Transforming social entrepreneurship: circular economy, ecovillage design, and permaculture for a sustainable future

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At a historical time when the world faces unprecedented challenges such as climate change, extreme weather conditions, wars, rising unemployment and uncertain energy supplies, the need to adapt current lifestyles and production practices has become urgent.

In this context of global change, circular economy emerges as a solution to tackle the environmental crisis while creating new employment opportunities. This economic model shifts focus from material-intensive to labour-intensive activities, requiring a multi-level transformation as emphasized in the New European Bauhaus initiative. Ensuring the social, economic, and environmental sustainability social entrepreneurship is crucial for fostering resilient and equitable communities, and addressing societal issues such as poverty, inequality and environmental degradation. Integrating the values, good practices, and competences of ecovillage design and permaculture into social entrepreneurship can significantly enhance its sustainability, from the social, economic and cultural regenerative and resource-efficient practices of ecovillages, to the resource management, waste reduction and understanding and protection of natural ecosystems of permaculture.

In this context, ECOPRISE aims to contribute to this paradigm change by creating a new model for sustainable social entrepreneurship, promoting a deeper understanding of sustainability and resilience, while reinforcing the interconnectedness of humans and nature.

Over the past six months, we have gathered insights from more than 90 participants, including ecovillage members, VET/HE providers in permaculture and ecovillage design, and social entrepreneurs across six countries. Through tailored interviews and highly productive focus groups, we are constructing an International Integrated SWOT Analysis, which will guide the development of multidisciplinary training resources and an innovative skillset for Ecoprise designers.

These resources, soon to be available on the ECOPRISE website, will support the upskilling of entrepreneurs into Ecopreneurs, professional that will apply sustainable approaches to their practice and become change agents in their local contexts, fostering sustainable, resilient, and regenerative community-building approaches that contribute to a healthier planet, society and more meaningful lives.

Follow us to learn more, visit the project website & social media, at the following link.

ECOPRISE- Future-oriented social entrepreneurship through Ecovillage Design was is an Erasmus+ co-funded project, born from the collaboration of the following organizations:

For further information about ECOPRISE, please contact Alejandra Infante Velado, alejandra.infantevelado@impresasocialeland.org.