Zeytince Ekolojik Yaşamı Destekleme Derneği- Zeytince Association For Supporting Ecological Lives

Zeytince Association for Supporting Ecological Life (Zeytince) is a community-based civil society organisation founded in Izmir, Türkiye, in 2013. We work at the intersection of ecological literacy, sustainable lifestyles, behavioural change, agroecology, food systems, cultural landscapes and place-based sustainability transitions.

We believe that sustainability is not only a technological or policy challenge, but also a cultural, social and behavioural transformation rooted in everyday life, local knowledge and community action.

Through participatory learning, Living Lab methodologies, co-creation, ecological storytelling and community engagement, we connect citizens, local producers, municipalities, universities, civil society organisations and creative practitioners to develop practical pathways towards more resilient and regenerative communities.

Our work is deeply rooted in the socio-ecological landscapes of the Izmir Peninsula, where we promote agroecology, biodiversity, olive culture, local food systems, circular practices, rural resilience and the protection of cultural and natural heritage.

Zeytince's flagship initiative, the Olive Academy (Zeytin Okulu) in Karaburun, serves as a place-based learning hub where ecological knowledge, local practices and community participation come together through education, experimentation and collaboration.

Over the years, we have coordinated and contributed to numerous national and European initiatives including PSLifestyle, Like-A-Pro, Project POMACE, Olive Route, Olive Academy, and ruralCOMMONS, developing expertise in behavioural change, community co-creation, Living Labs, ecological literacy and sustainable territorial development.

We work with people, places and partnerships to make sustainability tangible, participatory and locally rooted.