Description
The Community Learning Incubator Guide
CLIPS (Community Learning Incubator Programme for Sustainability) 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.
The CLIPS guide is useful for any group of people connected by worldview, vision and goals, sharing at least some parts of their non-professional lives. This can include both eco-communities, co-housings, NGO’s, civil initiatives, business collectives, community schools, ethical banks, health circles, co-op-eratives, community-supported agriculture projects, etc. It is often accompanied by 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.