The Platform One Foundation provides a starting point – a place to practice and further develop a new ‘bottom up’ way of living.
Platform One Foundation and Youth village concept is about the creation and on going evolution of a Youth led community which shares a common vision for the future. Sometimes referred to as an Intentional Community
It is meant to be a place of learning and a hands on engagement point where the best sustainable solutions of the day are blended harmoniously and shared widely.
It is where we (some of us older dogs :-)) come together to support Youth to co-create, practice, learn and develop a new way of living our lives within truly sustainable business and harmonious living models which recognize and respect of our societal, material and spiritual worlds.
Our initial core project is to create and nurture a model Youth Leadership Learning Center supported by a sustainable campus and working village concept.A sort of Real Life University where youth are upskilled in food security, sustainable energy, alternative medicine, healthy living skills.and many basic skill sets which are being lost as our society moves into specialized fields of learning.
With an uncompromising commitment to organic permaculture business models, cutting edge sustainable buildings and infrastructure, we aim to create a robust evolutionary village living platform which fosters personal, family and community health and well being.
The population target of the village is to be approximately 300 persons so as to allow for diversity of cultures, economy of scale and resilience of infrastructure and skill sets to support the community and Village Learning Center.
In 2013-14 we aim to finalize purchase of selected land block(s) OR utilize one of several blocks on offer from aligned thinkers and commence detailed planning and to establish an initial physical base.
This stage will include addressing any potential resource consent issues, master planning of the project and finalizing funding models.
Phase 1 Attract additional Founding members and/or source financing for the purchase of land(s), establish a village center and Founders sites and construct residences Initiate organic food production and marketing models suitable to land selected.
Phase 2 Construction of working village and Youth campus, implementation of revenue generation programs and micro businesses including holding workshops, seminars and retreats.
While we recognize and acknowledge personal religious choice, we stand in the space of participants exploring their own individual Spiritual belief systems and support the evolution of humanity’s understanding of the relationships between our Physical and Spiritual worlds. We do not support nor endorse religious Dogma of any particular belief and commit to maintain a stance of neutrality and respectful awareness & listening.
The umbrella organisation is the Platform One Foundation Charitable Trust, a registered NZ Charity. It fulfills the role of governance and management of all aspects of the Foundations activities.
It has been created with 13 Trustee positions and the intention is that these positions will be filled by some of the new Founders who join as well as some invited external participants from aligned organisations.
The Trust represents the stakeholder members of the village and all opportunities for employment and resource benefits from Trust activities are distributed and shared accordingly.
While open to change, the current Trustees are committed to the re-exploration and nurturing of a tribal council based system of democratic participation for the villagers. Volunteers will be elected and consensus will be sought however, in the interests of maintaining momentum a voting majority system of 80% is agreed.
Currently (as at October 2013) there are 3 registered Trustees, Dana Darwin, Erin Kropidlowski and John Wright.
The Trusts intention is to fill at least three more of the vacant Trustee positions in 2013-14 to increase the diversity and skill base of the membership.
Follow the steps on the website under get involved We also welcome you to contact us for more information at: dana.darwin@platformone.org.nz
Platform One is an evolutionary community concept which initially supports independence and individual resilience however more broadly fosters people and organisations collaborating and working together to achieve aligned goals and outcomes. While the concept would manifest a community by default, the vibrant center concept of the community is a working village structure and learning centre. We recognize that the community will naturally evolve and form its own unique self generated identity.
Platform One has its own unique agreements and understandings which are captured within the Charter and land use agreements. As long as members actions and way of being are (within reason) harmoniously aligned and consistent with the charter and community objectives there is no limit to what may be created by members.
Platform One organizational structures are based upon systems thinking and supported by scientific methodologies. We aim to evolve structured environments which support the realization of healthy and sustainable living models which recognize both our material and spiritual worlds.
We believe in personal sovereignty, freedom and the rights of the individual however more importantly we recognize our inter-dependance and need for structured agreements whereby the needs of the one do not compromise the needs and well being of the many and vice versa. We refer to this methodology as shared values working within an aligned context.
To ensure the continuity of the Platform One community structure, clearly defined Vision, Goals and Methodologies shall be mutually agreed by all stakeholders by way of agreements which include elements of Governance, Industry, Administration, Finance and Sanctions. This is achieved by the creation of a groups Charter (Constitution) and supported by organically evolving understandings and agreements which support these Visions within the agreed Values.
This community alignment work can be initially quite intense and challenging however is critical to the success of the project building it, living it and sharing it all is the fun part!
If you are not a systems thinker or prefer to live your life in a more free flowing state then perhaps another hybrid approach would be more suitable for you.
There are several models of other Eco Villages which we look to utilize and we will sort this out as we go..
We believe that the current governance models of top down are one of the principle drivers responsible for the current unsustainable state of our society and planet Earth. Private agendas, religious and scientific dogmas and monetary profit driven shareholder business models have created a disconnect between governance, civil society and mother Earth. Global governance structures have become too closely intertwined with corporations as to be indistinguishable and the connection to grass roots and a resource based, sustainable economy has been severed.
GOVERNANCE
We are reintroducing a bottom up approach which in many ways resembles a tribal council methodology. While there is much growth and maturity of this system yet to come, we are confident in the success of this approach as it works within a system of complete transparency which is self policing and all where all stakeholders are fully accountable for their actions.
There are currently 3 Trustees acting within the 13 available Trustee positions which shall grow as additional committed stakeholders join..
MANAGEMENT
Management of the variety of micro businesses is provided by founding members while overall property management is delegated by the Trust Council with in a collaborative environment of all stakeholders.
