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Starting up an association for the local women
We decided to start up an association for the local women, which will manage the social centre of our hamlet. Our focus points are:
- Encouraging women to develop and utilise their creativity and talents.
- Supporting women to market their artisan products locally and legally.
- Sustaining, revaluing and disseminating artisan knowledge.
- Empowering women to constructively participate in thinking about and building the improvement of the social and natural environment.
- Encouraging connections and collaborations among women of all ages.
- Creating opportunities for women of different ages and in different social situations to meet their own income and basic needs.
- Providing emotional support in crisis situations.
- Transcending differences in language, ethnicity, religion, age and other issues that create polarisation.
Such a happy day today. Three women signed the statutes and foundation act. Welcome SOMUNA! 😍💃 #localsupport #socialengagement
- Encouraging women to develop and utilise their creativity and talents.
- Supporting women to market their artisan products locally and legally.
- Sustaining, revaluing and disseminating artisan knowledge.
- Empowering women to constructively participate in thinking about and building the improvement of the social and natural environment.
- Encouraging connections and collaborations among women of all ages.
- Creating opportunities for women of different ages and in different social situations to meet their own income and basic needs.
- Providing emotional support in crisis situations.
- Transcending differences in language, ethnicity, religion, age and other issues that create polarisation.
Such a happy day today. Three women signed the statutes and foundation act. Welcome SOMUNA! 😍💃 #localsupport #socialengagement
Children's book inspired by Natural Farming
We really love working together with Anabel. She got free range for her illustrations for the children’s book. At the moment, her drawings are coming to life!
Video for the local new band members
In the neighboring village it is an honor to play in the local band. From a very young age children exercise really hard until that moment that they are allowed to play in the official band. Last week, the band went up the street and visited each house of the fourteen new young members. There, with their families all dressed up and proud, a picture was taken together with the mayor and the band leader, and they were officially welcomed as band members. In the end, they made a picture of the whole group.
We passed by without even knowing what was going on. Until someone told us about this beautiful tradition. “Grab your camera, ” I said to Matthias. “This is such a precious moment for them and amazing if you can make a small reminder.” So he did. He created this short spontaneous video. We were only able to catch a few moments, as it was completely unprepared, but so in line with our vision to support young people’s gifts and talents.
With tears in my eyes I witnessed this precious moment; being welcomed in the world of adulthood. Belonging. It reminded me a bit of the ancient tribes, where rituals were common to celebrate the transition from childhood into adulthood. So glad we captured this moment and our village keeps this celebration alive.
We passed by without even knowing what was going on. Until someone told us about this beautiful tradition. “Grab your camera, ” I said to Matthias. “This is such a precious moment for them and amazing if you can make a small reminder.” So he did. He created this short spontaneous video. We were only able to catch a few moments, as it was completely unprepared, but so in line with our vision to support young people’s gifts and talents.
With tears in my eyes I witnessed this precious moment; being welcomed in the world of adulthood. Belonging. It reminded me a bit of the ancient tribes, where rituals were common to celebrate the transition from childhood into adulthood. So glad we captured this moment and our village keeps this celebration alive.
Support for the local walnut association.
Where we live, walnuts are an important income for a lot of families. These specific walnuts are very high in antioxidants, because they grow in such an undisturbed environment and high altitude. Many trees are centennials. The walnuts are grown naturally, harvested by hand and dried in the air.
A few people with a big heart for the local economy combined their forces and established the Association of walnuts to provide a selling platform for the locals.
This year the harvest has been very negatively influenced by the drought.
Many trees have so little produce, harvesting them is just not worth the costs, time and labor.
This is a disaster for people.
We are thinking creatively with them to find other ways. We made a video for them on appreciation base, we made beautiful pictures, we updated the website and made a donation system. People are now able to give a donation, to adopt a centennial tree so it stays alive and to secure the future generations.
A few people with a big heart for the local economy combined their forces and established the Association of walnuts to provide a selling platform for the locals.
This year the harvest has been very negatively influenced by the drought.
Many trees have so little produce, harvesting them is just not worth the costs, time and labor.
