Building physical and social spaces through Permaculture under Degrowth theory transforms not only the environment but it also has de potential to change people. These spaces empower those who use these tools and they have also the potential to share concepts and values during immersions and courses involving another look about environment. Empowerment is a plural and dynamic concept, involving behavior aspects, as well as mental and emotional ones through personal processes concerning self-esteem, autonomy, freedom and self-management. The empowerment process gets stronger within spaces which encourage social contact, identification between people and bonding, creating a feeling of belonging. Within the courses and immersions that were studied the space dynamic enabled leadership experiences, and decision making that were held within the group and for the group, encouraging self-management and through it enabled people and groups the hold of their own personal process. This research was based upon written feedback and reports from participants of Permaculture courses and immersions hosted by Nova Oikos farm. Aiming to improve our work methodology we looked for key-words connected to the empowerment process as well as oral reports from participants, looking for quotes to illustrate the transformation process and insight mediated by this space and its dynamics. Coming to a conclusion that training and re-signification spaces concerning the environment are successful tools of social transformation.

This media entry was a contribution to the special session „Permaculture as a tool for empowerment under the Degrowth perspective.“ at the 5th International Degrowth Conference in Budapest in 2016.