Living and Learning in Africa

EcoYoff, Senegal
ECOYOFF is an urban community development programmesme oriented towards aiding people to protect their natural resources and village wisdoms, ensure their long term survival, and alleviate poverty. It is the headquarters of the Senegal ecovillage network which in turn has on-site demonstration projects throughout Senegal. These include training in preserving mangrove ecosystems, village social action, green technology, and waste water recycling stations. Ecoyoff provides courses on food security, solar cooking, water conservation, conflict resolution, micro-enterprise, employment, and eco-tourism. Programmes also exist in integrated health, nutrition, and early child development. Through participating Colufifa village co-operatives and the SOS Environment NGO, farmers are trained in food security, eco-philosophy, permaculture, community resource management and organic farming. Participants–mostly women--are able to receive organic certifications. The network has been endorsed by the Senegal Ministry of the Environment and the UNESCO Chair of the Environment at the University of Dakar.
Ivory Park Ecocity, Midrand, South Africa
Ivory Park is a demonstration project located on the edge of a new and very poor township in Midrand near Johannesburg. It fuses African indigenous technologies with western technology. Models include ecologically-friendly homes, a zero energy community centre built by local women, solar energy, water conservation and harvesting, and medicinal herbs. The project promotes jobs in paper-making and traditional crafts, and encourages the use of smokeless stoves and solar cookers. Ecocity teams are developing eco-tourism, youth and women’s empowerment, and environmental activities. Projects also include sanitation, product recycling, food security, finance and eco-banking, eco-construction, eco-businesses, and co-operatives. Non-polluting transport, eco-urban planning, pollution, waste, and natural resource management are also areas of concern. Ivory Park is a courageous experiment in sustainability and poverty eradication for people living and working in cities and who need ecologically-friendly community models.
Tlholego, South Africa
Thlolego is a small rural-based living and learning community that offers certification courses in permaculture, sustainable building technology, and ecovillage design incorporating local African traditions. In order to respond to the growing challenge of prosperity and poverty living side by side, programmes are being developed to train trainers in science, solar technology, biology, sanitation, herbals, ecology and household food security.

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