The Beginning: Sustainability Festival 2019
In September 2019, something small but powerful happened in Windhoek.
A local event called the Sustainability Festival was hosted by Christina Böhm, at “The Village” in Windhoek — bringing together people, ideas, and practical solutions around zero waste, conscious living, and community action.
It was simple. It was honest. And it planted a seed.
Participants included:
- Beyond (formerly 2nd Hand Concept Store)
- Zero Waste Store Namibia
- Recycle Namibia Forum (RNF Namibia)
- Document Warehouse Namibia
- Green Planet Namibia
- E-Bikes for Africa
- EV Namibia (electric vehicles)
- Nina Maritz Architects
- Hallo … (author of children’s books on recycling)
- Moreson (recycled fashion and modelling)
- Waldorf School – “Hit the Beat” drumming group
- Xuro
- Solar Cooking Namibia
That seed would later grow into what is now the Living Earth Expo.
A Spark That Started a Movement
The Sustainability Festival was organised with heart and purpose — driven by the belief that change begins with individual action and grows through community connection.
Visitors were introduced to practical ways of living more responsibly:
- Reducing waste in everyday life
- Reusing and repairing instead of discarding
- Rethinking consumption habits
- Supporting local, conscious businesses
- Taking responsibility for our shared environment
At its core, the event carried a simple but powerful message:
We are Earth.
The Philosophy That Shaped Living Earth
The circular framework presented at the festival captured a way of thinking that still influences Living Earth today:
- Refuse what you do not need
- Reduce what you consume
- Reuse what you can
- Repair instead of replacing
- Recycle as a last resort
- Rot organic matter back into the soil
- Repurpose creatively
- Rewear and extend product life
- Refurbish and restore value
- Regift within your community
- Rethink systems and habits
This was more than waste management.
It was a mindset shift.
A move away from extraction and disposal — towards care, cycles, and regeneration.
From Festival to Expo
The Living Earth Expo was born from this inspiration.
What began as a zero waste and lifestyle event inspired a broader platform addressing:
- Food systems and nutrition
- Water security and harvesting
- Energy access and renewables
- Natural building and shelter
- Community and coordination
The focus shifted from awareness to solutions at scale — while keeping the original spirit alive:
Practical. Local. Empowering.
Honouring the Roots
We recognise the Sustainability Festival 2019 as an important starting point in this journey.
It showed that:
- People are ready for change
- Small events can spark big ideas
- Community-driven action works
- Inspiration must be paired with practical steps
Without that first gathering, Living Earth may never have taken shape.
Gallery: The First Spark
Looking Forward
Today, Living Earth continues to build on that foundation — growing a network of people, projects, and places working towards a regenerative future.
And it all started with a simple idea:
What if we lived differently?