Open Questions, New Perspectives
Open Questions, New Perspectives
Why Join the Online EDE 2026
Why Join the Online EDE 2026
Q&A Session with Taisa & Macaco
Curious about the Online Ecovillage Design Education (EDE) 2026 programme but still have questions?
Join us for an open, interactive Q&A session where you can explore whether this learning journey is the right fit for you.
This live session is a space to ask, listen, reflect, and gain clarity — directly with members of the EDE facilitation team.
Format: Interactive Q&A session
Date: February 21st, at 14:00 UTC
Duration: 1 hour
Format:
Interactive Q&A Live Session
When:
February 21st, at 14:00 UTC
(Convert to your timezone)
Duration: 1 hour
Why join this Q&A session?
This session is for you if you:
Are curious about the Online EDE 2026 but want more clarity
Want to understand the format, content, and learning experience
Have questions about time commitment, facilitation, or outcomes
Are exploring your next steps in sustainability, regeneration, or community work
Come as you are — no prior knowledge required!
What is an EDE (Ecovillage Design Education programme)?
Ecovillage Design Education (EDE), is an internationally recognised learning framework that equips people with the knowledge, tools, and perspectives needed to design more regenerative ways of living.
EDEs explore how we can:
Use energy and resources more efficiently
Build resilient, caring communities
Create fairer economic systems
Reduce waste and regenerate ecosystems
Design social systems that support wellbeing and meaning
For over 30 years, Gaia Education’s face-to-face EDEs have been life-changing experiences. Alumni have gone on to:
Initiate community and bioregional projects
Co-create social enterprises and cooperatives
Influence education, organisations, and institutions
Become trainers and facilitators themselves
The EDE doesn’t prepare you for just one path, it gives you design literacy you can apply in any field, sector, or place you call home.
The Online EDE: the same depth, more accessibility
On the Online EDE journey, Gaia Education brings the full depth and curriculum of an immersive EDE into a live online format, making this transformative learning experience accessible to people who cannot commit to a long in-person immersion.
The Online EDE maintains:
Live sessions with experienced facilitators
Global perspectives and peer learning
Practical tools you can apply immediately
A supportive, international learning community
Live Classes
There will be a total of 4 interactive sessions, 2,5 hours long each (sessions will be recorded in case you miss them):
Feb 26th, Mar 5th, 19th and 26th at 6 PM GMT / 10 AM PST
We look forward to meeting you, answering your questions, and exploring together whether the Online EDE 2026 is part of your next chapter.
Meet Taisa and Macaco
The Online EDE Course is guided by dedicated professionals with real-world experience across all dimensions of sustainability.
Taisa Mattos
Gaia Schools Coordinator, is an experienced Gaia Education certified trainer. She has coordinated and taught Ecovillage Design Education Programmes since 2009, having contributed to over 30 programmes so far, all over Brazil, also in Portugal, Argentina, Mexico, Mozambique and online. Taisa works as an international trainer and consultant in the fields of sustainability, regenerative education and community life.
Taisa has served as the Global Ecovillage Network - GEN Education and Research Coordinator from 2019 to 2024. Lead author of the GEN Regenerative Urban Communities Manual.
Ecovillage researcher and Board member of the International Communal Studies Association (ICSA), Taisa is the author of the book Ecovillages: building a regenerative culture. She holds a masters degree in Communities and Social Ecology.
Taisa has contributed to transition initiatives both in urban and rural areas, being the co-founder of Terra Una Ecovillage (Brazil) and other small urban communities in Rio. She has been actively engaged with the Ecovillage Movement since 2004.
Macaco Tamerice
Macaco Tamerice is a sociologist, a life coach for meaningful relationships specialized in trauma work, inner transformation, community-building, leadership, and conflict resolution.
She has been living at Damanhur, Federation of Communities, since 1993, where she has held many roles of social and artistic responsibility, including serving as a Guide of the Federation.
In 2008, she became Vice President and later President of the Global Ecovillage Network-Europe (GEN Europe) until 2015. She now serves on GEN’s Network Steward Circle, as one of GEN’s UN representatives, and as President of the NGO Damanhur Education.
In recent years, she has deepened her expertise in trauma work, studying extensively and earning certifications from renowned experts such as Gabor Maté, Richard Schwartz, Thomas Hübl, Bessel van der Kolk, Stephen Porges, Peter Levine, and others.
Macaco is an international speaker, facilitator, Gaia Education’s face-to-face programmes consultant and certification manager, and a certified GEESE Educator (Global Ecovillage Educators for a Sustainable Earth). She has taught over 20 EDEs and several ToTs in various countries.
Trained in music and voice, she toured as a professional jazz singer in Europe, Canada, and Japan for over twenty years and has taught voice and led classes and seminars since 1984.
Gaia’s 4D Framework: Unique and impactful approach to Sustainability & Regeneration.
Social, Ecological, Economic, and Worldview dimensions combine to offer a holistic approach to sustainability. Gaia’s 4D Framework connects people, nature, local economies, and personal growth to create balanced and resilient comunities and projects.
The programme is divided into four interconnected dimensions: Social, Ecological, Economic, and Worldview.
Each dimension spans eight weeks and can be taken individually as Focus Course or as part of the full course.
Social
Enhance your leadership and collaboration skills with practical tools to empower communities, advance social justice, create inclusive solutions, and implement effective governance strategies.
Starts: 6 October 2025
Ecological
Master regenerative design and ecological practices to restore nature, applying principles of permaculture, ecosystem resilience, and innovative environmental solutions.
Starts: 12 January 2026
Economic
Develop regenerative economic models by integrating local economies, ethical finance, conscious consumption, and systems that foster prosperity without depleting natural resources.
Starts: 25 May 2026
Worldview
Expand your perspective by embracing holistic values, ecological ethics, and transformative spirituality while balancing innovation with ancestral wisdom.
Starts: 23 March 2026
Energy Systems Course Format and Details
Course format:
Online, flexible modules
Price:
200 GBP
Limited number of partial scholarship available, apply here by 15 Feb 2026
Duration:
5 weeks
Workload:
Approximately 5 hours per week
Structure:
Live sessions, Forums and complimentary material
Live Sessions
Four interactive sessions with Curtis Ogden
Thursdays from 6 to 8:30 PM GMT
Is the Energy Systems Course for You?
People working in sustainable community development
Social innovators, activists, and changemakers
NGO, government, or mission-driven organization leaders
Entrepreneurs and community organisers
Facilitators, coaches, and consultants
Anyone interested in applying systems thinking to real-world sustainability challenges
No prior technical background is required. Just curiosity and a passion for making positive change.
Course Creator
The GEDS Full Course is guided by dedicated professionals with real-world experience across all dimensions of sustainability.
Meet some of our facilitators:
Curtis Ogden
Network weaver-facilitator-trainer, leadership coach, organizational development and systems change consultant, and co-creator of the field of “energy systems science and practice” in support of resilient and regenerative communities.
For the past 20 years, he was been a Senior Associate with the Interaction Institute for Social Change, through which he provides collaborative network building support to initiatives focused on socio-economic equity and sustainability in food systems, public health, education and economic vitality. He also offers capacity building services focused on leadership and organizational development, multi-interestholder and public engagement; network building; process design and complex facilitation.
Join the Q&A to find out more about the format, guest presenters and what you can expect!
Grow your understanding of energy flows and systems design. Be part of building a more just, regenerative, and sustainable future.
Secure your place today and start your transformative journey!
Speak with us on WhatsApp!