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Get involved!

Become a GEN-Ambassador!

In this role, you will be supported by GEN in doing outreach work for the ecovillage-movement. 

Process of becoming a GEN-Ambassador:

  1.  Meet and learn to know GEN thoroughly
    1. Possible avenues: participate in a GEN-Conference or event, in an EDE (Ecovillage Design Education), read through the GEN-websites, documents and resources, visit ecovillages, do an internship in a GEN-office, etc.
    2. Find a mentor within the GEN-international board/GEN-regional councils or main staff who can back you up and answer questions as and when they come up.
  2. Enrol as a member of GEN, either through becoming a ‘supportive member’, or through living in a ‘full member’ ecovillage.
  3. Show your interest by sending us an email to secretariat(at)gen-europe.org and ask for the ambassador enrollment form – if accepted, we will ask you to sign a simple contract regarding the use of your business card and GEN-logos.
  4. We will create your GEN-Ambassador business card for you for that particular year and send it to you electronically for printing.
  5. Update your GEN-Ambassador application form once a year. This will help you reflect and will remind us to update your business card for the next year. 

We look forward to hearing from you - contact us here if you have any questions!        

Start a National Network

GEN networks bring together and give a platform to a wide variety of projects and players related to community empowerment and sustainability. They provide an invaluable support for civil society engagement by organising national gatherings as platforms for the exchange of best practice, and the creation of synergies. They build bridges between civil society initiatives and policy makers, between academia, green business and practitioners.


A key requirement for starting a national network is the existence of at least three ecovillage-projects in your country. Ecovillages are urban or rural human-scale settlements consciously designed through local, participatory processes to secure long-term sustainability. All four dimensions (the economic, ecological, social and cultural) are seen as essential. They do not need to call themselves ‘ecovillages’, but do need to be enrolled in the GEN Project Database.

How to start:

  1. As an individual or as individuals, apply to become GEN Ambassador(s) for your country.
  2. Build the network in your country virtually by utilising the GEN Project Database. Make an inventory of all relevant projects in your country, find out which projects are already enrolled and invite further organisations to link up. Your regional GEN Council or Staff can write a letter of support for this process.
  3. Organise a small-scale national meeting with as many players as possible.
  4. Enrol with GEN as an ‘aspiring national network’.
  5. If applicable and desired, enquire into possibilities for setting up a legal GEN-organisation in your country. GEN will provide ongoing support with model statutes, programmes and the GEN graphic profile.
  6. Organise a larger event (e.g. Ecovillage Conference or Ecovillage Design Education) in your country. GEN may be able to support you with fundraising. 
  7. If applicable, at this meeting, a democratic process can lead to the affirmation of a decision making process, of legal statutes and the designation of official contact persons/a council for the national network.
  8. Keep your GEN Regional Council or the GEN International Board informed. 
  9. Officially launch the national network. 
  10. Celebrate your success!

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