Umundu Lx 2020 - Collective festival for sustainable transformation

Umundu Lx 2020 is a collective festival for sustainable transformation to make us agents of change in relation to the problems arising from our lifestyle and the system that feeds it.

“We want Umundu Lx 2020 to be able to contribute to a profound change in the modes of production and consumption and to establish a new paradigm for society.”

We feel the urgent need for a profound change in our lifestyle and our worldview. We realize that we need to foster debate and critical thinking in relation to the current problems arising from our habits and the system that feeds them. The Umundu Lx Festival will be a platform for sharing, communication, articulation and mobilization among citizen initiatives, associations, social movements and individuals, both at the local level, as well as at the national and international level.

More than 70 promoters with proposals for more than 140 events have already responded to our call to participate in the collective debate on issues of sustainability, resilience and regeneration .

Now we need your help to make the festival happen!

With your help we will bring together initiatives from citizens, associations, academic departments, commercial entities, and government institutions, active in different areas of sustainability, to identify synergies and promote collaboration between different actors, in a currently dispersed and poorly connected context. The festival will create an opportunity to share the wide range of existing initiatives in Lisbon and all over the country, mobilizing the inhabitants of the city and the metropolitan area around a major goal: to change to a more sustainable, resilient and regenerative paradigm!

“The seeds left during the festival in people's heads and hearts will germinate and grow to bring about the forces for a promising change."

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More information on the website: https://www.umundu.pt

About the author

The first edition of the Umundu Festival took place in 2009 in the city of Dresden, Germany, due to the initiative of Patrick Ribeiro and Sascha Kornek, with the objective of creating a platform for meeting and reflection on the themes mentioned above. Starting from an initial budget of 1,200 €, they organized the first festival that lasted 8 days and entailed more than 40 events. The reception was so positive that the decision was taken to continue the project. In its 3rd edition, this festival received the most significant sustainability award for impact initiatives from the German state. Currently, with more than a decade of existence and with an annual budget of € 150,000, the Umundu Festival Dresden is an essential feature of the city and has become one of the largest festivals of its kind in Germany.

After this experience, Patrick returned to Lisbon where he not only wants to replicate the previous model, but to take it to a new level. He has joined a team of enthusiasts that has been growing: Aloísio, Amélia, António, Bárbara, Graça, Hans, Katiza, Lina, Luísa, Tatiana, Teresa, and many others who are with him on this collective journey.

With weekly meetings started in October 2019 to define the format of the Umundu Lx Festival, its vision and mission, the group began to take the first steps in the preparation and organization of the event. Since January, the pace of work has intensified with several weekly meetings, emails, phone calls and visits to possible spaces for holding events. We are already living Umundu Lx!

And with everyone's help, we are going to make Umundu Lx 2020 actually happen.

More information on the website: https://www.umundu.pt

Budget and due dates

After the launch of the initiative on September 11, 2019 at Impact Hub Lisbon, with the participation of more than 30 stakeholders and representatives of various organizations active in the area of sustainability, a team of volunteers started with the preparation of the festival. Its format has been constantly adjusted due to the constraints caused by the covid-19 crisis but despite all the limitations, the festival will take place on the scheduled date, although partially in online mode.

• Opening on October 9th;

• Thematic Weekend on October 10th and 11th focusing on the urban context;

• Umundu Week from October 12th to 16th, with presentations, films, workshops, and debates;

• Closing on October 17th with organizations, individual and collective projects interacting with each other, establishing bridges and partnerships, with public presentation.

However, and despite all volunteer work, good will and collaboration of organizations and local initiatives, there are costs that we can not get around and that crowdfunding will make possible to finance!

• Program 2,500 €

  • Scheduling and videoconferencing software

• Disclosure 1,000 €

• Event support material 500 €

• Copyright (films) 500 €

• General Inspection of Cultural Activities (IGAC) licences 300 €

• IT 500 €

  • Servers, webpage and tools

• Administrative expenses 600 €

  • Constitution of an association, office supplies

• Crowdfunding comissions PPL 600 €

With your contribution, this budget will make the festival possible. But any amount above the target will improve the quality of this first edition of the Umundu Lx, particularly in its online aspect, and will help to prepare the next edition in 2021 which is intended to be in person to fully live the spirit of the event.

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