African Permaculture Revolution Continues Across The Continent

The European branch of GEN-Europe (GEN) is assisting inthe emergence of GEN-Africa (www.gen-africa.org) as an independent branch of the global network – there is a lot happening. All over Africa inspiration is being offered to the ecovillage network. In the face of climate change and resource depletion, a network that builds bridges in a spirit of collaboration and mutual respect deserves respect. GEN can offer decades of experience in building relationships of trust within groups of rich cultural and ethnic diversity – bringing core ingredients for fruitful international exchange.
Ghana, like many other parts of Africa, is struggling with the combined challenges of social poverty and environmental degradation. These problems cause a spiral of degradation that threatens to turn the land into a barren desert, if it is not stopped and solutions taught. The Ghana Permaculture Institute (GPI) trains people in permaculture and helps setup small social permaculture businesses. Since 2009, 1,000 women and 30 communities in Ghana have participated in GPI programmes on permaculture design, ecofarming, food and nutrition, ecovillage design and community sustenance. GPI is working on creating demonstration sites across the country to bring permaculture to Ghana’s diverse cultures in their local languages. Learn more, or give support: http://permacultureghana.wordpress.com
Likewise, a dream is coming true for more and more villagefarmers in Kenya. From a marginal life without much hope, Organic Technology Extension & Promotion of Initiative Centre (OTEPIC), directed by Philip Munyasia, is bringing knowledge, empowerment and joy to communities. With the purchase of his first piece of land in 2003 he started to grow a variety of organic vegetables, make compost, save seeds and plant trees. Again, many of the participants are women. “Through training women, the whole community is empowered” he says. For further information view: http://organicfarminghealingtherift.blogspot.com
Other news includes the first ecovillage conference taking place in the Democratic Republic of Congo. GEN-Africa and the new Congo Ecovillage Network brought government ministries together with leaders and members of local and international NGOs, Pygmy leaders, United Nations, IUCN and other experts. Finally, the Senegalese government has installed the first ministry of ecovillages world-wide and the German Foreign Ministry is funding ecovillage strategies in northern Africa.