Couple travelling the world to find the secrets of communities surviving and thriving in tough times

DOCUMENTARY producer Michael Murray and PhD researcher Susanna Carman are preparing to embark on an ambitious around-the-world project exploring what helps communities thrive in times of global crisis.

The couple, who live in an intentional community in Myocum, recently held a bon voyage celebration at Stone & Wood Brewery in Byron Bay before setting off on their six-month journey.

Funded by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship, What the Future forms part of a PhD research project at University of Technology Sydney, delivered through documentary film.

Their first stop is Sri Lanka, where they will research the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, an organisation that promotes holistic development through shared labour and Buddhist principles.

From there, the couple will travel to Egypt to study the SEKEM organisation, located north-east of Cairo. Founded in 1977 by Egyptian social entrepreneur Ibrahim Abouleish, the holistic community and ecosystem integrates sustainable agriculture and biodynamic farming with ethical businesses and products, alongside education, training, healthcare and community services.

They will then head to Spain’s Basque region, home to the world’s largest federation of worker cooperatives, Mondragon Corporation. Their European research will also include Tamera Ecovillage in Portugal, which aims to combine ecological regeneration with social transformation and cultural research to demonstrate that peace-oriented, sustainable lifestyles are both practical and replicable.

After spending time in the UK and Ireland, the final leg of the journey will take them to the United States, where they will research an urban co-housing project in inner-city Los Angeles.

“There’s about 50 community members and they also run their own conflict resolution business,” Murray said.

Murray said the goal is not to idealise the communities, but to present an honest portrayal of both their strengths and their challenges.

The pair hope to screen the finished film locally in 2027 before submitting it for review.

To follow their journey, visit wtfhub.org and sign up to their newsletter.