Networking Director
Trudy is a key contributor in bridging communities and organisations in Asia and Oceania, activating collaboration across borders and disciplines, and often being the catalyst for various projects and initiatives. She is GEN's Networking Director, works actively in the operations team of the Global Ecovillage Network Oceania & Asia (GENOA) and is in the leadership circle of GEN Australia. Trudy is an accredited trainer in GEN, Gaia Education (Ecovillage Design Education), Analog Forestry (a design science for forest ecosystem restoration) and yoga, and holds a graduate degree in Sustainability Education. In addition, she has studied, practiced and taught permaculture and deep ecology for many years. She has been the head of democratic school in Thailand for migrants and refugees, managed a sustainability education centre in Sri Lanka, and co-produced creative social change symposiums (with Ferment Collaborate). Trudy is passionate about working with communities in transition to ecovillages and those facing climate change, and continues to facilitate workshops across Asia and Oceania, for youth and women.
Originally from Sri Lanka, Trudy's family migrated to the Middle East and then Australia when she was young. Wanting to reconnect with her roots, she moved back to Asia 15 years ago, and has lived in traditional villages and intentional communities in Thailand, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
Primary interests: Social (Diversity & Cohesion, Trust & Communication, Health & Healing, Leadership & Governance); Culture (Wisdom & Innovation); Integral Design (Contextualised Design); Ecology (Ecosystem Restoration, Seeds, Food & Soil); Economy (Sharing & Collaboration)
Events & Trainings held by Trudy Juriansz
GEN Online Summit Hub Brisbane
- Date: 1 – 10 February 2019
- Language:
- English
- Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Community hub in Brisbane hosted by group of friends … Read more
Site content by Trudy Juriansz
Ecovillages
Fiji Ecovillage Transition Project
The Fiji Ecovillage Transition Project is an initiative by GENOA and GEN Australia, to engage the sustainability network of Fiji and to assist a pilot traditional village in the transition towards ecovillage. There are four key dimensions in ‘ecovillage’ - social, ecology, worldview (culture) and economy, integrating into a whole systems design. We acknowledge and respect that many Pacific Island communities are already strong in social and culture, and our role is to guide them to see and … Read more
Mantra Life
Mantra Life is a community center in Colombo, Sri Lanka that focuses on promoting sustainable living, improving health and well-being of individuals, Sustainable development, environmental support, reconciliation and women's empowerment are main focuses, with the broader goal of also being a socially conscious venture. Our Philosophy at Mantra Life is to help people create a fulfilling life that is in harmony with the universal laws of happiness, to feel strong and in sync with the inner self … Read more
Blog posts
Leading through Action A River of Life Story
Visolela Rosa Namises, a national leader, representative of GEN Africa and advocate for women’s rights has been initiating incredible work in Namibia. With the support of River of Life funds in 2020, Visolela was able to work with women from different communities to develop gardens for food security, nutrition and as a way to improve their livelihoods. She conducted 6 workshops and events in the past year, working in 6 villages and 3 schools, reaching over 850 people, including women, youth, … Read more
Creating healthy, resilient food systems A River of Life story
Linda Kabaira is a dedicated community worker, who runs projects with SCOPE in Zimbabwe and Zambia with young women and schools, focusing on creating home gardens as a tool for ecological regeneration. Linda received funds through the River of Life in 2016 and 2020. Working with young women, Linda focuses mostly on growing staple food crops and using permaculture techniques to build soil fertility, manage water and maximize harvests. During 2016 when she received River of Life funds, she … Read more
Emergence of the ‘River of Life’ in GEN Brief history
In April 2013, 25 African women joined a four week ‘By Women, For Women’ Ecovillage Design Education (EDE), held by Lua Bashala and Kosha Joubert at Umphakatsi Peace Ecovillage, Mpumalanga, South Africa. The women exchanged and learned about ecological, cultural, social and economic aspects of sustainable community living and designed small projects to increase the resilience of their neighbourhoods. On another level, a deep level of mutual trust was built amongst them as they shared stories … Read more
GENOA – From Deeper Levels of Insight
Trudy Juriansz shares about GEN Oceania and Asia. Two of GENOA’s key objectives for 2016 were to develop more authentic and trusting exchanges, and organize activities and initiatives from deeper levels of insight. We were able to do this through convergence, community building and through being more mindful of how the budget is utilized. We focused on one sub-regional gathering in partnership with an ecovillage and networks in the region and also on network coordination and strategy … Read more
Events
International Ecovillage Design Education (EDE)
- Date: 16 February – 18 March 2020
- Language:
- English
- Location: Gaia Ashram, 149M1 , Banthat, Phen , Udonthani, 41150, Thailand, Thailand
Immerse yourself in this one month residential program at Gaia Ashram, that dives deep into understanding the multiple crises we are facing worldwide, looking at solutions and learning how to design with whole systems thinking in order to address issues, while living together in community. … Read more
GEN Online Summit Hub Brisbane
- Date: 1 – 10 February 2019
- Language:
- English
- Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Community hub in Brisbane hosted by group of friends … Read more
Introduction to Analog Forestry
- Date: 15 – 22 February 2016
- Language:
- English
- Location: Belipola Sustainability Education Center, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
Analog Forestry uses a robust set of tools to design productive, healthy and restorative forest ecosystems. The tools are suited for any climate zone for any part of the world. This introductory course of Analog Forestry will give participants a good understanding and practical approach towards restoring and healing degraded landscapes, and creating abundance. This course is about understanding the functions of a forest and creating systems that are analogous (similar) as a method of … Read more
Kolamba Yathra 2015
- Date: 19 September 2015
- Language:
- English
- Location: Undefined
The Kolamba Yathra is an actively engaged walking journey around the city of Colombo - the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. ECO-V is the organisation coordinating the journey, and has been conducting Yathras since 2011 to raise awareness, that leads to action and behavioral change, on climate change issues among the general public. It also serves to catalyze and support the creation of green youth leaders. The youth who are taking part in Yathras gain exposure to ‘green activities,’ serving as … Read more
