gyvename

Gyvename is a term used in Lithuanian-speaking contexts, literally the first-person plural present form of the verb gyventi (to live). In contemporary usage, it is employed as a label for initiatives and projects that emphasize communal living, sustainability, and everyday resilience.

In practice, gyvename appears in a variety of settings, including grassroots campaigns, neighborhood co-housing groups, community gardens, time-banking networks, and cultural collectives that organize shared meals, skill swaps, and local exchanges.

Its guiding principles include interdependence, equitable access to resources, participatory decision-making, inclusivity, and a focus on reducing ecological footprints, while preserving individual autonomy within collective arrangements.

There is no single governing body or formal doctrine. Gyvename functions as a flexible label that different communities adapt to their own contexts, making it more of a movement concept than a centralized organization.

Reception to the concept is mixed. Proponents highlight social cohesion and practical resilience, while critics warn of vagueness, potential romanticizing of communal living, and possible conflicts over norms and resource-sharing.

Related terms and concepts include communal living, co-housing, mutual aid, shared economies, and the urban commons.