CLIPS is a solution oriented programme to guide community-led projects in their initial steps – and for existing initiatives that struggle with problems or simply need revitalisation. The purpose of CLIPS is to suggest and explain a framework for approaching community development. It also points out specific tools found useful by existing community-led projects. 

CLIPS is based on learnings and insights from established ecovillage projects. These insights have been distilled into concepts and methods applicable to any group that recognises the value of community. As it was developed, the CLIPS package was tested  and evaluated by community initiatives from nine European countries.

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Projects

Good projects live on while different people come and go. In projects that survived longer than a decade, many people who thought they found ‘the’ place ended up leaving. Not all collective projects suit all people interested in them. Beyond that, moving towards more collaborative and collective ways of living can be challenging in unexpected ways. Sometimes it requires more adaptation, transformation and commitment than people are willing to deal with. Herein lies an important lesson: when incubating an initiative the project and collective have some priority over the individual.

Incubator

What is incubation? To us, it is a facilitated process supporting a group to identify tensions, solutions, resources and methods, applying appropriate measures at appropriate times. This is the domain of CLIPS facilitators. Like midwives, facilitators assist groups during the delivery of their project, and check in on it as it matures. Noted that incubation requires attention and care, but should never be authoritarian.

Tools

The purpose of CLIPS is to suggest and explain a framework for approaching community development. It points out specific tools found useful by existing community-led projects.

CLIPS is based on learnings and insights from established ecovillage projects.
These insights have been distilled into concepts and methods applicable to any group that recognises the value of community. As it was developed, the CLIPS package was tested  and evaluated by community initiatives from nine European countries.

Trainers

CLIPS trainers are experienced facilitators, who are familiar with the CLIPS model and tools. They will guide the group through the challenging phases that are often crucial for success or failure of the project.

CLIPS programme includes workshops, mentoring and trainings, as well as an online platform with resources, links, examples and tools for both projects and trainers engaged with supporting communities to grow.