GEN Africa is the African ecovillage network, promoting social resilience, environmental protection and restoration of nature through the concept of ecovillages as models for sustainable human settlements. We actively support the development of ecovillages and networks in all parts of Africa.
GEN Africa is a membership organisation born in 2012 in Sekem Ecovillage, Egypt with registered nonprofit status in Senegal and a close founding tie with GEN Europe. GEN Africa is managed by a council of 5 members elected in December 2012 in Egypt, in addition to 3 coordinators of the youth network NextGEN and a five member Advisory Council. GEN Africa forms part of GEN International, an NGO with consultative status at the UN-Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) commission, and a partner of United Nations Institute for Training and Research, UNITAR.
Our Philosophy
Within GEN Africa, we experiment in re-knitting trustful relationships and honouring low impact life styles. Our strength lies in co-developing and co-designing economic, social, cultural and ecologic solutions that support local ownership of sustainable futures. Honestly sharing the questions we face in this process is as important as sharing any answers we find. Making visible people’s projects that deeply care for local community while embracing global community is a vibrant tool for empowerment.
GEN Africa is not prioritizing the replication of ‘the ecovillage model‘ as a whole and the creation of more and more ‘green islands’ out in the countryside. The demonstration sites we have are invaluable and we can certainly do with more. But the focus has long moved on. Today we need every village to become an ecovillage and every city to become an ecocity. The whole of society needs to transition to a low-impact lifestyle in order to survive. All social networks need to reintegrate values of solidarity and mutual trust in order to become resilient enough to face the future creatively. The focus of GEN has shifted to sharing best practice – ecovillage-patterns that work!
Our Vision, Mission and Values
Vision
We envision the re-emergence of a sustainable and abundant Africa growing out of an alliance of self-empowered and resilient communities.
Mission
As a solution based alliance, GEN Africa makes visible examples of best practices, and develops educational tools to inspire societal transition to resilience.
Values
- Faith in the inherent goodwill in mankind
- Unity through diversity, without discrimination
- Basic human and earth rights and equitable access to resources
- Equal opportunity and justice for all
- Balance between cooperation and competition
- Good governance
- Care of the Earth and people
- Transparency
- Solidarity
- Inclusiveness
- Honesty
