We know that a strong community project needs to work on its social, cultural, ecological and economical design. But how do we weave all these aspects together flawlessly in a project? This is what we will look at in Whole Systems Design module of the REGEN-Nations programme.
Some principles apply to all Areas of Regeneration, and help bring them together in holistic designs for resilient communities and systems. The integral design approach to design and regeneration is paired with a strong focus on collaboration and participation. This means that the principles of integral design are put into practice in ways that actively include everyone concerned and encourage transparency at every level.
Below are the line-up of wonderful speakers that you will meet in this module
In a session called “Introduction to Transition Town“, we learn about the transition town model and movement which aims to establish an ecologically regenerative and socially just future on the backdrop of the climate crisis and economic challenges through community-led initiatives that find local solutions to global problems. This lesson explores Transition Culture, the challenges that we currently face and explores tools to address the climate, consumption, waste and community emergencies that we face in Asia-Pacific and across the world.
We will meet 3 speakers from the Transition Network:
- • Paul Shelton gives us a backdrop of the Transition Movement – why the movement exists, what it is for and how everyone of us is a part of this.
- • Shunro Yoshida shares the beautiful process of how their community in Japan has been nurturing relationships, changing the narratives of value based on trust with a rather simple method for transactions and resources exchange. Last but not least,
- • Mary Stringer brings us to “hyper-localization” – what we can do within our streets, our neighborhoods – shifting from the problems to imagining solutions.
Next, we’ll explore “Applying Whole Systems Design For Regenerative Communities“
In this lesson, we hear from those who have designed and are living the regenerative life by transforming rural villages, customizing intentional communities, and urban and suburbia living around Asia and Oceania.
Our speakers are:
- • David Holmgren, co-originator of the permaculture concept; recently published RetroSuburbia and Our Street
- • Karen Xintong Wang, Former Director-General of Sunshine Ecovillage (China), Secretary of China Ecovillage Network
- • Verena Maclean, Chair of Narara Ecovillage (Australia); Founder and Director of The Working Journey
Most importantly, this module of the programme will feature Robina McCurdy – the founder of TUI Community (New Zealand) in a live webinar on “Whole Systems Design Tools to Empower your Project“
Robina, a wisdom keeper in the ecovillage movement, shares her experience of how the Whole Systems Design principles have been activated in many community food systems and environmental restoration projects she has been involved with. These inspirational stories will lead us from how these projects came into being and what they do, to who they serve, their main challenges and why they are successful today.
Join us to hear what motivates Robina, as well as her life-work relationship to Whole Systems Design and how to embody these principles in our own project designs.
