The ‘Green Road’ network of ecovillages and permaculture centres has helped relocate at least 3,000 displaced Ukrainians in 40 ecovillages throughout Ukraine and over 300 ecovillages in Europe since the Russian invasion began. While doing so, it has developed into a beautiful project that is an example of sustainable development, says one of its founders, Anastasiya Volkova.

It also has become a testament to the power of international friendships, networks and informal support in times of crisis, says The World. With aid from the Danish ecovillages network, a group of Ukrainian organizations – Global Ecovillage Network Ukraine, Permaculture Network Ukraine, Global Village Institute, Gaia University and Ecosystem Restoration Camps – began mobilizing their ecovillages and permaculture farms to host displaced people and grow extra provisions to share.

The idea grew out of conversations between Iryna Kazakova, currently based at Hallingelille ecovillage in rural Denmark, Volkova, founder of Permaculture in Ukraine, and Maksym Zalevskyi, president of Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) Ukraine. A map began circulating online along with a Google sheet and volunteer contact information for every ecovillage willing to host within Ukraine and across Europe. Three “green roads” were created from east to west for evacuation: a northern road, a road through the cities, and a southern road. The Green Road also created instructions for travelling, getting through or around checkpoints, and advice for crossing borders.