eigenleben LIFE
Together we are creating a “European village”, a "Borgo Europeo" for those who want to live diversity, tolerance and democracy.
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››From April 2 to 19 and May 11 to 31, 2026, we look forward to welcoming anyone interested in the eigenleben LIFE cooperative and in living a good, sustainable, and long life.
In the small town of Collesano in northern Sicily, we are building an international community of people (each in their own individual homes) who want to support each other and the other residents of the town.
The cooperative's founding team will therefore be on site to offer open discussion and interaction formats during the two weeks and provide you with lots of ideas for your own excursions. You decide when and how you want to arrive, where you want to stay, and what your program should look like.
Register now for the get-to-know weeks in spring 2026.
This is going on:
April & May 2026:
Come and visit Collesano and the Madonie mountains! We show you the best places, introduce you to the nicest people, offer you the most activities to choose from. Make your reservation now for April 2-19 or May 11-31.
October / November 2025:
Visitor's from Germany exploring together the Madonie, the sea, Cefalù, other villages, experiencing olive picking, collecting wild herbs & greens, cooking together, hiking, picnics, lunchs and dinners with locals
June 2025:
The first house in Collesano is bought and will now be renovated! Initial contacts with neighbors, craftsmen, service providers of all kinds and network partners are on the agenda.
May 2025:
May 5 at 7 p.m.: Online presentation for a maximum of 12 participants (so that people can get to know each other).
The first trip for members and interested parties to Sicily took place from May 24 to 29.
April 2025:
Traraaa! Here is the first (german language) eigenleben LIFE-Newsletter #01 ››
February 2025:
The eigenleben LIFE cooperative is founded in Bolzano.
November 2024:
Stakeholder trip to Collesano with two architects and lots of house tours and a big celebration
April 2024:
Stakeholder trip with the first 12 pioneers from 7 countries. The presentation of the project in Collesano is attended by 70 residents - and 3 mayors, including from neighboring towns.
November 2023:
First trip to Collesano: Is this place really suitable as a “European Village”? What do the locals say, does the mayor support us? Yes! It's a win-win situation for everyone.
August 2023:
The idea arises. All of a sudden. Anne has known Collesano since a long motorcycle trip alone through Italy and knows about the vacancies. On the other hand ... Munich - need we say more?
What is eigenleben LIFE?
What does Eigenleben mean?
The German word “Eigenleben” (pronounced roughly [ˈaɪ̯ɡn̩ˌleːbn̩]) has no direct translation into English. It means, literally, “one's own life” or “living according to one's own nature”-an authentic, free and conscious lifestyle.
But in German the term also has a second meaning: something takes on a life of its own, develops spontaneously, sometimes unexpectedly- and often with surprising results.
Just like what happens when different people come together, share ideas and start creating something together.
Our project for eigenleben LIFE
We create an international community in a village between the sea and the mountains in Sicily, where we can live well, live together and live sustainably - for the rest of our lives. We are going for it as an international cooperative.
Dignified living has long been a concern for us “Eigenlebende”. Initially, we addressed the topic in our two non-profit organizations in the german Town of Munich with the focus for the future - how will we live in old age?
Many conversations with guests and helpers of all ages in our social pub in Munich's Univiertel (2021 - 2025) have shown us that living with dignity is becoming increasingly difficult, even for young people in the midst of (professional) life in the big city, especially for those in low-paid positions, the self-employed, young families...
So often at our intergenerational events, we address concerns about the future that only seem to grow:
- Living space in cities is becoming scarcer,
- the cost of living is rising more and more,
- the sense of community is suffering from individualism and divisive tendencies,
- loneliness among old and young is increasing,
- supply bottlenecks in case of need are becoming more and more likely - e.g. childless singles are more likely to have no caring relatives.
Membership of a cooperative can be a solution to problems that are already affecting some of us and will affect many more people in the future. A strong community can be a way out: many people with diverse backgrounds and experiences can achieve a lot - and we have this diversity in Europe.
