The Global Ecovillage Network is a global grassroots network of more than 400 local ecovillages worldwide grown out of the eco-movement as well as traditional villages. It facilitates the exchange of experiences as well as running external courses also for politicians in how to develop ecovillages and learning from their sustainability experiences.
The Ecovillage Schloss Tempelhof in Southern Germany was founded after several years of planning and searching a site by about 30 of the first residents. Having bought an old abandoned village in 2010 they set up a foundation that owns the land and the real estate. In only 3 years it has grown fast into a regionally integrated village. Today the 130 inhabitans have managed many businesses, communal facilities, while experimenting with social supportive and consensus democratic methods based on an authentic social culture. Social innovation is manifested in the way in which engaged citizens create new interlinkages between almost all areas of live: from raising children and common meals, to neighborhood support and self-sufficient eco-agriculture, to car sharing and ecological restauration of buildings and environment.
Relevance for TRANSIT
Ecovillages and the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) are examples of social innovations because they experiment with regenerative structures and practices, while spreading their experiences in on-site education centers to often international visitors.
Kunze, I. (2015) Transformative social innovation narrative of the Ecovillage of Schloss Tempelhof. TRANSIT: EU SSH.2013.3.2-1 Grant agreement no: 613169
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