Stories from the Hearth Stories from the Hearth

Hearth Summit Athens Session Featuring:

Becky Young

Head of Ops & Community, Earth Percent
🌍 London, England

Vickie Amiralis

Label Development Manager, In Place of War / EarthSonic
🌍 London, England

Tori Tsui

Climate justice activist, organiser, writer, consultant & speaker
🌍 Bristol, England

Misia Furtak

Musician, Music Declares Emergency
🌍 Poznań, Poland

In Athens, a co-created agenda with arts group Act in Synch invited changemakers to reflect on social change through an artistic lens. In the music industry, different musicians, producers, organizers, and non-profits have been taking a step outside their bubble to drive change in both environmental and social justice arenas. Hear from four different examples of this innovative approach bridging arts for positive change with:

  • Becky Young, Head of Ops & Community, EarthPercent. EarthPercent invites artists and the music industry at large to donate a small percentage of their income, making change through organisations that meaningfully address the climate and nature crises. Over 250 artists and companies have already pledged their support.
  • Vickie Amiralis, Label Development Manager, In Place of War, and EarthSonic. In Place of War is a global organisation that uses artistic creativity in places impacted by conflict and climate change as a tool for positive change. It enables grassroots changemakers in music, theatre and across the arts to transform cultures of violence and suffering into hope, opportunity and freedom. EarthSonic is a global project telling the story of climate change through music, working with indigenous communities, musicians, cultural organisers, scientists and climate activists and experts.
  • Tori Tsui, climate justice activist, organiser, writer, consultant & speaker; and
  • Misia Furtak, musician, Music Declares Emergency. Music Declares Emergency brings together artists, music industry professionals and music fans to call for an immediate governmental response to the climate change emergency to protect all life on Earth.

Act in Synch ‍brings together leaders from across industries to confront climate change. Its mission is to inspire action by addressing our relationship with the planet and the choices we make.

Watch the session (in English).

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Dive Into Stories From Around the World

Discover Wellbeing and the Arts Discover Wellbeing and the Arts

Meet and hear stories from the changemakers championing wellbeing in the arts.

Wellbeing is Resilience: Bagoré BathilyWellbeing is Resilience: Bagoré Bathily

Stories from the Hearth

Interview With:

Bagoré Bathily

Director General, La Laiterie du Berger
🌍 Dakar, Senegal

In this interview, hear from Bagoré Bathily, the Director General of La Laiterie du Berger, a dairy brand in Senegal that is also the country’s first certified B Corporation. Hear how in his view, wellbeing is all about finding the beauty and resilience in one’s self to do incredible things. At the first regional wellbeing summit for social change in Senegal, Bagoré joined hundreds of changemakers to share his story building a business that benefits people and planet — as well as generate profit.

Watch the interview below.

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Dive Into Stories From Around the World

Discover the Wellbeing Movement in AfricaDiscover the Wellbeing Movement in Africa

Meet and hear stories from the changemakers championing the wellbeing movement in Africa.

An Emerging Movement for Wellbeing in Bangladesh: Abdallah Naeefy An Emerging Movement for Wellbeing in Bangladesh: Abdallah Naeefy

Stories from the Hearth

Interview With:

Abdallah Naeefy

Country Director, Porticus Bangladesh
🌍 Dhaka, Bangladesh

In this interview, join Abdallah Naeefy from Porticus Bangladesh as he discusses the importance of wellbeing, starting from inner vulnerability and strength to ecological awareness. Based in Dhaka, where the first regional summit in Asia was hosted in March 2024, Naeefy emphasizes the need for collective efforts to harmonize with our environment and society. He highlights the significance of regional collaboration and expresses his optimism about uniting various initiatives across Bangladesh for a better future.

Watch the interview below.

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Dive Into Stories From Around the World

Discover the Wellbeing Movement in AsiaDiscover the Wellbeing Movement in Asia

Meet, hear stories, and learn from the changemakers championing the wellbeing movement in Asia.

