National Network Meeting in Sunny Hill

Growing Together: News from around the Network

Continuing a now well-established tradition, the three days began with a National Network Fair, where participating networks shared their current realities, challenges and aspirations in an engaging and playful format, facilitated by our dear Riccardo. We were especially glad to welcome many representatives from GEN Slovenia, one of the younger networks, officially welcomed at the GA in Hungary in August 2025. They are currently focusing on strengthening internal and international communication, building a core group for ecovillage development and fostering collaboration through shared activities. GEN Hungary shared its current focus on good neighbourhoodships, while naming the need for more concrete projects, particularly around housing, networking, events and ESC programmes. Their relationships span permaculture networks, GEN, SEEN, sociocracy initiatives, and Les Pas-Sages, with a longer-term vision of strengthening intentional community development. RIVE presented its dual structure of a Vision Circle and an Operational Coordination Circle, alongside a strong ecosystem of external partnerships. While burnout was named honestly, so was care: “We love each other.” Key projects include the RIVE Fund, adult education, and Les Pas-Sages, with a vision focused on financial sustainability, resilience, regional gatherings and clearer political positioning. Cooperative Oasis shared its complex but rich organizational ecology, including Habitat Participatif France, Habicoop and multiple working groups. Acting as a bridge between different cooperative cultures, their projects range from Erasmus+ and research to advocacy, festivals and the GEN Fund. Their vision was summed up simply: “Oasis everywhere, cooperation everywhere.”

Updates

GEN Europe presented updates on current activities while checking in on how to best serve the members and the network.

Working Sessions Outcomes

Through a variety of methodologies, the program created space for what was most alive in the group, allowing different topics to unfold across diverse working formats. Open Space technology allowed for deep dives into themes such as adult education, network development, creation of NextGEN NNs, political activism and project creation. For example, the idea arose to develop a CO2 compensation model for the Gathering travels through a tree-planting action.

The World Café format furthermore provided space for addressing topics such as the Media Charter of GEN Europe on how to explore shared principles, responsibilities and safeguards for external communication and representation. The GEN Europe Fund, deepening collective understanding of the fund’s direction, structure and opportunities for National Networks, including small-scale KA2 projects and sub-granting possibilities.

One of the most intense and meaningful moments of the meeting was a Fishbowl conversation on the political landscape and its impact on National Networks. The discussion explored questions of mandate, representation, speed versus inclusivity, and the tension between being values-based and navigating legal, cultural and organizational constraints.

Participants reflected on themes such as:

• Do ecovillages and networks have the luxury not to be political?
• Who has the mandate to speak — and when?
• How do we balance bottom-up processes with the need for timely public positioning?
• How do war, privilege, migration, and systemic injustice shape our responsibilities?

While no single answer emerged, the dialogue deepened collective understanding and affirmed that GEN culture itself is inherently political, even when expressed through everyday practices.

This took up the political conversation line that was started during the GA in Hungary, 2025.

Celebration

Saturday night brought a special highlight to our gathering – a vibrant celebration showcasing the joy and creativity that flows through our network. Under the spirited guidance of Riccardo, the Open Stage transformed into a space of shared laughter, music, and connection. Network members took turns sharing their talents, from heartfelt songs to playful performances, reminding us that our movement is not just about projects and plans – it’s about celebrating life and human connection in all its forms.

Harvest

The meeting established several action points for strengthening our network:

• Co-Action, Co-Planning, Co-Thinking, grounded in Co-Feeling
• Expansion of adult education programs (BEN, GEN Slovenia, others)
• Mapping eco-projects and reviving national Ecovillage Days
• KA2 projects on tech tools and knowledge sharing
• Support structures for launching new National Networks
• Strengthening and operationalizing the GEN Europe Fund
• NextGEN strategy work, agreements, and youth gathering plans
• Political awareness, activism, and systemic change narratives
• The Trees at the Gathering project to compensate CO₂ travel emissions
• Early member input for the GEN Europe GA 2026

Overall we left the meeting with a renewed feeling of purpose and continuation in terms of being politically active. The network is kept alive through an exchange of information and communication. For this we need your input. Please make sure, that the information flow from you to your members continues, and don’t forget to let us and other networks know which exciting things are happening in your country.

You are also welcome to join the monthly National Networks working group meeting every first Thursday of the month or to initiate your own working group. For more information on how to get involved, please write to membership@gen-europe.org.