Volunteer

Date: Saturday, February 7 Time: 12:00–13:30 UTC Join us for a transformative 90-minute webinar exploring how communities can reclaim credit and money systems to serve regenerative futures. Drawing on wisdom from pioneers like Margaret Kennedy, Ross Jackson, and the Zapatistas, alongside proven models from organizations like STRO and the State Bank of North Dakota, we’ll examine the root structures of our current economic system and discover pathways toward mutualized, community-based alternatives. This interactive gathering brings together voices from the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) and regenerative movements worldwide to explore how credit—when controlled by communities rather than private interests—can become a powerful tool for social and ecological transformation. Through presentations, dialogue, breakout reflections, and collective sensing, we’ll investigate what it means to build trust-based economic systems that flow resources where they’re truly needed. Whether you’re an ecovillage member, community organizer, or someone curious about economic alternatives, this webinar offers practical insights, inspiring case studies, and an opportunity to connect with a global network committed to systemic change. We’ll also introduce new collaborative platforms designed to strengthen our interconnected movement.

Mount of Oaks/Monte dos Carvalhos has 10 week programs, in Autumn and Spring for 2 to 4 people, who would like to experience community living and deepen their knowledge and experience on off-grid sustainable living…you will also have the challenge to practice your design skills and present to us at least one design of either a new system or improvement of existing ones. The Regeneration process on this 5 hectar piece of land started in 2006, when the land was bought through a divine miracle and many people´s generosity before “crowd funding” was even a concept. The land has no private property as it became part of an Association and residents are guardians and part of the ecossystem. Back when I (Barbara) came here, I could only see plowed fields, a small stone ruin with half roof, some olive trees, some citrus trees and a few pear trees, a tiny little native forest at the top of the hill and a massive pond, and a tiny little forest at the bottom… Thank God, the seed bank needed to begin the restororation was still here, and with many human, animal, fungi and vegetable help, things started to improve… Now I can say it is an abundant, resilient and restored ecossystem 🙂 Our first 5 years were mainly filled with daily tasks, getting to know our neighbours and the region, observing the natural system and praying, as that was our main intention for this place…A refuge of peace, rest, healing and prayer that restores land. From 2009 to 2012 we hosted several PDC´s each year, with the great pioneer in Portugal, Lesley Martin… Today, besides the most important which is a restored healthy no tilled soil, we have already much to inspire others and much to develop still : – The only existing small ruined was restored to be our common working kitchen now filled with a lot of our delicious produce (olives and olive oil, aromatic herbs, teas, madicine in all shapes and forms and fermented food and drinks ) – different compost toilet systems; – hot shower w

Why learn Permaculture? Permaculture helps us to live a balanced and sustainable life. Whether in a rural, suburban, or urban area, the principles, ethics, and design methods to which a practitioner of Permaculture adheres – or rather, since none of us are perfect, aspires to adhere – are the very principles, ethics, and methods that will greatly increase the possibility for a sustainable, regenerative human presence in harmony with all life on this planet. This PDC, facilitated at a forming ecovillage in the tropics, is, at its core, about relearning a mindset that humankind has lost over time, a mindset of abundance and cooperation not just with other human beings but with all life on earth. The primary steward of your learning experience is Rebecca Reiber, founder of 8th Life Panama EcoVillage project. Rebecca has over 30 years of practical experience in building teams, facilitating change, and creating and implementing Permaculture designs in a variety of settings. She is joined by experienced co-facilitators during each PDC — see the Faciltitors tab. Learn by doing! To increase learning opportunities and keep “classroom time” to a minimum while on site, there are 4 preparatory online classes held in the weeks prior to the onsite course. This maximizes practical hands-on experience and allows for meaningful discussion and action-learning. The course includes 13 full days of onsite learning including over 90 hours of practice, instruction, discussion, and skill sharing. This course will challenge you to learn by doing and, when you’re ready, to enhance your learning by coaching others on what you’ve just learned. We all bring many skills to the table and we each have special gifts and talents and we will also challenge you to apply and adapt these throughout the course. Activities will center around the ever-changing panorama of a forming ecovillage i

This special Legacy ToT will stay as true as possible to Pracha’s incredible teaching that he developed over decades. Every aspect of human interaction needs facilitation. Mindful participatory facilitation is an invaluable skill for leaders in a shifting paradigm as it is equalising and empowering rather than hierarchical and dominating. In this experiential training participants will co-create a safe space and gain ample facilitation practice in a supportive environment. They will deepen awareness and experience in how to teach, facilitate and train people by enabling collaboration among a community of learners. Participants will flourish in a dynamic balance of mindfulness practice and open experimentation within the design and facilitation of holistic education sessions. The course will inspire you to know what you are most deeply called to teach and why this kind of empowerment education is critically important for the future of life on Earth. The training will be certified by SEM College & Gaia Education. Content will be adapted and designed to meet the needs of participants drawing from the following topics. This training forms one of the requirements to become a certified Gaia Education Trainer. WHAT TOPICS OF LEARNING WILL THIS TOT COVER? (A) Introduction to Participatory Learning(PL) & Community Building : – Recognise values of games as learning tools and processes for participation and co-creation of knowledge – comprehend cycle of participatory learning(Praxis) & basic skills. – Express the relevance of co-creation of knowledge (B) Trust Building & Learning Community : – employ techniques of building trust – recognise values of building a safe container for learning (C) Holistic Perspectives : – Recognise values and limitations of holistic, clear thinking – Practice tools to experience different perspectives (d) Emerging Design, Group Energy and Mindfulness : – Comprehend benefits of mindfulness as a facili

