What should we bring to the European Ecovillage Gathering 2026?
In just a week, we will travel to GEN Gathering 2026 in Germany.
Before every gathering, I find myself asking the same question:
What are we bringing with us?
Not in terms of presentations or reports.
But who are we today within the European ecovillage movement?
Are we an interesting Ukrainian phenomenon? A community surviving through war? Another grant recipient? Or are we becoming a strategic partner capable of contributing something unique to the entire network?
This was exactly the question we discussed during our coordination call on Friday while preparing for the gathering.
For many years, we talked about European integrationâhow Ukrainian communities could join international networks, build partnerships, and receive support.
Today, that framework feels too narrow.
Despite all the internal challenges we continue to face, we are no longer standing at the doorstep. We have already become part of a shared Europeanâand increasingly globalâecosystem.
Over the past two years, GEN Ukraine has joined initiatives such as Horizon Europe, Ma Earth, CISU, GEN Netherlands, Artizen, Web3 Institute, Octant, Localism Fund, and Grassroots Economics.
We have also developed our own fundraising infrastructure and supported dozens of regenerative initiatives across our network.
This is no longer about securing another grant or attending another international event.
It is about co-creating solutions.
Europe does not simply need more Ukrainian ecovillages.
Like Ukraine, it needs partners who can help address real challenges: regenerating degraded landscapes, climate adaptation, bioregional governance, digital monitoring of natural capital, innovative climate finance, and meaningful community engagement.
These are exactly the areas where GEN Ukraine has been building practical experience.
We are testing digital ecosystem monitoring, experimenting with ReFi and environmental impact tokenization, organizing regenerative community projects, and connecting local communities with international research and funding programs.
In many ways, we are already helping build new European value chains.
Donor â International Fund â GEN Europe â GEN Ukraine â Local Ecovillage â Regenerative Action â Digital Monitoring â Climate Finance
Or:
University â Horizon Europe â Researchers â Ukrainian Ecovillages â Field Data â New Methodologies â European Policies
To me, this is what modern partnership looks like.
Not one side constantly helping the other.
But every partner taking responsibility for part of the shared work.
That is why I find myself speaking less about Ukraine integrating into GEN Europe and more about sharing competencies.
I see the future of GEN Europe as a network of complementary expertise, where every national network contributes its strongest capabilities.
Ukraine can become one of the networkâs centers of expertise in regenerative land restoration during crisis, digital natural capital monitoring, ReFi, climate finance, and resilient community development.
Perhaps the key question is no longer:
âHow can Ukraine integrate into GEN Europe?â
But rather:
âWhat unique role can GEN Ukraine play for the entire European network?â
I believe that is the question worth bringing with us to Germany this year.