We are living through times where multiple crises are converging. We need a profound response to climate change; biodiversity loss; deterioration of ecological health at local, bioregional and watershed levels; loss of cultural diversity; unjust and ever increasing inequality; political conflicts; severe economic vulnerability as shown by COVID-19 crisis and provision of affordable housing.
Ecovillages worldwide are living laboratories for a more equitable, just and sustainable future. They are creating lifestyles that are both “high quality” with equitable access to resources and power and “low impact” with minimal ecological footprints. We therefore define ecovillages as “communities striving to live well and lightly together.” (Living Routes).
At GEN Australia, we see education as being a key to the paradigm shift we are needing in the world right now. Ecovillages have been experimenting with regenerative living, from non-violent communication (NVC) and self-governance to natural building, appropriate technology, social entrepreneurship, traditional crafts and participatory design for decades. These communities are full of innovators, teachers and facilitators dedicating their lives to the creation of regenerative cultures.
We work with GEN International and GENOA to help spread the lessons and insights from ecovillages in Australia to the broader public. We hold workshops and trainings on ecovillage design; share and promote ecovillage tools at festivals and markets; connect existing communities; and support new and emerging communities to form and take off.
Workshops and trainings
GEN Australia facilitates a range of ecovillage face to face workshops from 2 hour introduction sessions, short 1-2 day immersions to 1-week masterclasses. These cover an introduction to the ecovillage areas of regeneration and principles based on the Map of Regeneration, as well as learning about ecovillages in Australia and around the world. We use the ecovillage design cards which is an interactive tool that engages participants in creative discussion about regenerative practices and whole-systems design. The schedule for these workshops is available
In 2019, GEN Australia together with GEN International hosted a Training of Trainers (ToT) at Narara Ecovillage, NSW. The training brought a diverse group together to dive into ecovillage design and how to facilitate creative processes with communities and groups in using ecovillage tools. Mailys, a ToT participant and GENOA volunteer, shares her story of her ToT experience here.
GEN Australia is also developing an online masterclass that shares the same knowledge via regular online sessions in modules so that people from diverse regions to access. We expect this to be available in 2022. If you would like to be informed when this is available please contact us.
Ecovillage Design Education (EDE)
Ecovillage Design Education programs, often referred to as ‘EDEs’, provide participants of all ages with the knowledge and practical skills to design a society which uses energy and materials with greater efficiency, distributes wealth fairly and strives to eliminate the concept of waste.
The Ecovillage Design Curriculum (created by Gaia Education and GEN) has a wide range of practical application and is full of innovative materials, ideas and tools that have been developed and tested in ecovillage communities and urban transition settings worldwide.
Usually EDEs are conducted over 4 consecutive weeks, and are residential courses. This is to provide participants with an immersive experience in an ecovillage, so deep learning and transformation can take place. However, EDEs can also be held as smaller modules, over weekends that span several months.
GEN Australia has hosted the following EDE inspired courses at different ecovillages around Australia. EDE inspired courses use the Ecovillage Design Curriculum but are not certified by Gaia Education.
- 1-week at Moora Moora Co-operative, Victoria, 2012
- 1-week at Paradise One Community, Byron Shire, NSW, 2014
- Village Development Program (VDP), Weekend modules over 12 months, Bruns Ecovillage, 2017
The full 1-month EDE was held at Crystal Waters Ecovillage in 2009 and certified by Gaia Education.
Due to health and travel restrictions the GEN Australia team is reviewing the requirements to make the full EDE available online and also in different locations throughout Australia. If you are interested to attend the EDE, please contact us.
GEN International also has an online education platform with multiple short courses available.