The Cultural and Ecological Treasures of the BassariThe Cultural and Ecological Treasures of the Bassari

Stories from the Hearth

Ritual Alchemist Experience With:

Antoine Boubane

Artist, Bassari Culture Ambassador, and Arts Curator for Hearth Summit Thiès
🌍 Dakar, Senegal

The Bassari, a community living in eastern Senegal and northern Guinea Conakry, face significant challenges related to environmental degradation, climate change and the erosion of their cultural heritage. Defining themselves as the “Guardians of the Earth”, their way of life, which is intimately linked to nature, is now under threat.

As farmers and descendants of hunters, the Bassari consider themselves an integral part of nature; responsible for the defense and protection of the environment on which they depend. They adopt a lifestyle that is quite respectful of nature from a young age and strive to transmit this ecological wisdom from generation to generation.

In this documentary film, emphasis is placed on the deep relationship between the Bassari community and their natural environment as a source of resilience and wellbeing. Ritual Alchemist Antoine Boubane (Black Keme) brought the treasures of the Bassari to Hearth Summit Thiès, sharing lessons from his community’s sacred relationship with nature.

Across the Hearth Summits, communities of changemakers are embracing their local cultures, revitalizing traditions and rituals, and reconnecting with the Earth as they drive transformative social change for wellbeing.

Watch the session below.

Want to go further into the stories of the Bassari?

Visit Antoine’s online atelier, where you can learn more about the sacred objects used in Bassari traditions. Discover masks, clothing, jewellery, musical instruments, hunting materials and more in this virtual space created by Tostan and Atoflow.

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Dive Into Stories From Around the World

Discover Ecological BelongingDiscover Ecological Belonging

Meet and hear stories from the changemakers reconnecting with the Earth and wellbeing

Music Creatives for ChangeMusic Creatives for Change

Stories from the Hearth

Hearth Summit Athens Session Featuring:

Becky Young

Head of Ops & Community, Earth Percent
🌍 London, England

Vickie Amiralis

Label Development Manager, In Place of War / EarthSonic
🌍 London, England

Tori Tsui

Climate justice activist, organiser, writer, consultant & speaker
🌍 Bristol, England

Misia Furtak

Musician, Music Declares Emergency
🌍 Poznań, Poland

In Athens, a co-created agenda with arts group Act in Synch invited changemakers to reflect on social change through an artistic lens. In the music industry, different musicians, producers, organizers, and non-profits have been taking a step outside their bubble to drive change in both environmental and social justice arenas. Hear from four different examples of this innovative approach bridging arts for positive change with:

Becky Young, Head of Ops & Community, EarthPercent. EarthPercent invites artists and the music industry at large to donate a small percentage of their income, making change through organisations that meaningfully address the climate and nature crises. Over 250 artists and companies have already pledged their support.

Vickie Amiralis, Label Development Manager, In Place of War, and EarthSonic. In Place of War is a global organisation that uses artistic creativity in places impacted by conflict and climate change as a tool for positive change. It enables grassroots changemakers in music, theatre and across the arts to transform cultures of violence and suffering into hope, opportunity and freedom. EarthSonic is a global project telling the story of climate change through music, working with indigenous communities, musicians, cultural organisers, scientists and climate activists and experts.

Tori Tsui, climate justice activist, organiser, writer, consultant & speaker; and

Misia Furtak, musician, Music Declares Emergency. Music Declares Emergency brings together artists, music industry professionals and music fans to call for an immediate governmental response to the climate change emergency to protect all life on Earth.

Act in Synch ‍brings together leaders from across industries to confront climate change. Its mission is to inspire action by addressing our relationship with the planet and the choices we make.

Watch the session (in English).

EXPLORE THE REGIONAL SUMMITS FURTHEREXPLORE THE REGIONAL SUMMITS FURTHER

Dive Into Stories From Around the World

Discover Wellbeing and the ArtsDiscover Wellbeing and the Arts

Meet and hear stories from the changemakers championing wellbeing in the arts.

