The training organised by Wongsanit Ashram hosted many participants from traditional villages that have deep respect of indigenous wisdom and in many ways are very ecological sustainable communities. They joined the programme with the aim of learning and sharing with the modern ecovillage movement and to return to their traditional villages where they will strengthen their practice.

Wongsanit Ashram is a spiritual activist community devoted to developing and promoting a lifestyle that is grounded in Buddhist Dharma, cultural diversity and environmental sustainability. It is home to educators and social activists who lead programmes in grassroots leadership, in natural construction techniques, and in empowering marginalized communities.

Around half of the participants came from traditional villages that have deep respect of indigenous wisdom and in many ways are very ecological sustainable communities. They joined the programme with the aim of learning and sharing with the modern ecovillage movement and to return to their traditional villages where they will strengthen their practice.


The other half came for sustainability-literacy from organisations and ecovillages in the west with the intention of returning to their communities and initiating new eco-activities.

Throughout the month there was an ongoing dialogue on the theme of whether and how traditional communities in the South and ecovillages in the North differ.

Both learned deeply from each other. Also, from the vast knowledge and local experience of grass roots leadership training for sustainable communities that Wongsanit has developed in the region over many decades.

Most of the participants stayed on to complete another weeklong training of trainers TOT using a participatory approach in organizing learning experiences.  The process of participatory learning is a vital part of the Wongsanit EDE both as an effective learning methodology and a toolbox for those who want to be EDE facilitators in the future.