This is a disaster for people.
We are thinking creatively with them to find other ways. We made a video for them on appreciation base, we made beautiful pictures, we updated the website and made a donation system. People are now able to give a donation, to adopt a centennial tree so it stays alive and to secure the future generations.
Transforming abandoned vegetable gardens
We are restoring the abandoned vegetable gardens to produce healthy food for the local community.
English classes
We have been asked to teach English to the young people and children in the neighboring village. What a privilege to build a bond with these young people and help them relax with a new language. We mainly focus on motivating their talents, stimulating their creativity, introducing them to hopeful projects and learning to express themselves. And all that... in English!
Repairing the old communal hamlet oven
This oven has been used as a place for togetherness for many years. Women from the little hub came here to bake their bread. With the donations we received, we decided to transform this abandoned place into a reviving meeting place once again. We repainted it, restored the inside of the oven and the door, we made a new table and a sitting bench, and gave it a new look and feel. Ready to be used again!
Illustrations for Food Wallet
We have been co-creating together with Jana. She is a very talented artist offers Eco-Design and Art in different forms.
Such a wonderful exchange on appreciation base. Jana designed illustrations for Food Wallet and we helped her with the development of her business.
Such a wonderful exchange on appreciation base. Jana designed illustrations for Food Wallet and we helped her with the development of her business.
Repairing the upper spring
There is a spring further on the mountain which provided drinking and irrigation water for many years for our little hub. As no one cleaned it, it had been abandoned and covered with a thick layer of earth and plants.
We love to repair broken systems, which provide basic needs for the people around us, and water is definitely one of them. We can’t use this water for irrigation ourselves, but for sure it will benefit others.
We love to repair broken systems, which provide basic needs for the people around us, and water is definitely one of them. We can’t use this water for irrigation ourselves, but for sure it will benefit others.
Visit from Norway
Maria from Norway stayed with us for two weeks. This young lady with a beautiful voice (check her out on BandCamp) has been helping us and our community while she had the opportunity to find out more about her next steps in life and in her project.
A crowdfunding to protect our valley
When we heard this beautiful piece of land in the valley, five minutes from our own house would be sold to hunters and used for commercial agriculture, we felt a deep NO.
We helped the neighbors set up their association and made the video for a crowdfunding, in the hope to do a counter offer on the land.
We would love to thank everyone who donated for and supported this project. Unfortunately we were not able to do a counter offer and the owners agreed to sell the land to the other party. Our neighbors decided to refund all donations. We recently heard the final signature is not being placed, because of legal aspects, so for now, nothing is happening with the land. We will see what the future brings, and we don't hesitate to act when necessary to protect this amazing spot in the mountains.
We helped the neighbors set up their association and made the video for a crowdfunding, in the hope to do a counter offer on the land.
We would love to thank everyone who donated for and supported this project. Unfortunately we were not able to do a counter offer and the owners agreed to sell the land to the other party. Our neighbors decided to refund all donations. We recently heard the final signature is not being placed, because of legal aspects, so for now, nothing is happening with the land. We will see what the future brings, and we don't hesitate to act when necessary to protect this amazing spot in the mountains.
Help for the local community house.
El Regresso is the local community house, just five minutes from our mountain in the valley, where a lot of people stayed. The doors were always open on donation base, so everyone has been welcome. Up until now the owner was able to pay all taxes from the donations, but due to leaks in the roof and the terrace there are severe damages in the house. The solar panel system needs replacement too. We stayed in this house for 6 months, during the reformations of our own house, building a relationship with the owner and coordinator. When we left, from the donations we received, we bought new furniture, beds and mattresses to support them.
We also wanted to support them with the reformations, so we set up a crowdfunding and spread the word in our local network.
We also wanted to support them with the reformations, so we set up a crowdfunding and spread the word in our local network.
Contributing to a new economy through very practical action
How we support locally
Community is more important than ever. Making sure people around us have their basic needs covered. With so many things happening in society we have to take action ourselves, work together, and contribute in the way we can.
Supporting young people is one of our key focus points.
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