Wellbeing for People and the PlanetWellbeing for People and the Planet

Sustainability x Regional Hearth Summits

The regional Hearth Summits are transforming the way we approach sustainability, weaving it into every aspect of their mission to foster wellbeing and drive social change. These groundbreaking events delve into sustainability not just in their discussions — highlighting innovative solutions and community-driven practices — but also in their design, prioritizing eco-conscious operations, waste reduction, and local partnerships. By aligning their content and practices with a commitment to planetary and social health, the Hearth Summits inspire individuals and communities to rethink their role in creating a sustainable, thriving future for all.

Explore the inspiring stories of changemakers worldwide and discover how they are advancing sustainability, wellbeing, and social change in impactful ways.

Want to get involved with the Hearth Summits?

Members of our global network are co-creating regional wellbeing for social change movements around the world.

Express your interest in getting involved and we’ll share your information with them.

RENEWING OUR APPROACHRENEWING OUR APPROACH

“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”

George Bernard Shaw

Learning From Living Buildings at the Omega Institute

THE OMEGA CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING

In addition to enjoying magical moments of inner and outer discovery on the Omega Institute campus, participants also learned about innovative solutions for ecological preservation at the Omega Center for Sustainable Living (OCSL). The OCSL’s award-winning living building hosted talks on regenerative, climate-positive design, using the center’s Eco Machine™, a water reclamation system that uses only natural processes to treat wastewater, as an example. Answering the question, “how should we live?”, the OCSL inspired changemakers to reexamine how they relate to the world and natural resources.

Ways for Decentralization

Session at Hearth Summit Athens

In Athens, representatives from corporations, civil society, impact ventures, and institutions discuss strategies, initiatives and challenges to build more sustainable relationships between urban and rural areas. Panellists include: Savvas Chionides, Secretary General for Decentralization; Dimitrios Kaliampakos, National Technical University of Athens; Sotiris Tsoukarelis, Ta Psila Vouna; Sheila Darmos, The Southern Lights and Regenerative Farming Greece initiative; Nikos Politis, Coffee Island. Watch the session (in Greek).

In Brussels, Co-President of the Club of Rome Sandrine Dixson-Declève advocated for a wellbeing economy — one that allows both people and the planet to thrive — by achieving radical systems change and creating an Earth 4 All.

In Dakar-Thiès, Susan Marx from The Carter Center invited changemakers to join Project Dandelion, a women-led campaign for climate justice founded by Mary Robinson that works to address the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and girls.

Reflecting on what success in business can look like in a wellbeing economy, Eleanor Allen explained the principles of B Corporations — businesses with social and environmental sustainability at the core of their operations — and gave five examples of companies with progressive approaches to “business as usual”.

The Campus of the FutureThe Campus of the Future

FACENS UNIVERSITY, SOROCABA

In 2024, Hearth Summit São Paulo received the CARBON RESPONSIBLE seal, a certification element developed by Aguama which recognizes the offsetting of emissions and indicates that in addition to offsetting, emissions were positive through an action that will plant more trees than necessary to offset. Working with the Ipê Institute, FACENS will plant 40 seedlings of native species from the Atlantic Forest Biome in the forest restoration projects in the Cantareira and Mantiqueira Mountains, as a way of joining forces for water security, which corresponds to the event’s emissions, plus an additional 20%.

The host and venue of the second regional summit in Brazil, the Facens University Center, Sorocaba, is an innovation and technology hub, and a Smart Campus which aligns the development of projects with the axes of smart cities and the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Facens is a signatory to the UN Global Compact, in a green space of 100 thousand m², with more than 60 specialized laboratories and 12 Innovation Centers. In 2023, the institution recycled more than 6 tons of waste, which corresponds to 69% of its waste diverted from landfills. It has 100% smart water meters and 100% of the water consumed is treated on campus. The energy consumed is 100% from renewable sources and FACENS plans to be carbon neutral by 2028.

The Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès ventured to nearby Rufisque to learn about an “ecozone” created by local youth and elders. Supported by the Fondation Sococim, they cleaned up the village center and installed lights, turning it into a safe, plastic- and pollution-free space for the community to gather.

Modou Fall, better known as L’Homme Plastique (The Plastic Man), issued a rousing call for Africa to no longer “be a trash can” in a panel discussion on how to address the plastic pollution crisis in Senegal and across the continent.

