🌝 January Moon Cycle News

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Dear ,

We at GEN Europe are thrilled that you’ve chosen to begin this fresh chapter with us. As we step into 2025, we are filled with new energy, exciting projects, and a continued commitment to making the world a little better by spreading ecovillage culture.

In the northern hemisphere, winter has fully settled in. The ground is frozen in many places, our breath turns to mist in the crisp air, and the natural world seems to be resting in quiet hibernation.

But we have already passed the winter solstice, and with each day, the light lingers a little longer. The journey towards spring has begun.

As we patiently embrace the slower rhythm of winter, we invite you to find inspiration in our community resources on the membership area. This season of introspection is the perfect time to dream, learn, and cultivate new ideas—seeds that will grow and flourish in the months to come.

May this year bring you meaningful connections, fresh perspectives, and the courage to build the future we all envision. Let’s walk this path together!

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

News from GEN Europe

Farewell and Thank You to Our ESCs!

As the year came to an end, we want to express our deepest gratitude to our incredible ESC volunteers who have been part of the GEN Europe office over the past year.

Thank you Elif, Ari, Julio & Kevin for your dedication, energy, and contributions have made a lasting impact on our work and community. It has been a pleasure to share this journey with you, and while we are sad to say goodbye, we know that your passion and skills will continue to make a difference wherever you go.

Thank you for everything—you will always be part of the GEN Europe family! 💚✨

(If you want to be in touch with any of them, write a message to membership@gen-europe.org)

Gathering Workshop Holders Call

Share Your Gifts at the European Ecovillage Gathering 2025!

We are thrilled to announce the open call for workshops for this year’s European Ecovillage Gathering, taking place August 12–17, 2025, at the stunning Manas Garden in Hungary.

Every year, our Gathering programme emerges as a vibrant co-creation of learning, sharing, and celebration—thanks to the amazing workshops and activities offered by people like you! 🌍✨

We’re looking for workshops and activities of all kinds to shape this year’s program, and we can’t wait to see your ideas. Whether you’re passionate about practical skills, creative expression, or transformative practices, this is your chance to inspire and connect with an incredible community.

Check out the full call here & apply

Reminder: Your opinion on the Gathering concept

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!

Reminder: Call for Gathering host 2026 & 2027

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!

Launch of GEN Europe Broadcast Channel!

Reminder of our newest new benefit for 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

COM4LGD: Eastern European Gathering in Bucharest, Romania | February 3rd-7th 2025

The Eastern European Gathering held in the framework of COM4LGD project will be hosted by the European Community Organizing Network (ECON) as part of their General Assembly.

It will present a series of workshops focusing on strengthening dialogue and learning exchange among stakeholders working with communities on possible pathways for transformation towards a more just, democratic and sustainable future in Europe. It will address some of the regions' most pressing challenges with discussions, cases, and study visits on democracy and how community organizing can enable democratic participation on climate justice, social justice, and gender equality.

For more information, please contact: organizing.europe@gmail.com.

Find out more about the event here

Apply to attend the event as GEN EU delegate by January 17th

News from around the Network

Argoumbat Ecovillage is looking for you!

Argoumbat Ecovillage, GEN Europe member community, situated in the French pyrenees, is growing!

Are you a French-speaking family looking to dive into community living, explore the woods, create, and grow together? If so, Argoumbat community would love to meet you!

The ecovillage is home to two little adventurers aged 3 and 5, and they dream of seeing the tribe grow. A house will be available starting in August, and the community is looking for like-hearted people to join their journey. Between now and then, they would love to connect and see if dreams, projects, and hearts align.

Connect with them here: contact@argoumbat.org

Check out their website!

Follow GEN Netherland's ESC Volunteers’ Journey!

GEN Netherlands currently has two amazing ESC volunteers, María and Matilda, living in one of the ecovillages in the Netherlands. Alongside their work there, they also contribute to GEN Netherlands one day per week—sharing their experiences and insights along the way!

If you're curious to learn more about life in an ecovillage and the ESC experience in the Netherlands, check out their updates:

📖 Matilda’s Blog: Read here
📸 María’s Instagram posts & videos: Follow here

Stay connected and get inspired by their journey!

