The project “Building the Ecovillage Force” (BE-Force) implemented by GEN Ukraine and supported by LØS (funded by CISU), has strengthened ecovillages and internally displaced persons through specific capacity building, development of materials and training programs, with the aim of promoting sustainability and social cohesion in Ukrainian communities.

The project has led to a number of important results:

• Strengthened local leadership:
• A pool of skilled educators and leaders who can support community development and share their knowledge locally.     
• Promoting sustainable living:
• Permaculture and design training have equipped participants with practical skills for food security and environmental sustainability.
• Development and translation of educational resources:
• Materials on sociocracy, conflict resolution and sustainable practices have been made widely available.
• Involving more people:
  The project reached out to many through workshops, online courses and seminars, which has spread knowledge and built networks.

The activities included two 17-day courses in ‘Soft Skills’ and an 8-day course in Permaculture Design (PDC). Soft Skills are about group dynamics, conflict, communication, leadership, etc., – in other words, some of the things that several in LØS are good at and could help with. The participants afterwards organized ‘home seminars’ to share their knowledge.

A 7-day Training of Trainers (ToT) program certified through GAIA Education prepared 17 people to become better facilitators with a focus on being able to hold the space, facilitating in pairs and based on special pedagogical principles. In addition, the project offered four webinars on non-violent communication (NVC) followed by a six-month online group for 120 participants and an online course in sociocracy, which was followed up by mentoring sessions to facilitate implementation.

The project hosted 10 external seminars led by ToT participants and a 3-day training in “Regenerative Collaborations for the Earth and People” with international trainers.

To support the educational focus of the project, LØS and GEN Ukraine jointly developed and disseminated a range of resources, including manuals and tools on sociocracy, permaculture and conflict resolution, which were translated into Ukrainian and made available. Complementary short videos, infographics and bi-monthly GEN Ukraine Digest magazines were created to share results and ensure a wider reach and lasting impact.

The BE-Force project addressed pressing challenges caused by war and internal displacement in Ukraine and offered practical solutions to build stronger and more resilient communities. By disseminating skills, resources and opportunities for collaboration, it created a foundation for sustainable development. The project has shown the power of community-driven action and has proven that even in difficult times, meaningful change is possible when people work together. At LØS, we are proud to be involved.