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SEA

We are told that the current system is the only game in town
"There Is No Alternative to Never-Ending Economic Growth".

 

​But what if there is another story? 

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Social Entrepreneurship Association

One that acknowledges that we are in a serious emergency AND we have a chance to do something about it?

At the Social Entrepreneurship Association (SEA), we host a hub of initiatives and explorations that aim to respond honestly
to the state of the world.

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  • What is the maximum number of participants and what happens if there are too many applicants?
    There will be 20 participants maximum. If there are too many applicants, the first ones who will have confirmed their participation will be able to attend the program.
  • What are the qualifications and experience of the facilitators leading the program?
    Our facilitators come from different backgrounds: Dr Omid Hashemi is an Iranian scholar and practitioner in the theatre and performing arts, teaching at the University VIII in Paris with 20 years experience. Gijs Spoor is a Dutch social entrepreneur and system change facilitator, working with activist movements in India since 2003. Alex Jensen has been coordinating the Local Futures work related to development alternatives in Ladakh, and associate of the Sambhaavnaa Institute of Public Policy and Politics in Himachal Pradesh, India. He represents Local Futures in the Vikalp Sangam/Confluence of Alternatives India process. He worked with cultural affirmation and agro-biodiversity projects in campesino communities in a number of countries, and is active in the degrowth movement. Robyn Bors (co-host at the farm) offers introduction to Nonviolent Communication (NVC) (https://www.cnvc.org/ ), and weaves in Constellation facilitation to the embodied aspects of the curriculum. She guides yoga/meditation practice, and creates spaces where music may enter. Robyn will serve the project both as Provision space holder - bringing awakened understanding to all tasks related to gardening, cooking, cleaning and holding the group space clear, including speaking to meta process dynamics emerging within the group. Lars Veraart (co-host at the farm) is a veterinary doctor by profession, who moved into small-scale regenerative farming and facilitates hands-on immersion in peasant agriculture. Lars will serve the project as Provision Grounds holder. He also guides exploration of the bioregion, including bird and other species identification, and coordinates the exchange visits to regional sites. Dr Ana Margarida Esteves is a Research Fellow at the Center for International Studies of the ISCTE - University Institute of Lisbon, and Guest Assistant Professor of the Department of Political Economy. She facilitates the academic sessions, in particular those on facing the polycrisis, decolonisation, radical ecological democracy and the re-emergence of commons. She brings an inspiring possibility orientation as a member of SEADS (Space Ecologies Art and Design), a transdisciplinary and cross-cultural collective of artists, scientists, engineers, and activists that is actively engaged in deconstructing dominant paradigms about the future and develops alternative models through a combination of critical inquiry and hands-on experimentation. Members of our scientific committee have been guiding curriculum development. These include Dr Begum Ozkaynak - Department of Economics Boğaziçi University, Istanbul Dr Suryamayi Clarence-Smith - lecturer American University of Paris, Auroville Cansu Gurkaya - PhD student, École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, Paris Emilia Lewartowska - PhD student, International Development Research Group and Social Dynamics and Change Roskilde University Denmark.
  • What types of activities and experiences can participants expect during the journey?
    Practical workshops/skill sharing Intellectual inquiry, including academic literature and discourse Art/craft sessions, storytelling Collective creativity, futurism/foresight, imagination Community living and physical labour Guest speakers and local exposure visits
  • What are the key learning objectives for each location?
    The learning starts when you leave your house. The GSR team can provide you with; Materials to study on the way (like podcast recordings that go well with long bus rides) Suggestions for inspiring projects and organisations to meet (based on our extended networks and allies such as Global Ecovillage Network, Auroville, Ashoka fellowship, Catalyst 2030) Templates for meaningful interactions with organisations/ initiatives along the way (can be tweaked based on your personal preference and interest, but in general this includes workshops/skill sharing, art/craft sessions, storytelling) The overall learning objectives of the Prefiguring Alternative Futures Summer School are: Understanding our collective predicament, often referred to as the Polycrisis or Metacrisis Increasing confidence in local, people based responses to this global crisis Understanding holistic frameworks to assess and evaluate systemic alternatives to the destructive systems of imperialism, capitalist extractivism and consumerism Integrating various faculties, including intellect, creativity, imagination, care and physical labour Experiencing shared inquiry and response making We don’t have specific objectives for places to be visited along the way, as this depends on agreements and interest of both hosts and travellers. Our intention is to make the experience as relevant as possible for as many people as possible, realising that we can not make everyone happy all the time.
  • What is the cost of the program, and what does it include (e.g., accommodations, meals, activities, transportation)?
    Depending on where you travel from, the costs of transport will vary. From the UK to Romania may cost Eu 200, from India it will cost around Eu 550 - (one way, excluding return). For accommodation and food along the way expect to budget Eu 150 from the West and Eu 250 from India. The summer school itself costs Eu 300 per person. So in total budget Eu 650 when coming from the West or Eu 1100 when coming from India. + add onward / return journey as per your wish.
  • Can children attend the program?
    The program is designed for adults. Children participation will have to be considered on an individual case basis with the validation of the hosts in Provision. In any case, children will be under the full responsibility of their parents.
