This was an affiliate event. Our affiliates are people with whom we have a previous working relationship, but who operate independently of Kleiwerks International. Therefore, Kleiwerks International does not assume responsibility for content or quality, but we wished this program and project the best of luck!

India Archives

An affiliate event
PERMACULTURE AND Natural Building WORKSHOP: Build a community resource center for the Buddha Smiles' Model Village Program during the third annual Natural Building workshop.
December 30, 2005-January 28, 2006
Buddha Smiles
Nelvoy Thoppu Village, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu
Instructors/Facilitators: Jo Jandai, Peggy Reents, Suku Das, Rico Zook

Come together with natural builders, peace and social activists, participants from various countries and local community members to build an integral component to the Buddha Smiles’ Model Village Program – the Community Resource Center – that will serve as a school, meeting space, and home for local businesses. During the four weeks we will work with the local builders from India, and natural builders from Thailand who are reviving the great tradition of Natural Building in this part of the world. Complementing the Natural Building course will be an "Introduction to Permaculture" course consisting of daily lectures, hands-on activities and a field trip.

Natural Building Topics and Techniques:

• adobe
• cob
• natural finishes (earthen and manual plasters)
• sculptural relief
• bamboo work
• thatch roof
• foundation work
• arch, window and door frame installation
• mixing techniques, model making
• appropriate tropical design etc.
  

Permaculture Topics:

Participants will learn whole system holistic design using permaculture principles, and use those skills to setup a mini-garden. Permaculture is a design system to create regenerative, sustainable systems. Permaculture was created through the synthesis of many design systems, with the emphasis on nature as the penultimate one. Similarly, the insights and value of traditional and indigenous practices and knowledge are acknowledged along with the necessity of molding these with our current understandings and the appropriate technologies of today's world. What Permaculture seeks to do is to create three-dimensional designs that are site specific and sustainable. Through this course participants will learn how systems can be designed holistically using Permaculture principles. It will complement the Natural Building activities and further help to promote the holisitc development of the community.

Other Activites Include:

Indian cooking
Weekly cultural activities including dancing, music and drama reflecting the local traditions
Walking tours
Buddha Smiles will be happy to organise day tours to important historical, religious, spiritual and tourist places near Vellore.

Buddha Smiles is a humble grassroots initiative that aims to build a peaceful, nonviolent and just world. We are a project of the Spirit in Life Movement, a registered Public Charitable and Educational Trust. Buddha Smiles is inspired by the Gandhian philosophy of Sarvodaya
(welfare of all) which recognizes that the spiritual, moral, cultural, social, economic and political dimensions are all necessary components of holistic development.

Our primary objective is to address the challenges of primary education for disadvantaged children at the grassroots level by creating community-based schools. We do this in cooperation with students, social activists and enthusiastic community members. The education of women has a much greater influence and impact on child care and development than any form of social action, therefore we incorportate basic health care for woman into our educational programs.

Back to Main Page | Back to Top

Stay tuned for updates and new workshop information.