A European village in Sicily
We want to build a "Borgo Europeo” here! Collesano is a typical small town - not particularly picturesque, but perfectly situated between the sea and the mountains in the north of Sicily. The largest island in the Mediterranean offers everything that makes Europe special: historical sites, cultural diversity, culinary treasures, different climate zones, varied landscapes, diverse flora and fauna and fascinating towns.
And numerous villages in the interior of the country offer what is missing in the conurbations of most countries: space, affordable living space, proximity to nature and a relaxed atmosphere.
But especially the inner center of the island lacks what we can bring from the metropolitan areas: Investment, infrastructure and jobs.
Using differences to create common ground
If we, as different generations and nations, come together with all our expertise, experiences and lifestyles, there will be great benefits for everyone: alternative living space for all those for whom the cities are becoming too cramped and too expensive. For others, the preservation and strengthening of village structures in one of the poorest, but also most beautiful regions in Europe.
"When people come together,
you have to reckon with miracles."
Hannah Arendt, philosopher
The goals of the cooperative
A cooperative is the ideal form of company to bring together different people with the same interests. Its task: to achieve benefits for its members. All members invest money, work and expertise where possible in order to achieve goals together that hardly any of us could achieve alone.
The great thing: If the members of the cooperative are doing well, the region also benefits. The 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are to be pursued as a guideline.
In detail:
Goal: Habitat/Community
- Acquire real estate and land through members' and investors' cooperative shares.
- Finance administration, maintenance and reserves through members' rents and the cooperative's economic activities.
- Offer affordable living space with protection against termination.
- Enable living as in ownership, but with more flexibility, without large equity, bureaucracy, long-term commitment and risk of loss of value.
- Create accessibility for people with disabilities.
- Enable needs-based living, even if needs change.
- Where possible, renovate in a way that conserves resources instead of building new.
- Energy-efficient refurbishment of existing properties.
- Use sustainable and local materials (cradle to cradle).
- Ensure energy-efficient climate management.
- Supplement individual rooms with communal areas.
- Creating spaces for living together in leisure and work.
Goal: Ecology
- regenerative agriculture with permaculture, food forest, etc.
- Reforestation for a better climate and as a water reservoir
- Protection of endemic flora and fauna
- Cultivation of own products for “farm to table” concept
- Livestock farming
- Sustainable energy sources
- Waste and wastewater management, e.g. with the help of a worm farm
- Fire prevention
Goal: Economic Activity
- Facility management and administration.
- Supporting members with administrative issues and language barriers.
- Offering additional care services.
- Cooperation with local providers of goods and services.
- Production and sale of agricultural, handicraft and artisan products.
- Gastronomy (see "eigenleben Speisecafé‘’) and shared kitchen as a meeting point and meeting place with locals.
- Alternative mobility: Community buses (solar-powered?) for the village and the surrounding area.
- Guest apartments for relatives and interested parties.
- Room rental for eco-tourism.
- Development of "home restaurants‘’.
- Courses, workshops, coaching, seminars ...
- Room rental for courses, workshops, coaching, seminars, co-working ...
- Organized and guided hikes, excursions, trips and short trips also for non-members.
Goal: Social Impact
- Integration into a growing community.
- Low cost of living.
- Projects and meaningful tasks to combat loneliness, for example "Good Kitchen" in Mussomeli ››
- Physical exercise and activities for better health.
- Responsibility for each individual through community management.
- Community involvement creates self-esteem.
- Integration of former migrant workers as mediators between nations.
- Use of local products and services strengthens the region's economy.
- Strengthening local organizations and institutions through cooperation.
- Expanding the cultural offerings in the region.
- Creating local jobs for locals and immigrants.
Today, as always, community is the most important thing in Sicilian families. Cohesion is strong and hospitality is legendary. Blessed are those who can be part of the Ferragosto round table! Photo: Anne Bauer
The nature of a cooperative is not profit-oriented, it is allowed to grow organically - the more members and investors buy shares and contribute their expertise, the more can be realized together. Our experience with many individuals and other organisations devoted to communities since 2017 has been outstanding: “Together” works excellently if you have the same interests, if you are open to others and everyone is committed to making things better for everyone.
