Hidden Architectures

How Something Worthless Reigns the World

Currencies constitute a means of exchange. When we think of a currency today we usually think of money. However, anything that is used for exchange could be a currency. Just think of the war time in Europe, when cigarettes or coffee were used. Currencies serve as symbols. They symbolize value. Today there is a trend […]

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Invisible Architectures

How Architecture Influences Group Dynamics

Recently I have been thinking a lot about what shapes our view of the world without us really noticing it. I like to call these phenomena “invisible architectures”, referring to Jean-Francois Noubel, a researcher on the field. Here I focus on the invisible architectures that are relevant to (almost) everybody in a given society. I […]

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A Tour of Frankfurt Bookfair

Mega Event of International Publishing Industry

The Frankfurt Book Fair is THE global gathering place for the international publishing scene. By default it is a B2B fair. But even if you are an author, translator, self-publisher, a creative mind or a simply a reader: you will find something interesting here. As an accredited blogger I had the opportunity to join the […]

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Menstrual Education by Eco Femme

Hybrid Business Model: How to Finance Your Own Non-Profit Work

Eco Femme is a social enterprise for female hygiene products. The hybrid business model combines both for-profit interests and non-profit social work: With the commercial gains from selling re-usable cloth pads the all-female team based in the intentional township of Auroville, South-India, finances their non-profit activities in education and research. When I met Jessamijn Miedema , […]

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The all-female change-maker team of Eco Femme produces re-usable female hygiene products in Auroville, India.

Interview with Change-Maker Jessamijn Miedema, Co-Founder of Eco Femme

  Even though they concern half of the world’s population, menstruation topics are a taboo around the globe. We don’t often talk about female hygiene products. However, disposable sanitary napkins and tampons come with tremendous costs for both the female body and the ecosystem. In recent years, re-usable female hygiene products have gained popularity. Jessamijn Miedema co-founded […]

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36 Change-Makers, 5 Weeks, 1 Utopian Township Concentrated into a 20-minutes Video

Ecovillage Design Education Video: 5 Weeks in 20 Minutes

36 participants from across the globe – 5 intensive weeks – 1 intentional township striving for human unity. Serena Aurora managed to fit this wealth of information and emotion into a 20 minutes video. Enjoy watching.     The Ecovillage Design Education course is recognized by the UNESCO and provides students of all ages with knowledge and practical […]

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Volunteering in Sadhana Forest Kenya

Sadhana Forest Kenya, Volunteering Experience

I volunteered for two weeks in the reforestation project Sadhana Forest in Kenya in November 2016. The organization originated in Auroville, India about 15 years ago. It later spread to Haiti and Kenya. During my Ecovillage Design Education Course in Auroville I had the chance to talk to the founder and visit the Indian campus. […]

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Opening Ceremony

Social Dimensions of Tomorrow’s World

I am in Auroville, an international city that runs experiments on many levels with the aim of unifying humanity as a whole.  I just completed a five week long Ecovillage Design Education Course (EDE) designed by the Gaia trust.  This program provides students of all ages with knowledge and practical skills on how to evolve towards […]

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Otepic kids singnig

Kenyan Kids Sing Anthem of South Africa

Have you ever listened to the National Anthem of South Africa? It is a very beautiful song. The kids in the Otepic orphanage sing it just for joy. They don’t understand the language, which is very different from their native tongue. In fact, they were taught that song by a German volunteer. Isn’t that truly international? Here […]

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One Day in the Nieklitz Summer Camp

One Day in the Nieklitz Summer Camp

In August, the project “Wir bauen Zukunft” in Northern German Nieklitz invited for a summer work camp. For two weeks, volunteers helped in the 10 hectares biotope, planting, tidying, constructing, repairing… The camp was organized in an open space format. In the morning, after a hearty breakfast in the outdoor kitchen and dining area, the […]

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Path in Nieklitz

Video interview with Ceylan, co-founder of “Wir bauen Zukunft” in Nieklitz

Ceylan Rohrbeck, co-founder of “Wir bauen Zukunft” (we build future) gives insights into this new project in Northern-Germany. The group will not only construct sustainable buildings but use the former biotope as a place for co-working, co-living and as an educational center. In German. (English subtitle will follow)

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