Ecovillage Starter

Daniel Zimmermann

Workshop holder

Dániel Zimmermann is an ecologist, mental health counselor, and community facilitator living in Nyim Eco-community. A member of the Hungarian Community Facilitator Network, he combines nature connection with personal and group development. With years of experience volunteering in ecovillages across Europe, he supports regenerative living through facilitation, healing work, and ecological practices.

Workshop title

The “TreeMap” model: the map of the communities

The TreeMap model offers a clear, interconnected map of the key components in healthy communities. It supports leaders in navigating group dynamics, solving problems, and building regenerative cultures. Based on feedback loops, it reveals patterns often hidden in human relationships. Participants will learn the model’s roots, structure, and use, and engage in practical group activities. Developed by Gusztáv Vágvölgyi, TreeMap is a guiding tool for those dreaming of true community.

Dicte Frost

Workshop holder

Dicte has been deep in the ecovillage movement for the last 8 years; coordinating the European Ecovillage Gathering, project coordinating for the Danish Ecovillage Network (LØS) and co-founding Earthbound Ecovillage in Sweden.

Workshop title

Ecovillage starter: Legal and Financial Symposium

This workshop will introduce you to the legal and financing options you have when starting an ecovillage! In this symposium, you will hear pitches by those who work with different legal and financial models including Les Pas Sages, Miethauser Syndikat, OASA, Ekopia and much more. Come to get an overview and ask essential questions before starting your new community!

Camilla Nielsen-Englyst

Co-Facilitator

Lives in the Ecovillage Hallingelille, which she was co-founding in 2005. She is engaged in the Danish Ecovillage Network as a project manager and in GEN Europe in different working groups. Her work engagement also involves project management in Bofællesskab.dk (Danish Association for Communities) and community building in Bærebo. To make it easier for new startup groups forms her drive.

Petra Carman

Workshop holder

Petra Carman, PhD, is a social psychologist focused on ecovillages and a certified Gaia Education facilitator. She co-leads Ecovillage Design Education trainings in Thailand and brings first-hand experience of intentional communities. Her work centers on community building, decision-making, and empowerment, using participatory methods like games and group processes to foster collaboration, reflection, and stronger group dynamics.

Workshop title

Group Dynamics in Action:
A Community Learning Experience

Dive into the dynamics of community living in this interactive, hands-on workshop. Through a playful yet powerful group challenge, we’ll explore trust, communication, and decision-making in real time. After the activity, we’ll reflect together on what emerged and how it applies to real-life communities. Whether you’re new to intentional living or have years of experience, this session offers fresh insights into group behavior, leadership, and collaboration. Expect an engaging journey into how we live and work together.

Sonja-Vera Schmitt

Workshop holder

Since 2003 Sonja-Vera Schmitt is co-founder of the Community Castle Glarisegg, comprising 40 adults / 20 children, a seminar center, a permaculture garden and a school. Sonja-Vera supported the social, structural, financial and constructional development of this project. She initiated 2016 the “Ecovillage Design Education” course, named “Creating a Transformative Culture”. As a speech therapist, musician / dancer, meditator she is interested in the holistic approach for humanity.

Workshop title

How - community & ecovillage ?

If you have this longing for a more meaningful life, wanting to care for our planet – welcome!
If you are interested in understanding, joining or creating a community and you don`t know how – welcome!
For better understanding some maps will help explain the huge variety of communities in their different dimensions. We will explore our topics by listening & looping. This practice is already an amazing entrance door to experience a good community culture. . Within the group research there is space for questions and sharing. In our adventure of living into your dreams and questions more possibilities might arise.

Taisa Mattos

Workshop holder

Taisa Mattos – Gaia Education Face-to-Face Programmes Coordinator & Gaia Schools Coordinator – is passionate about ecovillages and regenerative education. With 16 years of experience teaching Ecovillage Design Education (EDE), she has contributed to over 30 certified EDEs in Brazil, Portugal, Mozambique, Argentina and online. Lead facilitator for Gaia Education's Training of Trainers in Mexico. Co-founder of Terra Una Ecovillage. Author of Ecovillages: Building a Regenerative Culture.

Workshop title

Ecovillage Design Education: Learning through Ecovillage Principles & Practices

Ecovillage Design Education (EDE) programmes offer transformative learning experiences that foster the shift toward a regenerative future. Rooted in ecovillage principles, EDEs equip participants with the skills and knowledge to drive meaningful change. In this session, we’ll explore the Gaia Education 4D Framework—social, ecological, economic, and worldview dimensions of sustainability—through participatory methodologies, allowing you to experience ecovillage education firsthand. Want to learn more about ecovillage education and regenerative design? Do you feel called to be part of the shift toward a regenerative future? Come join us! With Taisa Mattos and Macaco Tamerice.

Maartje Visser

Workshop holder

A born and raised communitarian with a curious mind and a drive to make an impact on the world. I have been working passionately to start an ecovillage in the Netherlands in the past years. After being schooled in psychology I made the switch to work on becoming a regenerative farmer. Now I am working on a research project on shared economies in ecovillages as part of my master thesis.

Workshop title

Sharing is caring: Ecovillage economies

In this workshop we will discuss the wonderful world of ecovillage economies. We will explore what kind of practices are out there, how communities are using them, and how these relate to the economic systems outside the community. The workshop will be a mix of having an interactive discussion and showcasing research results, which includes an in-depth case study. Expect a session where we reflect on themes like challenges with governmental rules and regulations, or how we can connect our economy to ecology.

Camilla Englyst

Workshop holder

Lives in the Ecovillage Hallingelille, which she was co-founding in 2005. She is engaged in the Danish Ecovillage Network as a project manager and in GEN Europe in different working groups. Her work engagement also involves project management in Bofællesskab.dk (Danish Association for Communities) and community building in Bærebo. To make it easier for new startup groups forms her drive.

Workshop title

CLIPS - Community Learning Incubator - in practice

CLIPS Workshop: Dive into the art of community building
Curious about how communities thrive? The Community Learning Incubator Programme for Sustainability (CLIPS) has been GEN Europe’s flagship model for a decade, balancing the “I” and the “We,” blending layers of intention, structure and practice. This dynamic workshop offers an intro to the CLIPS model and its layered framework, followed by a hands-on experience in three parallel sessions where selected methods come alive. Whether you are new to community, part of a start-up group, or looking to reignite your group’s energy, come and get CLIPSified by an international CLIPS facilitation team.

Riccardo Clemente

Workshop holder

Riccardo Clemente is a CLIPS trainer and group facilitator, for the last 10 years. He loves to use games, theatre and systemic constellations in his work while he has a very strategic and organisational attitude in his approach. He loves having fun while facilitating.

Monique Wijn

Workshop holder

Monique Wijn is a community trainer since 2017 and gives live and online community trainings in the Netherlands and abroad (Belgium, Hungary, Ukraine). In Netherlands many communities are trained through CLIPS to support them from start up or stuck in processes to becoming thriving communities. Monique is co-founder and board member of the Dutch Ecovillage Network, GEN Netherlands. Since 2023 she is a GEN-Europe council member.

“The variety of workshops was incredible. Every day brought something new to learn, experience, and reflect upon. I felt both challenged and inspired.”
Participant of the Gathering 2024