support them here!
Call for workshops - Ecovillage Youth Work Fair
Do you know valuable tools and methods that ecovillages use in their youth work and E+ projects? Would you like to share your knowledge and skills with lots of curious people? Then this opportunity is for you!

We welcome you to offer your workshop for the Ecovillage Youth Work Fair, that is going to happen online on March 5, 2025! The event is co-organized by Avnø Oasis ecovillage (Denmark), Yes to Sustainability, GEN Europe and the participants of the COCLEA: Collective Climate Leadership Erasmus+ project.
Apply here!
Community around the kitchen table - Article from Nara Petrovic

Check out Nara Petrovic's article on the role of sharing meals in fostering community, bridging differences, and promoting sustainable food practices. How can the kitchen table bring people truly together?

Read Nara's article here!
Sunseed Desert Technology is looking for coordinators!

Sunseed Desert Techology (Spain) is having three vacancies opening up in the following departments:

  • Drylands
  • Eco-Maintenance
  • Appropriate Technology

🍀 If you are ready to commit to 1 year and want to work in Sunseed's community

Find out more here!
New Year's Sale at Avnø

Our ecovillage member Avnø Oasis is offering a 15% discount on any of their courses. They want to support you or your loved ones in your new year's transformative journeys.

Check out the offer here!
Trainings and Courses
🔊 Dragon Dreaming Training Course: Empowering youth workers for sustainable projects.
 
📅 March 10-19, 2025
 
🌍 Open to youth workers 18+ from: Bulgaria | France | Germany | Italy | Romania | Netherlands | Serbia | Slovenia | Spain
 
🌐 Topics: #ProjectManagement #NonFormalEducation #YouthEmpowerment #Sustainability
 
✨ ALL COSTS COVERED - Apply by Jan 10
 
📩 Contact: projectsveles@gmail.com | Organizer: Zavod Veles | Venue: Sunny Hill, Slovenia
Find out more!

Live in an off-grid setting for five days, explore sustainable living practices, create international connections, engage with the art of storytelling, find your inner strength and take action!

📆Dates: 18-24 February 2025 (incl. travelling days)

📍Location: Sunseed Desert Technology, Sorbas, Spain

Open to residents of France, Spain, Portugal or Sweden

18-30 years old.

Apply now here!
✨ Eco Stories: Amplifying Environmentalism ✨
 
GAIA Kosovo is inviting for this interesting funded training course: your chance to connect with like-minded people, build new skills and collaborate to create meaningful change for our planet.
Do you feel the call to make a real impact on environmental preservation and regeneration, both locally and globally? 🌍
 
🗓 When: 17 – 24 March 2025
📍 Where: Bern, Switzerland 🇨🇭
🏆 Who can apply: Youth, youth workers, and climate activists ready to step up!
 
This project is financially supported by Movetia.
Find out more here!

Permaculture Can Save the World—and You Can Be Part of It! 🌱

What if you could design a future where humans and nature thrive together? That’s what permaculture is all about!

This transformative approach combines ecological science, traditional wisdom, and innovative practices to restore ecosystems, build resilient communities, and create a sustainable future.

And there’s no better place to dive into permaculture than Ecovillage Findhorn, one of the world’s most renowned ecovillages! 🌿

✨ Here’s what you’ll gain:
🌾 Learn to design food systems that regenerate the Earth.
🏠 Create solutions for sustainable water, energy, and shelter.
🤝 Connect with like-minded changemakers in a thriving community.

Join the Permaculture Design Certificate course and take part in the revolution for a regenerative future!

📍 Ecovillage Findhorn, Scotland
📅 July 28th to August 10th, 2025

🌟 Take advantage of the Early Bird discount and installment payment options for a limited time.

Let’s make a difference, one design at a time. 💚

Register here 
Invitations from our members & partners
Invitation from RIPESS Europe
Webinars on Citizen Participation & Local Development

🌻 Dive into "LOOKING UP Tuesdays": A free Webinar Series on Citizen Participation & Local Development! 🌻


📢 Starting this November 12, 2024 RIPESS EUROPE & others invite you to join 9 free webinars exploring how communities across Europe can build resilience and sustainability at the local level.

Each session will cover essential topics for anyone passionate about social solidarity economy, community building, and ecological transitions.

Future sessions include:
🔸 How to build community? How to build local and economic development from the community?
🔸 How artistic & cultural alternative places and ecological transition in urban contexts takes part in local democracy?
🔸 Urban-rural relationship: how to build resilient communities through short supply chains in the global food system?


🗓️ When: Every Tuesday, 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM CET

Register here!
Trans Europe Halles' session on Creative Europe programme

Following up on the nice mingle with our collegues from TEH, they are holding a session on the Creative Europe Programme. For everyone who has some basic knowledge of it already - you can join by registering to the event below! Enjoy!

Practical Tips Session, 9 January 2025
Time: 10:00–11:15 am (CET)

Register here
Costa Rica Ecovillage Tours

Embark on a journey through intentional communities in Costa Rica: Ecovillage Tours has several spaces available in January & February.

In case you want to register, you can use this code, in order to get $200 discount.

 

Check it out here.
Thank You!

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