The »healthy hill«
The first new home of the members of the cooperative will be Collesano (in English: the healthy hill). A place in the north of Sicily with a view of the coast near Cefalù (read a travel story here ››) and at the entrance to the UNESCO geopark of the Madonie.
With around 3,600 inhabitants, schools, stores, doctors, hawkers and a few bars and trattorias, the town is very lively, although the population has almost halved since the 1950s. You can tell by the “Vendesi” signs on many of the town's houses, some of which are in ruins. The opportunity for anyone who wants to preserve a lot of living space with little money.
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More InformationVideo: Sabine Schulte ››
Our network already consists of many different people from different regions and with different skills. But the task in front of us is also very big. This makes it all the more important that we pursue the right strategy and proceed as purposefully as possible.
We need you for this!
Fill out our questionnaire and be part of the community
To determine your potential needs, your interests and your professional skills, we ask you to answer this questionnaire ›› . If you don't want to, you don't need to leave your data and can fill it our anonymously.
This gives us a better basis for discussions with members, investors and other interested parties. And you get the opportunity to be involved right from the start.
How can I join?
1 – Fill in the Questionnaire
To assess the needs and provide a good basis for discussion with stakeholders , pleas fill out the questionnaire (only in German) ››
2 – Spread the word
This project will only work if many people participate. Both as members and as advisors and collaborators, locally on site, in person in Munich or virtually via the digital tools. The network of good people cannot be big enough!
3 –Get Involved
4 – Become a member
We would be delighted if you join us. To start, visit us in Collesano for the "get-together-weeks". More information is also to be found in FAQ ›
The team of eigenleben LIFE
Anne Bauer, President
born 1969 // Munich
design specialist with focus on communikations ››
Having always been an independent creative with a passion for complex topics and solutions, in 2017 she founded the non-profit eigenleben-Projekte ››.
Since 2023 development and implementation of the project of the cooperative eigenleben LIFE.
Contact: LinkedIn ›› or per E-Mail ››
Margaret Heckel, Vice-president
born 1966 // Potsdam
Autor, Journalist, Moderator ››
Author of a bestseller about German chancellor Angela Merkel and several books on demographic development. The journalist is convinced that living to 100 will become increasingly normal in the 21st century. She wants to help change society so that it is easy to live to 100 - above all through caring communities such as eigenleben LIFE.
Contact: LinkedIn ›› oder per E-Mail ››
Christian Taufenbach, Member of the Board of Trustees
born 1966 // Munich + Heidelberg
Architect ››
Passionate initiator and designer of new life in old walls, experienced in monument protection, residential and care buildings. Until now, his connection with Sicily has been with music, for which he has traveled to Palermo several times.
New territory in the old melting pot of European cultures - that's what interests him.
Contact: LinkedIn ›› or per E-Mail ››
Other eigenleben-Projects
NGO Marli Bossert Stiftung e.V. ›› and eigenleben gemeinnützige GmbH ›› have started many projects to further caring communities:
- since 2017: more visibility for old people on social media: the online magazine for best agers eigenleben.jetzt ››
- since 2018: eigenleben-Events ›› events for all ages
- since 2020: together agains loneliness during the Covid lockdown - digital meetings in the network eigenleben.Club ››
- 2021 to 2025: spending time together, having fun and eating together in the common space of Raum für eigenleben ›› in Munich, where all the university people are.
eigenleben in TV
»Raum für eigenleben« in Munich: Founder Anne Bauer and Thomas von Wittern (l.) talking with mit Christopher Griebel, münchen.tv
On August 15, 2024, our project was publicly presented on TV for the first time.
Anne Bauer, the founder of all eigenleben projects, and Thomas von Wittern, who played a key role in the creation of the project, talk in a relaxed “regulars' table” setting at Raum für eigenleben with journalist Christopher Griebel of münchen.tv.