STORIES
A look inside our programme:
where stories of transformation take place
Doreen, Taiwan
This experience was the most deeply I have felt that I was myself. It was a real gift to have the space to be myself, and I got a stronger conviction to work towards what I love and what I fear. In the West we talk a lot about doing what you love, but it’s also important to get closer and embrace what I’m afraid of.
Stories and Insights from the Journey
STUDENT REFLECTIONS
A RARE PLACE WHERE YOU CAN DISCOVER YOURSELF AND OTHERS AT A DEEPER LEVEL
Azusa, Japan
The reason why I participated Awakening Leadership Training Program (ALT) is that I have been struggling for a while in my life. I have experienced depression, withdrawal syndrome, and that let me think deeply why I am living, the reason for being here. Although I tried to do several different things such as changing jobs, living in different places, and doing volunteer work, I found that my world view has not changed and I repeated same way of thinking and doing.
ARTICLES
New discoveries and lessons learned
April 15, 2019
The Gaia Education Training of Trainers in Thailand took place from 27 February – 13 March, 2019 at a beautiful beach location, and with a wide diversity among the 31 participants from South, Southeast, and Northeast Asia, US and Europe. Under the title ‘Mindful Participatory Facilitation for Empowerment’, the experienced team led by Pracha Hutanuwatra and Jane Rasbash skilfully facilitated a powerful and transformational learning journey, reflected here by Sarah Horowitz
LOCAL SOLUTIONS – ALTERNATIVES IN PRACTICE IN RURAL THAILAND
January 23, 2019
Thirteen individuals representing eight different countries left Bangkok on the November 26th (2018) evening train to Surin—hoisting with them an assortment of coloring pastels, rolls of long white paper, sleeping bags, tents, and straw mats for sitting on cooled tiled floors. I was blessed to be a member of this motley crew and a documentarian of this process. By the end of 12 days, we had zig-zagged by train, plane, minivan, and once, even a puttering farm cart to almost every major region across the country.
NONG SARAI: WHERE YOU CAN DEPOSIT YOUR GOOD DEEDS
December 18, 2018
Nong Sarai community, like other communities in Thailand, has been facing the effects of the state’s economic development and top-down planning. Villagers were more than 100 million baht in debt because of the trend for economic growth and industrialisation. Yet, the problems were solved by natural community leadership and sustainable living. The community elders decided to focus on happiness and not on the level of GDP. Now the community has become a role model for other communities in Thailand. This article will present how the community moved away from the old paradigm of development and established their own ways.
