Our first Journey: What’s next after the Gathering?

Dear new individual members of GEN Europe,

it was fantastic to see and get to know so many of you during the Gathering in Sweden. Idealistic as we are, we really hope and believe that many of you have caught the spark and are eager to change the world by choosing a different way of being – with nature and other people. Our aim is to make your journey of exploration easier by sharing with you resources, blog articles and voices from community members around the topics of community exploration and building.

In this first article, we would love to share with you some suggestions to get active!

Many communities offer training courses or they have open days / weeks. It is also often possible to just visit a community. However, it is important to check and ask first. 

A good way to find communities to explore is using the GEN Europe ecovillage map. Very soon there will also be an interview available with all the communities of our network so that you can get a more in-depth impression. The communities within the GEN network are really diverse and it makes sense to explore the characteristics of a community before you go. Many of them also have a website that you can find via the ecovillage map. 

One of the best ways to experience community living is to volunteer in a community, as it is a great way to get immersed and experience the day-to-day reality.  

Volunteering is generally possible at any age, however there are a bigger number of funded volunteering opportunities through EU programs for people under 30, like Erasmus+ youth exchanges and the ESC volunteering options. In 2 months we will provide you with some more tips on volunteering. For now, it is a good first step to join the NextGEN WhatsApp group where many of the volunteering opportunities in ecovillages are shared. 
You can write to ngen.europe@ecovillage.org or write a message to the Admin, Alex Lema, directly (+34 673 42 55 56) and you will be added to the group.

NextGEN has also created a comprehensive Excel file, where many volunteering opportunities but also job offers in ecovillages and other sustainable projects are listed.

Another good way to get informed about volunteering opportunities is to follow the Yes to Sustainability Network on Facebook and Instagram.

And to join this Telegram channel that is moderated by GEN Europe. It is designed for anyone to share events that are happening in ecovillages (retreats, gatherings, trainings…). This includes youth exchanges and short-term volunteering opportunities!

Don’t miss this funded volunteering opportunity to live and work at the heart of the European ecovillage movement! Use your skills and enthusiasm for ecovillages and sustainable living, develop new competencies, make new friends and immerse yourself in community life while living in Arterra Bizimodu ecovillage, Spain.

If you’re under 30, resident/citizen of the EU, interested in IT, communications/design, non-profit management and projects or events management and curious about ecovillages…this is for you!

You can find the link to the application form at the bottom of this page. Please read this page carefully before applying. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, so apply soon!

📅 Start date: During March 2025
🕒 Duration: 300 days (9-10 months)
👥Places: 4

🔄 Age Range: 18-30 years

People over the age of 30 can still participate in the funded Erasmus+ trainings for youth workers, that also often take place in intentional communities. Apart from that there is the option to find many volunteer opportunities in communities or ecoprojects through the WWOOF, Worldpacker and Workaway platform, where no age limits exist. 

And of course, it is also possible in many cases to visit a community and then find a personalised volunteering agreement. Many communities also offer information around the possibility of volunteering on their website.
But please keep in mind that most communities want to be contacted in advance before you pay them a visit. 

How about a bike trip, combining green travel and community exploration?

Some communities have guest rooms and are happy to earn some additional money, others are open to host interested guests for free in exchange for some work or a “gift”, like playing music for them. Expect the situation to be very different for each community though: check out the website and always ask in advance, even if you would just like to set up your tent. The reason is that some communities really get a lot of visitors which can be overwhelming for them.

If you plan a little bit in advance you can try to include open days, festivals or other community events and arrange your trip accordingly!

Or a very comfortably pre-planned guided tour?

Would you rather to a several day, all-inclusive guided tour where you have to take care of nothing and just immersive yourself in the world of ecovillages? Then you might want to check out this option by ecovillagetours.com

GEN Europe is not only a network of ecovillages but also a network of different national and regional ecovillage networks. There are usually plenty of engagement opportunities within the national networks to further support the ecovillage cause and the benefit of connecting.

Another good way to get active and take our shared mission further is to join GEN’s youth branch, NextGEN. Like with GEN, NextGEN also has more regional and national networks that you can explore and is eager to find young people willing to create new local networks in case there aren’t any yet.

And finally you can also explore the Global Ecovillage Network beyond the borders of Europe and find out what is going on in other GEN regions, like Latin America, North America, Africa and Oceania / Asia!

GEN International

GEN Europe

NextGEN Europe

Yes to Sustainabilty

ECOLISE (European network for community-led initiatives on climate change and sustainability)

Communities for Future

Gaia Education