Reforest South India

  India

Auroville,  Puducherry (Pondicherry)

Term: Academic Year, Fall, Spring, Summer, Throughout the year, Trimester, Winter 
Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months, 7-12 months and 1-2 years
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: At any time

Description: Sadhana Forest is offering both short (minimum 2 weeks) and long term (minimum 3 months) work exchange volunteer/internship/study abroad opportunities in the fields of ecology, sustainable living and conservation. The main objective of Sadhana Forest is the reforestation of 70 Acres of severely eroded land in Tamil Nadu, India. We re-create the indigenous forest of our area, the Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest. This forest type is found only in South India and Sri Lanka and provides a rare biological richness due to its very high species abundance but it is now close to extinction as only 0.01% survives.

We practice an eco-friendly way of life including veganism, alternative construction, solar energy, water resource management, and composting toilets.

We are happy to welcome volunteers/interns here any time of the year and always have plenty of space for them. We are fully committed to accept everyone that wishes to volunteer here and help recreate the forest.

The types of work you will be involved in includes: Tree planting, indigenous plant nursery, contour bunding, organic gardening, fence building and installing, compost and soil management with Effective Microorganisms (EM).

At Sadhana Forest, you will have the opportunity to work closely with the director. This will enable you to be actively involved in the planning and implementation of our projects. We welcome and encourage new ideas and input. We can also assist in research and independent studies.

Sadhana Forest is a nonprofit ecological project that does not generate any income. The only way we can currently afford to compensate our volunteers/interns is by providing them with free on-site accommodation and other free facilities, such as a daily yoga class, small swimming pool, internet access, the use of several bicycles, and a small collection of books.

Unfortunately we cannot yet afford to provide free food for our volunteers/interns. We have communal vegan meals and use organic ingredients whenever possible. We all equally share the cost of the food ingredients we purchase. The total cost of food per person (including 3 meals a day) is 100 Indian Rupees per day (approx. $3US). In the future, when we grow our own food, we hope to pay less.

Cost in US$: none

Experience Required: no

Age Range: any

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to India Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of 25

Scholarships are Available. Those staying for more than 3 months will be cosidered for a scholarship.

Sadhana Forest's Mission Statement: Our main project is the reforestation of 70 acres of severely eroded land in the international community of Auroville. We are working to re-create the Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest indigenous to our area. We practice an eco-friendly way of life including veganism, organic gardening, alternative construction, solar energy, and composting toilets.

Year Founded: 2003