Earthbound Podcast Episode

Earthbound is a new striving community, based in Sweden. Maybe you have heard about them through our former Gathering Coordinator Dicte!

Dicte & a friend recorded a Podcast Episode on the "Under the Bodhi Tree" Podcast Channel about:

🪷The creation of Earthbound Ecovillage

🌊 Dicte's journey with the Ecovillage movement

✨ The teachings, challenges and beautiful insights of being an ecovillage founder

🌬Tips and tricks for people who dream of starting an intentional community

Have a listen if you feel inspired ❤!

Save the date: Partnership Building Activity Yes To Sustainability

Save the date! Join the Yes to Sustainability PBA this April 23–29 in Cloughjordan, Ireland, to explore ecovillages, peacebuilding, and meaningful youth work with participants from 14 countries. 🌍✨

More info here!

Trainings and Courses

Apply here!

Erasmus+ opportunities

Transforming Systems and Leading Bioregional Regeneration! From April 1st to 16th, the Southernlights agroforestry farm will host 30 passionate participants. Together, you will embark on a journey of learning and collaboration, guided by three expert trainers renowned for their innovative work in the field.

🎯 This 14-day funded Training will dive into community engagement, systems science, and bioregional weaving - a geographically grounded and carefully curated process that connects people, places, and projects for transformative change. The aim is to learn practical skills for tackling complex challenges, unlocking the power of local networks, and empowering impactful, resilient transitions in each of our regions.

🐝Who should join?

Open for youth workers and leaders from Greece, Portugal, France, Spain, Belgium and Italy - especially those ready to level up their systemic impact through an existing or new organization!

Feeling inspired?

ESC Volunteering opportunities

ESC in Permaculture farm Mokovec, Slovenia

How valuable can life in connection with nature be? Self-sufficiency, Ecopsichology, adventure pedagogy, & more:

Short-term ESC for 3 participants: 17.3./31.3 (flexible arrival) – 14.5.25. Infopack here.

Team ESC for 8 participants: 15.5.-18.6.25. Infopack here.

Application deadline 31.01.25

Long-term ESC in in COB ecocommunity, Greece

COB offers activities around Natural building, Sustainable development. Permaculture ethics, Community life, Educational excursions, Organizing workshops, Fabrication of natural cosmetics, Regenerative Agriculture, Food processing, Animal rearing, and many more activites!

Apply here!

ESC Volunteering in Veles Farm, Slovenia

Are you excited about Permaculture farming, Life in groups towards a sustainable lifestyle, Organizing and hosting Workshops/Events and Natural building and maintenance? Then these different opportunities in Veles Farm in beautiful Slovenia might interest you!

Any more questions? Contact Petra!

1. TEAMS ESC project with 8 participants (also Slovenian) for 35 days from the 14.5.2025 - 18.6.2025.

Infopack here. Deadline to apply 14th of February 2025!

2. INDIVIDUAL ESC for 2 participants (can be also Slovenian)

April 2025 - November 2025 for:
from 2 months (short-term volunteering) until 8 months (long-term volunteering).

Infopack here. Deadline to apply 10th of February 2025!

Opportunities beyond the network

Ten years after the Paris Agreement, global emissions and temperatures are rising, putting the world on a path to a future of devastating climate change.

With world leaders holding decisive talks at COP 30 next year, Climate Reality is launching a global tour of trainings to raise ambitions and build a community of climate champions, called the Climate Reality Leadership Corps, to demand bold action for a livable future. The first stop on our tour? Paris, France.

Join the Climate Reality Leadership Corps by attending our training with former US Vice President Al Gore and The Climate Reality Project 28-30 March in Paris. The application is now open.

Apply here!

Funding opportunity for grassroots-oriented CSOs in Europe

Participate in the new call for CSOs active in Portugal, Spain, Poland, Estonia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic!

The call is open to grassroots-oriented CSOs, which can receive financial support - up to a maximum of €60,000 per project - to implement educational, campaigning and advocacy activities at national level on the topics of agroecology and sustainable food systems.

Project proposals can be submitted until 9th February 2025, 6 pm CET.

Read more & apply here!

Thank You!

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