GENOA (Global Ecovillage Network Oceania/Asia Inc)

GENOA's region includes all of Asia and Oceania, and we also provide services to Hawaii and to South Africa. Asia includes the world's most populated countries - India and China. Asia is undergoing massive changes and experiencing a massive drift of rural people into cities, where they are looking for better employment, health and educational services, and a more promising future for their children. Still, many villages remain, and some organisations report successes with improvements in the villages. Sarvodaya, in Sri Lanka, is an excellent example of one of these village-oriented organisations. Sarvodaya has established a network within Sri Lanka which has made a measurable contribution to the well-being of many villagers. Supported by GENOA Inc, they are now establishing a 'Living and Learning Centre' in the south of Sri Lanka which aims to become a place of learning for students from within and beyond Asia.

As a networking organisation, our main task is the exchange and distribution of information between people. We are doing this via mail, email and web sites. We also publish a regular newsletter (genoa.ecovillage.org/genoceania/newsletter for back issues). We have published a booklet (Ecovillages and Communities in Australia and New Zealand) and produced a video on Crystal Waters ecovillage. We are actively involved in consultancy work and have helped interested groups in many parts of the world (not just the Oceania/Asia region) with site assessment and design in the fields of ecovillages and permaculture. We regularly teach courses in sustainable design and every year we welcome students from a number of universities for credit programmes. To serve the teaching needs better we have built our EcoCentre, where our courses are now conducted. This award winning building features many aspects of environmental design including sensitive choices in the selection of materials, rainwater collection, rammed earth construction, biolytic filter for wastewater treatment, photovoltaic energy and natural cooling - to mention just a few.

Our office is currently located at Crystal Waters Permaculture Village in SE Queensland, Australia. This ecovillage was awarded a UN Habitat Award and is an inspiration to our many visitors. It is an excellent location for us to serve the growing numbers of people interested in ecovillages throughout our region.


GEN Oceania/Asia Inc, 59 Crystal Waters, 65 Kilcoy Lane, Conondale Qld 4552, Australia Tel: +61 7 5494 4741, Fax: +61 7 5494 4578 email: lindegger@crystalwaterscollege.org.au www.crystalwaterscollege.org.au