GEN Africa
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.
What is GEN Africa?[edit | edit source]
Vision[edit | edit source]
We envision the re-emergence of a sustainable and abundant Africa growing out of an alliance of self-empowered and resilient communities.
Mission[edit | edit source]
As a solution based alliance, GEN Africa makes visible examples of best practices, and develops educational tools to inspire societal transition to resilience.
Values[edit | edit source]
- 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.
What we do[edit | edit source]
The African Ecovillage Network assists, educates and supports villages and communities towards self sufficiency, through social entrepreneurship and development of grassroots projects, while building solidarity and cooperation between people.
We encourage, advise and teach communities to use clean energy, water purification and desalination processes, and actively encourage people to reduce, reuse and recycle.
Regarding the land and food, we promote organic farming and permaculture. For example growing local medicinal plants, planting trees as windbreaks, saving endangered species of plants and crops, growing fruit trees, composting with zero waste, use of bio-digesters. Hand in hand with this we share the importance of the conservation of ecosystems.
Regarding building and construction we promote building with natural local materials, using both tried and tested traditional methods and crafts, combined with modern design and building techniques.
For the people we offer new paradigms in schooling, medicine, ecotourism, eco-farm retreats, and much more.