  • What opportunities are there for cultural immersion, community engagement, and meaningful interaction with local communities?
    Exchange with place based initiative is key to the GSR design and relationships with these communities are one of the most important values of the Silk Road we wish to help manifest. So we expect you to act as ambassador of this future inter-cultural network. Every cohort of travellers builds on the achievements and reputation of its predecessor. We don’t yet have detailed processes for this, but intend to facilitate long-term accumulation and integration of subsequent inquiries and collaborations. See more in this draft manual GSR Playbook .
  • How are meals and dietary restrictions accommodated during the journey?
    We decide on this together within the group that is eating. In most cases we cook for ourselves so it’s up to us.
  • What is the group size, and what are the demographics of participants typically like?
    As of May 5, 2024 we have the following information: Travelling from India: 10, of which 5 participating in the Summer School Travelling from Western Europe: 7, all participating in the Summer School
  • What destinations will the program visit?
    That depends on where you start from. The GSR team of volunteer coordinators has prepared some elements of the journey, but most is left to you, the traveller. If you are joining from India, you benefit because this is the home base of most of the GSR team and they will travel along the same route. So there is a certain degree of “tagging along” possible. If you join from the West (like NL/FR/DE) we have less experience and less established contacts, but can still support you by sharing contacts and making introductions. For the proposed itinerary from India (dated May 2, 2024), click here For the proposed itinerary from Western Europe (dated May 2, 2024), click here
  • Are there any scholarships, discounts, or financial assistance options available?
    We have applied for funding from the European Union (Erasmus), which implies a number of limitations: it is only applicable for residents of NL, FR, GE, DE, PT, TK, BG and RO we will hear by end of May whether or not we get this money. We also applied for other funding, but will only hear after the program has started whether or not we get this money, so for all practical purposes this is not helpful in deciding whether to join or not.
  • What are the accommodations like during the program, and are there options for different budget preferences?
    The accommodation at Provision in Alunisu offers various options, including three community houses and land traditionally used for hosting volunteers and projects; The Blue House, a classic peasant house with cob walls and blue lime finishing, accommodates four people with a compost toilet and wood-fired shower. The Tiny House, also housing four people. The School House can accommodate eight individuals and is connected to the Blue House with a water stream. Both houses have a large orchard at the back. Additionally, there are ample spaces for tents and hammocks, previously utilised for various projects. An old traditional Hay Barn is also available for use. Places to sleep will be allocated based on physical ability needs and requirements participants will share with us. In terms of budget: if you bring a tent you will always be more independent and we can discuss reduced pay for tents compared to housing.
  • Are there any prerequisites or specific skills required to participate in the program?
    Most important is an attitude of co-creation, taking initiative and responsibility to increase the relevance and appropriateness of our program. Whatever skills you have can find their place in the extended community of the Green Silk Road, but it requires effort and participation.
  • What safety measures are in place, and what support is provided in case of emergencies?
    We recommend everyone to take out health/travel insurance. For medical support: we will provide detailed information about available doctor in the village before reaching. If the first aid kit is not enough support, there is always a car available that can take individuals to the closest hospital. Regarding mental health: there is a trained psychologist on the spot that is available for 1-1 conversations, and also hold sessions about non-violent communication, guiding reflection groups, and to have safe feedback sessions. She is also there to support the team with any conflict.
  • What kind of support is provided before, during, and after the program to help participants prepare and integrate their experiences?
    Before the program, the GSR volunteers support by keeping in touch with travellers for any raised concern and sharing contacts from place-based initiatives for the travellers’ itinerary. The program itself follows a holistic approach which should enable the participant's ownership of the project and make it meaningful. After the program, several ways of building on the experience will be suggested. The Green Silk Road covers many life aspects, therefore there will always be a way to integrate the experience to it. The year 2025 will be even more ambitious in terms of travel and education.
  • How long is the program, and what is the overall itinerary and schedule?
    The rough flow of the 10 days is as follows; Day 1 Arrival Day: getting to know the place and each other Day 2 Market Day: The participants bring their shareables to the local market and we collectively purchase all items needed for the following week Day 3 DeGrowth Day: understanding the Polycrisis and Civilisation collapse, as well as holistic Alternatives through the lens of the Flower of Transformation Day 4 Romania Day: contextualising the summer school in Romanian current affairs and civil society trends Day 5 Specialisation Day: Participants form groups to go deeper into sector-specific challenges and questions. eg: food systems, democracy, economy, art & culture ,etc Day 6 Story Day: Human library as a method of learning about each other's stories in depth. Also visiting local practitioners, and trekking to the Apuseni mountains to learn the stories of the land Day 7 Provision Day: helping out at the farm with practical projects such as hay making or building repairs Day 8 Art Day: at the system change studio participants are guided through collective creative expression and preparing for the presentation tomorrow Day 9 Market Presentation Day: Everyone to present the collective inquiry and story of the week at the farmers market in the form of an art installation and/or skit & song Day 10 Closing Day: cleaning up and saying goodbyes

