Description of the „Givers-Movement“ in Brief
In a world with too many arbitrary and selfish disputes, the „Givers Movement“ aims to build a sustainable „bridge of unity.“ Then we, as human beings, can collectively assume responsibility for the world entrusted to us.
We „givers“ make no „ideological“ or „sectarian“ claim to have a ready-made answer to every question. We simply wish to humbly offer some basic truths as a common ground for unity (as much as necessary, as little as possible). This common ground is intended to provide the most solid foundation possible for us to continue searching for truth together.
How is the „lowest necessary common ground“ defined?
We „givers“ dream of a „nonviolent world revolution of love.“ It can also be called—like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly—a „great metamorphosis of humanity,“ or a „globalization of responsibility.“ Deep within our conscience, we recognize that we are intrinsically connected to the rest of the world. We can identify with the whole world and feel responsible for it (like a „healthy cell in the organism of the world“). Therefore, we want to learn to treat our fellow human beings with such love (so that „the law of the strongest“ ends) that together we can also treat the rest of the world with love and responsibility. – „Love gives…“
What do you think: How „radical“ and self-sacrificing must one begin with giving if one wants to convert humanity to love?!
The complete version of the „ideals of giving“ can be found in our „Collection of Fundamental Texts“.
Levels of participation?
We have different levels of (practical) commitment and external standard of living (e.g., from „normal“ apartments with electricity and water to „holes in the ground“). In this way, every interested person can find an „entry point“ to participating with us!
The most important stages are:
The „givers“, who live the „giver ideals“ in theory and practice,
e.g., by withdrawing from the state and monetary system, making decisions based on so-called well-founded consensus, etc.;
Giver allies, who theoretically agree with the „donor ideals“ (leaving open how many practical consequences they draw), and who, for example, have founded the non-profit „Association for the Promotion of Giving „VFS e.V.“
For those who don’t wish to directly join the Givers Movement, there are options such as being a Givers sympathizer, meaning having significant common ground with the Givers Movement, or participating in our proposed „new networking experiments,“ which are designed to be both open and effective, and which—like all our work—are focused on „love as a healing approach for the world.“
The VFS e.V. – Association for the Promotion of Giving
Acting out of love and responsibility as the foundation of politics, economics, and society. Have the courage to participate at the root of a transformative system change!
Nature is our model—giving instead of exploiting!
The „Association for the Promotion of Giving“ aims to help people relearn how to give to one another and share available resources wisely according to need, instead of competing against each other and increasingly destroying ourselves and our environment through violence. He supports people in putting these values into practice in their lives as fully as possible, like the so-called „givers.“ Through consistently living responsibly and with love, they demonstrate that the path of „giving as a way of life“ is possible. A particular focus of the association lies in public relations and creating space for projects that align with these ideals.
Activities of the association:
Public relations and educational work through seminars, information booths, online presentations, and practical demonstrations regarding various social and moral values (responsibility, natural living, non-violence, social justice); educational events on health maintenance, holistic and natural healing; contact and collaboration with other individuals and institutions in the healthcare sector;
Nature and landscape conservation through the creation of natural habitats for plants, animals, and people; through the promotion of natural economic practices; and through the protection of endangered species;
International understanding through theoretical and practical peace research,
Contribution to the creation and safeguarding of peace, seminars, discussions, community experiments, exchange with other peoples, cultures and communities, and through joint actions;
Projects of the „Givers-Movement“
In Dargelütz/Mecklenburg (near Parchim) you’ll find both our House of Hospitality (HdG), where people are welcomed as unconditionally as possible and given the opportunity for a very free life, and right next door, our association project, the VFS-community (the non-profit „Association for the Promotion of Giving“). It aims to provide a more specialized space for people who share some of our values, such as supporting the core ideals described above and being willing to participate in their practical implementation. Six terraced houses, as well as our own land and leased plots – a total of 2 hectares – are still largely available for use, and there’s also space for caravans or mobile homes. We’ve already made some progress towards self-sufficiency, including growing fruit and vegetables. Once a year, we hold week-long meetings there, to which we extend a public invitation – a great opportunity to get to know each other better and spend time together in various ways.
In the „Peace Garden“ in Pommritz, Saxony, the focus is on exemplary, simple, nature-connected living and integration into the village’s ecological activities.
Also in Mecklenburg is the „Morgen-heut“ project, an old manor house with farm buildings and land. Self-sufficiency in various areas has been practiced there for many years.
A very holistic and scientifically oriented project is our „holistic education and future workshop“ called „Lilitopia“ near Marburg. There, Öff Öff and his wife Anke Rochelt strive to cultivate highly sophisticated and holistic, or rather globally responsible, forms of coexistence, from personal, familial, and community relationships to societal dimensions, including the relationship between humans and animals.
Another project is our „Herberge Demogratia“, the conference center of the non-profit „Verein pro Beutelsbacher Konsens VBK e.V.“ near Chemnitz. The association aims to promote a widely recognized educational ideal (the „Beutelsbach Consensus“), which is explicitly acknowledged in society, and to foster its broader understanding, recognition, and development, based on the motto: „Free choice requires knowledge of the possible alternatives – and how to choose between them.“
Links and Contacts:
Idealistic information: www.global-love.eu
Projects: www.lilitopia.de
Forum for idealistic, topic- and subject-related exchange: https://www.freie-argumente-kultur.net
Contacts:
Schenker Öff!Öff! Phone: 0176 – 27110248, 01578-5065676, schenker_oeff@yahoo.de
Schenker Jannick Phone: 0174 – 3931236
VFS – Association for the Promotion of Giving:
Board Members: Anke Rochelt, Phone 0170 – 4350394, e-mail: rochelta@yahoo.de
Uwe Wilhelm Haspel, Phone: 0174- 6516616, e-mail: uwewhaspel@yahoo.de
Matthias Körner, Phone: 07329 – 205451 and 0174 – 3005529, e-mail: mattheor@yahoo.de
VFS Office in Dargelütz: 038720-88558