Breaking down the plastic pollution challenge, Zéro Déchet Sénégal educated participants about different types of plastics, challenges around recyclability and waste management, and alternative lifestyle choices available to reduce plastic consumption.

Ecological Belonging and Regeneration

Session at Hearth Summit São Paulo

In São Paulo, a diverse panel reflected on the environmental challenges Brazilians face today and the path forward to planetary wellbeing, featuring: Carolina Sampaio Machado, Instituto Terra; Josué Graton, FIT Instituto de Tecnologia; Nathalia Manso, Ecotuner (Facilitator of Reconnection with Nature); and Telma Silva, Flex Brasil. Watch the session (in Portuguese).

Designed With the Earth in Mind

THE WELLBEING SUMMIT DHAKA

The Wellbeing Summit Dhaka was decorated with Ecological Belonging in mind. All materials used to accentuate Bangla Academy’s lush gardens were:

  • Upcycled, such as printed signs on cotton from used sarees;
  • Locally handmade, reducing the environmental footprint of production and transportation;
  • Free of single-use plastic; and
  • Designed to be used again or recycled rather than thrown away after the event.

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Dive Into Sustainability Stories From Around the World

Our Wellbeing Is Tied to the Health of the Planet: Jane NjugunahOur Wellbeing Is Tied to the Health of the Planet: Jane Njugunah

Stories from the Hearth

Guest post by:

Jane Njugunah

Climate activist, Climate Mobility Community Action Network; youth member, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
🌍 Nairobi, Kenya 

Jane Njugunah, a youth activist with Climate Mobility Community Action Network and member of the official youth constituency to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), attended her first Hearth Summit in Nairobi in July 2024. As the Summit weaved together the topics of intergenerational wellbeing, Ecological Belonging, and personal resilience, Jane was deeply impacted by the two-day gathering.

Read Jane’s reflections from the event and how the Summit has inspired further action in her organization to promote climate resilience and youth wellbeing.

Attending the Hearth Summit Nairobi was more than just an event — it became a catalyst for change in my personal, organizational, and community wellbeing. As a youth advocate passionate about climate diplomacy and international relations, I’ve always felt the weight of responsibility to contribute to sustainable solutions. However, the Summit provided me with a renewed sense of purpose and clarity, particularly in aligning my personal goals with the greater wellbeing of my community and my work with CMCAN (Climate Mobility Community Action Network).

On a personal level, Hearth Summit Nairobi expanded my understanding of how climate change deeply affects wellbeing — not just in terms of environmental health, but also mental and social resilience. It underscored the importance of self-care as an advocate and emphasized the need for sustainable personal practices as we work toward larger goals. I left the Summit with a stronger commitment to both my own wellbeing and that of my fellow youth advocates.

On a personal level, Hearth Summit Nairobi expanded my understanding of how climate change deeply affects wellbeing — not just in terms of environmental health, but also mental and social resilience.

For my organization, CMCAN, Hearth Summit Nairobi became a turning point. I brought back innovative ideas and strategies, particularly around youth-centered climate action, that we’ve since incorporated into our initiatives. We now focus not only on climate mobility but also on building community resilience and wellbeing, thanks to insights I gained from the Summit on holistic sustainability. The ripple effects are already being felt in my community: through workshops and dialogues inspired by the Summit, we are fostering a greater sense of collective responsibility for climate action. The conversations that started at Hearth Summit Nairobi are now shaping community-based solutions, empowering youth and marginalized voices to take leadership roles in local environmental actions.

The Hearth Summit Nairobi has become a foundational experience in my journey, reinforcing the belief that wellbeing — whether personal, organizational, or community — is tied to the health of our planet.

The Hearth Summit Nairobi has become a foundational experience in my journey, reinforcing the belief that wellbeing — whether personal, organizational, or community — is tied to the health of our planet.

The global network I connected with continues to inspire me, and I look forward to contributing even more to this shared mission. I am looking forward to more Hearth Summits. Thank you for having me!

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Meet and hear stories from the changemakers exploring our relationship with the planet and nature.