If you’re in a rush or already know where you want to go,
tap on the links below

BUT

 

If you want to explore the world through our lens, scroll on…

Pursuits

Pursuits

We think of ourselves as a young forest.

We trust that life can blossom from a seed of an idea, and the seed that brings our forest alive is our belief that something in the world is not right.

 

That humankind can be… kinder.

 

To the world and to itself.

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Our journey began with that single seed germinating into our pioneer species, offering a canopy for the growth of new ideas, new developments, and new explorations.

We are fragile, susceptible to the changes around us, and are deeply affected by the system entrenched in the world.

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But we're also persistent, and determined. ​

We know that we have the potential to improve the world around us, collaborate with and learn from other "forests", and we're resilient in our conviction that finding a balance between economic growth and

sustainability, and between globalisation and communitarianism can no longer be just a vision. It's the only way for our civilisation and planet to prosper holistically. 

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There are hurdles, of course.

 

But the only way we know to cross them is by acknowledging that we don’t have all the answers. 

A forest is never a monoculture. 

 

Everyone plays a role in keeping the ecosystem not just afloat, but thriving. 

Similarly, we believe that we can’t create a New Story in isolation.

The New Story isn’t the story of SEA. It’s the story of the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible, of which SEA isn’t a mere observer. 

Like a forest, we can’t function as a silo.

Our relationship with the world is symbiotic. While we’re deeply connected to the world within us, we affect and are affected by the larger ecosystem outside of us that encompasses every living being.

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Thus, cross-pollination is integral to the change we hope to help catalyze in the world.

We deeply believe in exploring diverse perspectives that offer a glimpse into a part of the puzzle that we may not yet have discovered, but what may help create the New Story of our world.

You are now (hopefully) better equipped to understand why we do what we do.

 

Help our forest grow!

Because one of the many perspectives that could shine a light
on a critical piece of the puzzle could be yours.

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