BE Hive London Story: “Space to Meet, Think, and Build — A Simple Tool for Systems Change”

Be The Earth is not just a foundation — it is a living system, a network of interconnected forces working toward regeneration, self-awareness, and environmental harmony. We act as both soil and seed, as ecosystem and catalyst, creating spaces where ideas, relationships, and projects take root and flourish.

BE Hives are Be The Earth's local spaces, shaped by care, rooted in place, where regenerative culture is lived, not just talked about. 

They are living labs for eco-centric economies. 

We do not build rigid structures.

We cultivate environments.  

We do not force outcomes.

We set clear intentions and allow emergence.

We do not impose.

We nurture.

Like the unseen networks of mycelium that nourish forests, our BE Hives act as incubators — hidden yet vital threads that connect people, projects, and places. These spaces offer fertile ground for regenerative land stewardship, conscious entrepreneurship, and the awakening of deeper ecological wisdom.

Community Story: By Aimee Refaat, Independent Consultant, International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group)

In finance, we talk about systems change, but we rarely invest in the simplest enabler: a physical space where unlikely allies can meet, think, and prototype together.

When I first heard about BE Hive London I thought this is too good to be true! A non-commercial space dedicated to bringing together people who want to create a more beautiful world, a space for co-working, co-being, and connecting with others. In the middle of London – the heart of financial and commercial activity. I have never come across anything like this before.

The idea is so simple but so powerful. In our current world there are hardly any non-commercial public spaces left for people to meet and connect. Being welcomed into a space for who you are as opposed to what you can pay is revolutionary in our current world.

This is also where the magic happens.

The BE Hive gave me the opportunity to connect with people I didn’t know existed. People I do not come across in my line of work, finance. I had been looking for a long time to connect with people that thought an alternative economy and financial system were possible. Researching online and reaching out to people online was not working. 

After looking for years, in the span of two weeks of going to the BE Hive, I had connected with a community that were not only imagining an alternative economy that works for everyone, they were actually working on making it happen.

It has made me feel like I am not alone. It has given me inspiration for what role I could play to try to make this more beautiful world possible — and the comfort of knowing there is a community of like-minded people I can turn to for support.  

What is so special about the space are the people who steward the place. Their sole objective is to nurture a community. Mia takes the time to meet and listen to the people that sign up to come to the space and then suggests events held at the BE Hive by other community members that might be of interest. That personal care translated into meaningful connections for me. 

Two standouts include:

• Earth Funding Lab: I joined a BE Hive roundtable held by Regenerosity where we explored pool funding as an effective mechanism for wealth distribution. Here, I met the Earth Funding Lab team, convening investors/funders to create systemic regenerative finance.
  

• Moral Imaginations: I joined a BE Hive workshop held by inspiring founder, Phoebe Tickell. Her organisation is joyfully working to grow the moral imagination: collective imagining to increase radical kinship with the human and more-than-human worlds, present, past and future.

One other value the BE Hive has provided me with is the introduction to a niche within the philanthropy world that is interested in making systemic changes, as opposed to charity projects within the current system.

This was eye opening for me as this is not the philanthropy I have come across and is inspiring new ideas for my work.      

What this space enables:

• Trust-first collaboration and values-led convening. 

• Widening the circle of collaborators to include unlikely allies.

• Curated introductions: turn serendipity into pilots.

Simple. Non-Commercial. Caring. In a city built for transactions, the BE Hive is a place for transformation.

Aimee’s Reciprocity Hive Offerings:

Coffee & Chat in London: International Development & Impact Investing

Directing finance where it's needed. I refer to my work as bridging two worlds: the world of financial institutions & the world of those doing the real work on the ground, with a focus on regenerative agriculture. Always up for a coffee and chat on how we bridge these worlds!

E-book: Adventures in The Land of Astra, by Aimee Refaat

An alternative view of our world in a story for young adults, and older. The Land of Astra is a cumulation of my experience across education, healthcare, economics, and how we think about work.

Curious? 

Email mia@betheearth.foundation to redeem Aimee’s Reciprocity Hive offerings.