A Green Roof for the Educational & Research Center for Permaculture in Sermenin

Who we are?

Hi. We're The Green Ark. We are a grass-root organization from Skopje, Macedonia. We are about 15 people all joined together with a single goal: to protect, preserve and improve upon our surrounding environment. Starting from 2007 we are actively working in accordance with the principles of Permaculture to make a difference in peoples everyday lives by giving workshops on making organic soap, building herb spirals, building with straw bales, methods of composting, filtration of water, making seed balls, guerrilla gardening... 

Our current project is to establish the first Educational & Research Center for Permaculture in our country. We have already jump-started the project by organizing a fundraising concert asking for local support, but as you are well aware, a project of this size and the reconstruction itself can be quite expensive. That is why we turn to you, all the environmentally aware eco-logicians and naturally generous people out there to join us and help us raise the much needed funds. We simply need your help.

What is the project about?

After two years of negotiations, the local authorities have granted us the use of a former school building over the next 20 years for the purpose of establishing the Educational & Research Center for Permaculture. The agreement is that we take care of the reconstruction of the object dating from the 1930s, and it is completely up to us to make it operational again. We are now taking step one, and that is to reconstruct the roof and convert it into a green roof.

Our plan is to initiate parts of the educational program that can be applied through hands-on experience during the reconstruction of the object itself by organizing workshops for restoration and refurbishment with minimal impact to the environment. We will explore the posibilities to engage people who want to learn and practice these building techniques and appropriate technologies, and will seize each opportunity to turn every single step of the process of establishing the Educational & Research Center for Permaculture into a learning experience open for all who want to do it.

The Impact 

The work done in the Center will incite significant positive changes, over the years to come, in the community of the village Sermenin and the region by empowering people to make their first steps in the transition towards self-sustainability within healthy ecosystems. We will be inviting people all over the world to learn and exchange knowledge & experience with us and the local population. The Educational & Research Center for Permaculture in Sermenin will grow to be the hub of numerous environmental, social, cultural and economic initiatives in the region, supporting diverse innovative collaborations. You could take part in the growth as well! 

What we are asking for?

- We are looking for help & funds to reconstruct the roof of the school building

- Fixing the roof will really help get the ball rolling for the whole project

- A fixed roof allows the rest of the building to get refurbished on time 

- An operational building will provide working space and shelter to students, as well as, storage for material & equipment

So we're turning to you to support our efforts by asking for your kind and generous contributions. In exchange, we're offering you the opportunity to learn and practice Permaculture with us, adopt a beehive, get hands-on experience and hand made soap to wash it down, taste berries, fruits, honey... Your contribution will help us to reconstruct the roof in a sustainable manner using appropriate technologies, not harming the environment extensively during the process, and further, it will help us to continue with the work on establishing the first Educational & Research Center for Permaculture in Macedonia. 

As a kind thank you for your help and support we will give our best to make you a part of this rewarding and beneficial project.

Cost breakdown:

This is the estimation of the cost, and how we plan to implement the funds for the reconstruction:

As you can see from the table above, we need to raise over 20000 dollars, if we take into acount the additional costs for the transport and the expert supervisor, to cover the cost of reconstructing the roof of the almost ruined building of the future Educational & Research Center for Permaculture. Otherwise the structure might not remain standing over the next winter.

We are firmly determined to establish the Educational & Research Center for Permaculture in Sermenin. In case we do not reach the final amount we asked for, any amount raised will still be used to buy the materials needed for the reconstruction. The same applies if we are fortunate to receive a greater amount than we asked for, it will all be invested in the following stages of reconstruction on the other parts of the building.

Other Ways You Can Help

If you just can’t contribute, that doesn’t mean you can’t help:

Please get the word out and make some noise about our campaign.

Don't forget to use the Indiegogo share tools, so more people get involved!

What are you waiting for?

Hop into our Green Ark and let’s sail together towards the first Educational & Research Center for Permaculture in Macedonia!

Thank you for the support!