If you love nature and the sense of community and wish to contribute to the regenerative development of your region, all that’s left is to join the supporters of Ecoprise.
Immerse yourself now in reading this wonderfully slow-paced discovery log of the Gathering of European Ecovillages for the Year 2024 held last August 20-25 in Molkhom, Sweden, and attended by project partners.
The Ecovillage Gathering is an annual event organized by Global Ecovillage Network of Europe, a partner of Ecoprise, where European ecovillage communities have the opportunity to meet, fostering the mutual exchange of best practices, the creation of new networks, and the consolidation of the ecovillage model as a hub for environmental, social, economic, and cultural regeneration in inhabited areas.
The gathering, which included the organization of hundreds of workshops, contributions from international guests, as well as games and entertainment for both adults and children, was a unique opportunity for Ecoprise partner organizations. They experienced an immersive engagement with ecovillage representatives. Ecovillages and social enterprises are the two models that inspire the Ecoprise project in the development of a new professional figure: the Eco-designer. This professional will be able to navigate the complexity of the various dimensions of regeneration proposed by Ecoprise (environmental, social, economic, and cultural) and promote local regenerative development.
This professional, for which a prototype is currently being developed, is expected to gain prominence in Europe thanks to the launch, starting next spring, of a course on Eeo-preneurship aimed at enhancing the ecovillage model within the framework of social enterprise, and thus, a solidarity economy.
During the gathering, the Ecoprise team had the opportunity to participate in both the project work sessions, planned for the afternoons, and the various workshops and stimulating seminars held by guest speakers.
As for the afternoon work sessions, the Ecoprise partners:
- Presented the results of the SWOT Analysis titled “Social Enterprises vs the Ecovillage Experience” on the skills gaps existing in ecovillages and social enterprises. This analysis, conducted in the first months of the project in Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Lithuania, Portugal, and Serbia, examined the four dimensions of regeneration that Ecoprise aims to enhance: environmental, social, economic, and cultural. The key findings were highlighted, and a series of open-ended questions were presented for further exploration in the upcoming phases of the project;
- Organized co-design workshops to develop the Ecoprise entrepreneurial model, specifically the prototype of a social enterprise inspired by ecovillage design, as well as a list of the skills, abilities, and knowledge that the Ecoprise designer must possess.
As for the contributions from international guests, it was an honor to attend the keynote speaker sessions, which addressed profound topics such as the sacred connection to the earth, social justice, and the power of community.
Lone Beate Ebeltoft, representative and activist for the protection of her indigenous people, the Sami, shared the ancient wisdom of her people, urging us to rethink our relationship with nature. A’ida Al-Shibli, a peace activist from Palestine, drew from her experience as a Muslim Bedouin woman to address the theme of intersectionality, emphasizing how actions, more than any national or political identity, are the true key to building a just world.
Anja Lyngbaek, coordinator of various projects aimed at improving ecological and social well-being, discussed the importance of localizing food systems to strengthen communities and resist neoliberal logic. Lastly, writer and thinker Dougald Hine reflected on the power of stories to give us strength and resilience in the face of major global challenges, urging the creation of liveable spaces from the “ruins.”
An atmosphere of inspiration and deep reflection accompanied the entire gathering, strengthening the sense of community among participants.
These talks offered a comprehensive and inspiring vision of how we can build a more just, sustainable future, connected to the earth and our communities. The Ecoprise partners returned with renewed motivation, strengthened by the sense of community experienced during the gathering.
To fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the gathering, browse the online album or watch the official video.
Stay updated following us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Who knows, you might become the first eco-designer in your community!
About the project
ECOPRISE – Future-oriented social entrepreneurship through Ecovillage Design is a project funded by Erasmus+ KA2 Partnerships for Innovation- Alliance 2023.
Partners
- CESIE ETS (coordinator, Italy)
- LAND (Italy)
- Iscte – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (Portugal)
- GLOBAL ECOVILLAGE NETWORK OF EUROPEEV (Germany)
- UNIVERZITET U NOVOM SADU (Serbia)
- UAB THEORIA (The Critical) (Lithuania)
- EUROTRAINING EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION (Greece)
- ReadLab Brussels (Belgium)
- CSI CENTER FOR SOCIAL INNOVATION LTD (Cyprus)
- GRANTXPERT (Cyprus)
- Mazoji Bendrija Zaliasis judejimas (Lithuania)
- ECQA GMBH (Austria)
For further information
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Contact Simona Palumbo: simona.palumbo@cesie.org.