We’re excited to offer you a transformative experience during our Ecovillage Lifestyle Experiential Week at Gaia Ashram. Throughout the week, you’ll get to immerse yourself in the inspiring ecovillage lifestyle, learning and growing through daily yoga and meditation, fun activities, and theoretical sessions on Ecovillage Design Education by Gaia Education. Every afternoon we offer practical permaculture hands-on session where you will learn about natural building, gardening and more. This whole systems design approach encompasses social, cultural, ecological, and economic regeneration – and we think you’ll find it fascinating. At its core, an Ecovillage Lifestyle is all about holistic living and drawing from the wealth of knowledge, wisdom, and experiences from ecovillages around the world. We’re passionate about making learning a multi-sensory experience that engages your mind, heart, and hands. That’s why our Experiential Ecovillage Lifestyle Week is a blend of theory, hands-on learning, and deep conversations.

Welcome! We’re excited to offer you a transformative experience during our Ecovillage Lifestyle Experiential Week at Gaia Ashram. Throughout the week, you’ll get to immerse yourself in the inspiring ecovillage lifestyle, learning and growing through daily yoga and meditation, fun activities, and theoretical sessions on Ecovillage Design Education by Gaia Education. Every afternoon we offer practical permaculture hands-on session where you will learn about natural building, gardening and more. This whole systems design approach encompasses social, cultural, ecological, and economic regeneration – and we think you’ll find it fascinating. At its core, an Ecovillage Lifestyle is all about holistic living and drawing from the wealth of knowledge, wisdom, and experiences from ecovillages around the world. We’re passionate about making learning a multi-sensory experience that engages your mind, heart, and hands. That’s why our Experiential Ecovillage Lifestyle Week is a blend of theory, hands-on learning, and deep conversations.

Deep Ecology & The Work that Reconnects is a course where participants are guided through deep learning processes based in the framework of the Work That Reconnects(WTR) by Joanna Macy that helps to gain insights into Deep Ecology philosophy. Deep Ecology learning process will help participants to reconnect with nature as the whole and start questioning and finding insights about who we are and our place in it. This course helps participants highly motivated to be part of the earth restoration story in their own unique way.

Welcome! We’re excited to offer you a transformative experience during our Ecovillage Lifestyle Experiential Week at Gaia Ashram. Throughout the week, you’ll get to immerse yourself in the inspiring ecovillage lifestyle, learning and growing through daily yoga and meditation, fun activities on community building, and theoretical sessions on Ecovillage Design Principles. Every afternoon we offer practical permaculture hands-on session where you will learn about natural building, gardening and more. This whole systems design approach encompasses social, cultural, ecological, and economic regeneration – and we think you’ll find it fascinating. At its core, an Ecovillage Lifestyle is all about holistic living and drawing from the wealth of knowledge, wisdom, and experiences from ecovillages around the world. We’re passionate about making learning a multi-sensory experience that engages your mind, heart, and hands. That’s why our Experiential Ecovillage Lifestyle Week is a blend of theory, hands-on learning, and deep conversations.

This course is intended to offer theory and practices of Foundation of Yoga Asana for those who want to start their yoga path. The course is held at Gaia Ashram, located at Ban That, Phen District, Udon Thani Province, Thailand. WHAT WILL YOU BE LEARNING IN THE COURSE -Foundation of Yoga Asana -Fundamental of Pranayamas -Meditation and Kriya (cleanse) -Main groups of asanas: standing, folding forward, backbend, inversion and twisting. -Techniques for entering and exiting the asanas -How to practice safely and prevent injury, and build your own consistent practice with suitable adjustments for your body INSTRUCTOR Wanwisa Taesuwan or Kru Tuk has been practicing yoga for over ten years. She has been practicing Bikram Yoga(hot yoga), Jivamukti Yoga(Hatha Vinyasa), Iyengar Yoga, Yin Yoga & Hatha Yoga. Wanwisa has been teaching yoga overseas and in Thailand for 5 years now. She is also the founder of Yoga Together for Youth Detention Center (volunteer program) & Yoga for community. Wanwisa runs yoga retreats in Thailand, Laos & Bali as well as co teaching TTC (Teacher Training Course) A part from Yoga, Wanwisa is passionate about homemade products such as soap making, Kombucha and traditional and healthy snacks.

Dance with Gaia: Process Your Community will focus on the wisdom of Arnold Mindell, the founder of Process Work or Process-oriented psychology. Process Work uses awareness to track psychological and physical processes that illuminate and possibly resolve inner, relationship, community and world issues. To track and follow the processes mean to follow the nature, by following the visible and subtle signals coming from people and events. This means respecting individuals, groups, and the environment, exploring reality and also the dream and essence levels of events. By doing this we often gain more understanding and get surprising temporary solutions as well. WHAT WE WILL LEARN TOGETHER: -3 levels of experiences -Rank awareness -The structure of process -Concept of edge -Inner work -4 phases in group process Apart from the above, Dance with Gaia: Process Your Community will take participants to learn: -how to use Process work as a methodology to work on personal issues and help supporting other to work with his/her issues -how to approach and facilitate conflict and how to listen and embrace all voices -how to deal with differences and diversity to enrich individual and group potential -for those who are interested in facilitation skills to work in dyads or triads and hopefully, to have opportunity to do group work.