The Global Ecovillage Network has introduced a redesigned ecovillage.org, bringing communities, people, organisations, learning resources and opportunities together in a much more connected platform.
For people interested in ecovillages, regenerative living, intentional communities and volunteering, the change is more than a visual redesign. The new website makes it easier to search for communities around the world, discover people and organisations, explore educational resources and find current needs, offers and volunteer opportunities.
The Global Ecovillage Network, commonly known as GEN, has been connecting ecovillages and regenerative communities internationally for around three decades. In a September 2026 update announcing the new platform, the network described the redesign as a way to make it easier for people across the movement to find one another and share what they need or can offer.
Explore the new ecovillage.org
A new map for ecovillages, people and organisations
One of the most useful changes is the expanded ecovillage map. The directory is no longer limited to locating communities. It can also be used to discover individual profiles and organisations connected with regenerative living.
The search tools allow visitors to filter communities according to characteristics such as country, language, development stage, community type, setting and purpose. There are also practical filters for people who are considering visiting or joining a community, including open to visitors, open to new members and open to volunteers.
This makes the platform particularly relevant for travellers looking for community-based experiences. It can also complement the eco-village volunteering opportunities collected on Voluntouring.org, especially for people who want to research communities before contacting them.
Needs & Offers includes volunteering
Another section worth knowing about is Needs & Offers, a marketplace-style area where people and communities can publish requests or offer resources, skills, opportunities and events.
For Voluntouring readers, the volunteering category is particularly interesting. Current entries already include volunteer roles connected with the Global Ecovillage Network itself as well as opportunities and requests coming from the wider community network.
This creates another route for finding projects beyond traditional volunteer platforms. Someone interested in permaculture, natural building, regenerative agriculture or community living could, for example, combine GEN’s directory with the permaculture opportunities on Voluntouring.org or our overview of ecovillage volunteer programs and intentional communities.
As with any public directory, however, finding a community or opportunity on the platform should be treated as the beginning of the research process rather than independent verification of a host. Before arranging a volunteer exchange or stay, confirm current dates, accommodation, meals, work expectations, possible fees, insurance, visa requirements and contact details directly with the community.
A much larger resource library
The redesigned website also gives greater visibility to GEN’s Resource Library for Regenerative Living. It brings together articles, case studies, solutions, books, courses, webinars, podcasts, tools and other materials connected with ecovillages and community building.
Resources can be filtered according to what a visitor is trying to do, including living in a community, searching for one or starting a new community. Topics range from governance and community relationships to resilience, sustainability, natural building and practical regenerative solutions.
For travellers who first encounter ecovillages through volunteering, this is useful because it provides a way to understand some of the ideas and social structures behind the projects rather than seeing an ecovillage simply as a cheap place to stay in exchange for work.
GEN is offering a live tour of the new platform
To accompany the transition, the Global Ecovillage Network is also organising online events introducing people to the redesigned website.
One of these, “Telling the story: An Introduction to the new ecovillage.org”, is scheduled for 15 October 2026 from 06:00 to 07:30 UTC. GEN describes it as a live walkthrough of the platform, including the story behind the redesign, an introduction to the new tools, time for questions and support for people who want to update their community profiles.
The session is hosted by Eva Goldfarb from GEN International and Thao Kin from GENOA.
See the October 15 live introduction
The redesign brings several stages of the community-search process into the same ecosystem.
A traveller can discover a community on the map, read about its activities, see whether it welcomes visitors or volunteers, explore related resources and then look at current needs and opportunities. That does not replace direct communication with communities, but it can make preliminary research significantly easier. For those who want to continue exploring this kind of experience, Voluntouring.org maintains a dedicated Eco-villages section with volunteer projects from different countries.
We have also covered developments within the wider movement, including the GEN Europe Gathering in Hungary.
Source note: This article was prepared editorially from a public update shared by the Global Ecovillage Network and information available on its official website. It is not a sponsored article or a statement of partnership between Voluntouring.org and GEN. Project details, listings and platform features may change, so readers should verify current information directly with the relevant organisation or community.