About the EDE | Dutch EDE

The Dutch EDE vision

In this EDE we try to create a close interaction between teachers and students and between students themselves. Participants with expertise in specific fields are invited to share their knowledge with the whole group. Hands-on activities will also be facilitated by course participants. We as teachers will often participate in group – and other processes, partly as supervisors/counsellors, but also co-discovering the actual teachings and the learning process as result of the current (socio-cultural) situation.

Authenticity is achieved by using real situations within learning environments. The exercises will draw on real situations from participants’ and facilitators’ lives, so that the learning will be both an understanding of theory and abstract concepts and – often more important – a deepening experience of the applied concepts in concrete socio-cultural situations. The several levels of learning environment are

your individual inner universe with your personal imprints from your past life, your world-views, your stories, feelings, possibilities of thoughts,
the participants as a group with its inter-individual dynamics like shared cultural backgrounds as well as inter-cultural dynamics; personal reactions on one another; co-creations like mutual support and potential shared ideas as well as conflicts and misunderstandings;
and the different ecovillages and excursions, with all its existing and tangible examples.

The Dutch EDE team

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Landgoed Algoed

More info….

Landgoed Algoed

EDE course fees

We are updating our website. The 2021 fees will be published over here shortly.

Special accommodation

We are updating our website. The 2021 accommodation fees will be published over here shortly.

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For whom?

Students with an interest in sustainable design
Teachers who want to educate on sustainability
People who are interested in developing sustainable group projects
Residents or builders of sustainable communities and eco villages
Urban and rural activists, organizers and designers
Urban planners and municipalities who want to bring about a positive change for their citizens
University faculties that want to offer their students a holistic approach
Professionals in architecture, engineering and construction
Local businesses and multinational companies interested in social, sustainable and ethical issues

Components

The program consists of several fun components:

The theory is explained on the basis of the twenty themes that are illustrated in the sustainability mandala, with the help of exercises and examples. The theory is linked to the experiences gained during the exercises and the knowledge, skills and personal experiences of the participants.

The EDE uses many different methods to learn. The theory is also applied in practice. From the beginning, the group forms a community in which tasks are divided among the participants. In addition, we almost daily work together with the community practicing our practical skills, such as working with clay, gardening in the permaculture garden, making art and making designs.

The training is given at various locations. Excursions in the area are also part of the curriculum. The following locations are included:

Living Village Festival
Bioenergiepark Saerbeck

Design groups are created that work together on an assignment. The assignment is based on real problems and on the targets that the participants bring in themselves. At the end, the participants present the results.

At the beginning of the EDE training you get the opportunity to formulate the goals you want to work on during the course. During the EDE training we will concentrate on different ways to work on our own goals. We work with peer-to-peer groups, where you can reflect on your own processes in pairs. We also work with ‘home’ groups (CLANS), which reflect on group processes, the content of the EDE, personal goals and feedback.

Every day we pay attention to relaxation through meditation, mindfulness and visualization.

Learning outcomes

Social Design

In the Social section participants learn:

to develop a common vision for a collective project, including and transcending individual perspectives;
to make decisions that everyone can accept and support;
to improve their communication skills and communicate in a more compassionate way;
to deal with conflict and diversity as an invitation to growth.

Ecological Design

In Ecological section participants explore:

Whole Systems Approach to Ecological Design;
Benefits of Bioregionalism;
Key principles in the application of Appropriate Technologies for clean energy, living water, green buildings and healthy soils.
‘hands on’ play with earth materials and mini eco-kits to purify waters, tours of local gardens and eco-buildings, calculating carbon footprints and opportunities for artistic expression.

Economic Design

In Economic section participants explore:

The dominant pattern and possible leverage points for change within today’s globalised economy;
Ways to bring economic life into alignment with ecological values;
Right livelihood & social enterprise;
How money works; community banks and local currencies;
Relevant legal and financial issues for Ecovillage projects.

Worldview

In the Worldview section participants learn:

to recognise and communicate sustainability to diverse worldviews;
to create a deep connection with Nature through personal experience;
to develop a regular spiritual practice that facilitates the ability to balance inner and outer work;
to design ceremonies for the most significant moments in their projects;
to apply transition principles and ingredients in their project.

The Dutch EDE vision

The Dutch EDE team

IT

E-Learning

Education

Landgoed Algoed

Landgoed Algoed

EDE course fees

Special accommodation

For whom?

Components

Learning outcomes

Social Design

Ecological Design

Economic Design

Worldview

We are updating our website. The new 2021 program will be published here shortly.