Celebrating 20 Years of Gaia Education - our brief history

In 1995, a landmark conference was held at Ecovillage Findhorn in Scotland, uniting around 400 individuals and eco-communities from all corners of the globe. This historic event marked the birth of the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN), a movement that would go on to inspire communities and individuals committed to creating a more sustainable, regenerative world.

In those early days, the focus was on connection—sharing experiences, learning from one another, and showcasing the best practices from ecovillages, which were rapidly becoming living laboratories for sustainability. These first meetings helped establish the foundations for a growing global movement aimed at transforming communities, cultures, and economies for a better future.

As the movement grew, it became clear that education was a key tool for spreading the practices and knowledge that were flourishing in ecovillages and other sustainable communities. This realisation sparked the formation of the Global Ecovillage Educators for a Sustainable Earth (GEESE)—a group of pioneering educators, academics, and sustainability experts. Together, they co-created the Ecovillage Design Education (EDE) Curriculum, which was officially launched in 2005. To host this educational initiative, Gaia Education was founded.

Since then, Gaia Education’s programmes have spread across the globe. From ecovillages and universities to urban slums and traditional communities, the EDE curriculum has reached diverse populations. It has been adapted for youth and integrated into schools and universities through Gaia Schools, helping to foster the next generation of sustainability leaders. These educational initiatives have created a ripple effect, with projects co-created in both rural and urban settings, further spreading the seeds of regeneration. Today, our e-learning platform extends this reach even further, making sustainable education accessible to a global audience.

As we look ahead to 2025, we are excited to celebrate two monumental milestones: the 30th anniversary of GEN and the 20th anniversary of Gaia Education. Our main celebration will take place at the European Ecovillage Gathering in Hungary, at Manas Garden, from August 12th to 17th. We invite you to join us for this special occasion! Registration is now open, and we also encourage you to submit your proposals for workshops:

• Register for the European Ecovillage Gathering 2025

• Submit your workshop proposal

As a global provider of holistic education in sustainability, regenerative practices, and community development, Gaia Education is proud to celebrate these milestones and honor the many contributors who have helped shape our journey. Our Community of Practice members have become catalysts for positive cultural change within their communities. They have co-created social enterprises, cooperatives, and community-driven projects, and many have gone on to become trainers and thought leaders in sustainability.

We want to hear from you!

If you've participated in one of our programs or contributed to a project, we would love to know how Gaia Education or the Ecovillage Movement has impacted your life. As we prepare to launch our ‘Voices of Gaia’ campaign on social media, we invite you to share your story—whether through a short video, text, testimonial, or photos. Please send your contributions to taisa.mattos@gaiaeducation.org (or put directly in this drive) sharing ‘How Gaia Education or the Ecovillage Movement has impacted your life’.

EDE organisers, Gaia Schools, GEESE, we’d love to hear from you and to share your inspiring stories worldwide🌎

We are especially interested in your main learnings, insights, and transformative experiences. If you’re interested in organising a hub in your community or region to celebrate Gaia Education and GEN, please let us know.