Prout Convention 2025
“Stronger Together: How Cooperation Builds a Better Future”

July 18–23, 2025

The much-anticipated Prout Convention 2025 is now open for registration—and we warmly invite you to be part of it!

This year’s theme, “Stronger Together: How Cooperation Builds a Better Future,” highlights the vital role of cooperation in creating a more just, sustainable, and spiritually grounded society. As our world faces escalating challenges—economic inequality, environmental breakdown, social fragmentation—the Prout framework offers hopeful and practical alternatives rooted in collective empowerment and Neohumanist values. Throughout the week, we’ll explore how cooperation can transform our food systems, economies, education, care work, and communities—from the local to the global. Through talks, workshops, artistic expression, embodied practice, and deep dialogue, we will experience the strength and joy of coming together to build the future we envision.

This year’s convention will feature a diverse and inspiring group of speakers, practitioners, and artists from around the world—offering insight, tools, and stories of transformation grounded in lived experience. From cooperative organizing to spiritual futures, from historical critique to creative expression, their contributions will help us deepen our understanding and expand our collective imagination.
Whether you are an organizer, activist, spiritual seeker, student, artist, or simply someone longing for a better way, this gathering is for you.

Come join us in Ananda Gaorii, Denmark, from July 18 to 23 for a week of inspiration, learning, connection, and shared purpose.

Together, we are stronger—and together, we build the future.

Program and Speakers

Aaron Frank (Ananta) – USA

Aaron will explore the historical construction of the “selfishness myth,” a prevailing narrative in Western society that portrays humans as naturally self interested. This myth underpins the justification for free market capitalism and continues to shape political and economic thought. The talk will trace the myth’s origins to 17th century Europe, where Indigenous critiques of European society prompted a conservative backlash, influencing thinkers like Hobbes and Smith. These reactions laid the groundwork for many of today’s dominant ideologies. Through a historical lens, this session uncovers how such narratives were cemented into mainstream belief—and what lessons we can draw to create new, cooperative paradigms of human nature.

Randi Jakobsen (Rainjita) – Norway

Randi will present on the Seikatsu Club Consumer Cooperatives, a powerful example of cooperative success. Originating in 1968 with a group of housewives, the Seikatsu model has grown into 33 independent coops with over 420,000 members. These cooperatives span food production, elder care, childcare, support for the disabled, and renewable energy initiatives—all rooted in ethics, sustainability, and mutual aid rather than profit. This session will explore how Seikatsu embodies community empowerment through “participatory welfare,” where human connection drives social services. It will also examine how the model relates to Sarkar’s ideas, their approaches to project financing and coordination, and the cultural political context that enabled their growth.

Dr. Ivana Milojević – Serbia/Australia will deliver a keynote on feminist futures, drawing from her extensive work across sociology, education, gender studies, peace studies, and future thinking. She will also facilitate a hands on conflict transformation workshop, where participants will engage with methods to explore and resolve tensions within and between communities. This session invites participants to challenge dominant narratives and explore new pathways toward gender justice and peaceful cooperation.

Dr. Sohail Inayatullah – Paquistan/Australia

Sohail, UNESCO Chair in Futures Studies, will guide participants through two experiential workshops. The first introduces Causal Layered Analysis (CLA), a method that helps individuals and groups examine underlying causes and narratives in their work. The second workshop focuses on the Sarkar Game, an interactive experience exploring the social cycle and dynamics of power and leadership through the lens of Proutist theory. Together, these sessions will offer profound insights into systemic transformation—both inner and outer.

Fernando Aranda – Mexico/Portugal

Fernando leads a hands-on workshop using printmaking to explore the slogan “cooperation empowers people to decide their own future.” In this interactive session, participants will first engage in dialogue about the meaning and lived examples of cooperation. They’ll then translate their ideas into drawings, which will be carved, inked, and printed using kline cardboard and vibrant paper. The final artworks will be displayed as a collaborative installation. A concluding dialogue circle will allow participants to reflect on the process and share insights about cooperation through visual storytelling.

Filipa Costa – Portugal

Filipa introduces Converge – Cooperativa Integral da Cova da Beira, a newly launched initiative based in central Portugal. Officially established in March, Converge emerged from the “Cova da Beira Converge” samaj movement and aims to strengthen the region’s economic, cultural, and ecological foundations. With 15 founding members and five key partner organizations—including farmers’ and cultural associations, the Ananda Kalyani Master Unit, and the Prout Research Institute Portugal—the cooperative unites local producers, associations, institutions, and consumers. This session will explore how Converge supports short supply chains, affordable housing, self-employment, the arts, and education, all while advancing social and environmental justice. Grounded in regenerative practices and equitable resource distribution, Converge offers a living model for cooperative prosperity in action.

A Growing Project

Ananda Gaorii Master Unit (retreat center and organic farm) itself is steadily developing. We have talented young volunteers, we are making good progress in our garden with three new greenhouses and more of our land being used for growing our own crops. The garden will be supplying most of the vegetables for the Prout Convention this year. We have a new roof, additional new rooms and several other renovations in progress.

Accommodation

Ananda Gaori has a combination of rooms, dormitories and grassy fields for camping. Most of the rooms have double bunk beds while the dormitories have mattresses on the floor. Participants should bring their own sheets, sleeping bag, etc. Those who need more privacy and peace (and loud snorers) are encouraged to bring their own tent and camp (Note: We will set up some of Ananda Gaorii’s tents and make a limited number available for participants). If you have special needs regarding accomodation, please contact the organizing team or Dada Ambareshvarananda () in advance!

Getting here:
1. Purchase a ticket from Copenhagen Central Station to Holbæk.

2. From Holbæk, take Bus 560
Destination: Nykøbing Sj. St.
Get off at Herrestrup Terminal (Nykøbingvej).

3. Transfer to Bus 566
Destination: Nykøbing Sj. St.
Get off at Sneglerupvej (Nykøbingvej).

4. Walk about 10-12 minutes to the retreat location:
Ananda Gaorii – Holbækvej 56, 4560 Vig

Alternative Option:
If you arrive too late in Holbæk to catch the above buses, you can take the train to Vig Station.
Please call or message us 30 minutes before arriving, and we will arrange for someone to pick you up.

For those who arrive at the Vig train station, there is a 24h Taxi available at +45 59 91 41 41