Ecodharma joint Project Coordinator opportunity

Last year the Ecodharma Centre launched a new initiative – the Ulex Project (http://ulexproject.org/). The Ulex Project is about using activist education to build capacity, impact and resilience in progressive social movements across Europe. It takes an approach that recognises the inseparability of transforming the self and transforming the world. Although the trainings are framed in a secular way, the project is underpinned by principles of Dharma.

To meet the enthusiastic response to our work at our residential training centre in Catalunya and our pan-European projects, that we need to grow our team. We’re living at a historical point of disruption, in the twilight of neoliberalism. It is a crucial time to contest our future. We’re looking for someone with the skills and commitment to help us do just that.

We’re looking for someone to join us as a Joint Project Coordinator. They will help us to develop our relationships with the partner organisations we support with training; strengthen our trainers network, to increase the provision of high quality activist education; be involved in shaping our strategic response to socio-political developments across Europe; and support talented and committed activists make a difference.

This new team member will join an eight-person team already engaged in Ulex work. The existing team is mostly based at the Ecodharma Centre in Catalunya, while a couple of the team are based in other parts of Europe. The role we currently want to recruit involves being based with the core team – both living and working at our project base in the Catalan mountains.

Both the project and the community are grounded in dharma practice and what we’re calling an ‘integral activist’ ethos – which we apply at the personal, interpersonal and political levels. We take our personal development as seriously as our social engagement – considering the transformation of self and the transformation of the world to be inseparable. As an organisation we practice ‘prefigurative politics’, meaning we embody the values we want to promote and struggle for. We live and work by the principles ‘transformative collaboration’ and ‘regenerative activism’ as promoted through the trainings we run. Aspects of community life are contemplative, with many community members inspired and motivated by aspects of the Buddhist tradition and nature-based/ecological practice.

Each year we spend a month on silent meditation retreat as a team. One day a week is a silent practice day. The community places the spirit of sangha and spiritual friendship at its heart.

We operate a ‘solidarity economy’. In this role all costs of food and lodging will be covered (equivalent to around €9000+ pa) and additional financial support will be negotiated between 5K and 10K pa, depending on needs.

It’s a ‘full time’ role, which means 4 days/32 hours a week. Core team take part in a month-long mediation retreat together each year (usually around March) and can take an additional 6 weeks down time.

The international scope of the work means that main working language is English. So, competence in both spoken and written English is necessary. Spanish and/or Catalan are also an advantage. The remote location means that an ability to drive would be useful.

Ideally, we’re looking for someone with good collaborative working skills, a passion for education that empowers socio-political action, basic digital competences, who is interested in taking on this kind of role for at least a couple of years and committed to Going for Refuge. Ideally, they would start this autumn or early winter. We’re looking for applications before 20th September.

For more info contact guhyapati@ecodharma.com