The network
“The world does not change through one person alone. It changes through growing networks of relationships between people who have discovered that they share a common concern and a vision of what is possible.”
– Margaret Wheatley.
Organisation
GEN-Suisse is a constantly growing network of intentional communities, ecovillages, change projects and individuals who are committed, meaningful and joyful in their commitment to life.
GEN-Suisse includes NextGEN, in which the young generation is organised. In Switzerland, these two branches work hand in hand. In addition, those with experience and interest in the community meet in various parts of Switzerland in self-organised regional groups. GEN-Suisse maintains many international contacts and friendships and is embedded in GEN Europe and GEN International, which build bridges between all cultures and continents.
In 2011, representatives of the communities of Glarisegg Castle and Clos du Doubs launched the network. Shortly afterwards, the Schweibenalp Centre of Unity and Herzfeld Sennrüti followed as further pioneers of the Swiss community field.
The network is organised as an association and registered in the commercial register.
Sociocracy
In the course of 2019, the proposal to reorganise the network on a sociocratic basis was put forward to the Executive Board. After thorough clarification, it was decided to introduce this reorganisation. The aim is to create a lively structure that involves all individual members, member communities and projects and invites them to actively participate in the network.
The structure comprises fixed working circles, which are represented by delegates in the Coordination Circle. The Coordination Circle sees itself as a steering committee. There are six fixed working circles in the foreground. The Coordination Circle meets once a quarter for a one-day meeting.
Temporary project circles are possible, which are dedicated to the implementation of the SDGs, for example, based on the five dimensions of sustainability: social, cultural, ecological, economic and integral world view. These circles can be initiated by members and regional groups.
The regions worldwide
In the Global Ecovillage Network there are five so-called “regions”, which are divided into the different continents as shown on the map below. If you click on the logo, you will be redirected to the respective network. The regions bundle and represent the concerns of their National Networks, e.g. GEN-Suisse is a National Network of GEN Europe.
The dimensions of sustainability
The social, cultural, ecological and economic dimensions are embedded in an integral world view. Under Vision you will find more detailed information on what GEN understands by the dimensions.
Social
Culture
Ecology
Economy
Holistic design
GEN-Suisse activities
Our two main events each year are a two-day spring festival preceded by a general meeting and a five-day summer camp conference. At these events, we make social change visible and highlight current trends. The events offer our members a platform for in-depth dialogue and new interested parties can immerse themselves in the Swiss-wide movement. These regular meetings create an increasingly close-knit “community of communities”, which is a major concern of GEN-Suisse.
Representatives of the national and international networking working groups strengthen GEN’s concerns, for example at the COP world climate conferences or at UN events on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They also exchange expertise at national network meetings, at meetings of the Ecovillage Association, Transition Movement and Permaculture ECOLISE or at regional networking events such as the Better Living Forum, the Social and Environmental Forum in St.Gallen or the Eco Fair in Basel.
