We know Other Ways!

RIPESS Europe co-organised  the 3rd Congress (after Barcelona in 2011 and Lille in 2013), from 10th to 13th September 2015 in Berlin, with the Forum Solidarische Oekonomie network.

5th-9th September  – Week of change – expeditions to collectives and alternate practice projects in Berlin and Brandenburg

10th-13th September – Congress on Solidarity Economy and Transformation at Technical University Berlin

Learn from existing alternatives, join forces and set precedent. The SOLIKON 2015 sets ideas in motion, bringing them out of the minds and onto the fertile pastures of our society and combines ideas which must be considered in unison: The theory and practice of a solidarity economy alternative. The SOLIKON Congress and the Week of Change from 5-13 September 2015 at the Technical University Berlin.

To overcome capitalism, how will this work? 
Indeed, the battle has already begun.
The only question is: will the end be barbaric?

(André Gorz)

The time to act is now, before our ecosystem collapses and buries us under the remains of growth and prosperity.

On the 10th of September at noon the congress starts with a regional (Berlin and Brandenburg) focus. In the course of the congress, both national and international dimensions will be adressed with hot topics like trade (TTIP and other trade agreements), climate change, fair trade and positive examples of the regional fora for solidarity economy in Latin America, as well as in other continents like Asia and Africa. There will also will be a focus on convergences among different alternative economy movements. The event will end on Sunday the 13th of September with the „planning“ of the next steps.

The main organizer of the congress is the German Forum for Solidarity Economy. Co-­organizers are RIPESS Europe, the ZTG (Center for Technology and Society at the Tech University Berlin), the ZEWK (Centre for Scientific Further Education and Cooperation at the TU Berlin) as well as other 40 other partners.

RIPESS Europe  co-organized the 3rd Congress (after Barcelona in 2011 and Lille in 2013), from 10thto 13th September 2015 in Berlin, with the Forum Solidarische Oekonomie network. This event will allow both the German networks to exchange and build new strategic visions of organization and action, but it’s also an opportunity for the whole European network to make a complete review of our activities until now, strategize and continue the expansion of solidarity economy in Europe. We invite you to actively participate and send your ideas and suggestions. We are already working on a program to have the opportunity to discuss with other alternative economy approaches (from the transition towns to degrowth, from the commons and peer economy, to fair trade, etc.). This will help us verify the possibility we have about “convergences” among the different approaches and progress on several topics. A workshop will be dedicated to the about Soclidarity Economy Overview in Europe also.

The 4th General Assembly will take place during the congress, on Friday 11th September 2015, between 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM.  The proposed agenda is the following:

  • Activity Report of RIPESS Europe for 2014
  • Financial report of RIPESS Europe for 2014
  • Strategic Orientation of RIPESS Europe for 2015-2018
  • Presentation of European project supported by RIPESS Europe
  • New Membership requests presentations
  • Renewal of Coordination committee

FOR MORE INFORMATION FOR THE GA : [Click here]

Practical information for the Congress:

Please find here : The Solikon Concept

Find here the GENERAL PROGRAM

Find here RIPESS Europe PROGRAM (Workshop, Roundtable and plenary animated by the RIPESS Europe)

Location of the event :

Straße des 17. Juni 136, D-10623

Technical university of BERLIN, GERMANY

Time: 10th -13th. September 2015

The recommended cost contributions  for the full Congress are:

95.00 € Solidarity-Contribution
55.00 € cost-covering fee and
30.00 € reduced fee.
10 € day fee for Thursday: only for Thursday September 10 (regional day) possible.

All contributions will be used for the organization of the Congress. The majority of the organizers of the Congress are working as volunteers.

Link for the  REGISTRATION 

Click here for more information about :  ACCOMODATION

Contact :

Deutsch team:

Workshops: workshops@solikon2015.org
Press inquiries: Dana.Berg@solikon2015.org and Maria.Schmidt@solikon2015.org
Cooperation requests: dagmar.embshoff@solidarische-oekonomie.de
Helpers and volunteers before and during the congress: backbone@solikon2015.org
Transformation week: wandelwoche@solikon2015.org

RIPESS Europe team :

Arielle Ndimbiarivola: communication@ripess.eu and arielle.ripess@gmail.com 
Jason Nardi: info@ripess.eu

Don’t forget to participate on RIPESS Europe survey for Solidarity Economy Overview 

For more information : [Click here]