Living Routes: Geo Communities Semester
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When:
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Fall: Sep 4 - Dec 20th
Spring: Jan 19th - May 3rd |
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Where:
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Traveling semester accredited
by University of New Hampshire |
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Cost:
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$10,500 includes tuition,
program costs, room & board for 15 weeks and 12
- 16 credits |
Overview
The Geo Communities Semester aims to train leaders
for the 21st century. Studying sustainable living practices
at Auroville and other ecovillages in southern India, students
gain the theoretical knowledge and specific tools and applications
to ask reflective questions that guide their inquiry to
address the myriad issues that face humanity.
Auroville as "Ecovillage": Founded in
1968 with the intention of realizing human unity, Auroville
is now home to over 1,500 people from over 30 nations around
the world. Inspired by the vision of Mira Alfassa (a.k.a.
the "Mother"), and the great Indian mystic, Sri
Aurobindo, Auroville is an international town- ship which
aims to sustainably support 50,000 people. The community
is a pioneer in many emerging fields such as reforestation
and habitat restoration, appropriate technology, alternative
building modalities, organic farming, educational projects,
and more. Auroville offers an integrated model of sustainable
and spiritual living for the 21st century that unites ecological,
socio-cultural, and contemplative practices.
Itinerary
| Sirius Community (Ecovillage in western Mass.) |
3 days |
| Fireflies (Earth spirituality Ashram near Bangalore) |
1 week |
| Auroville (Community of 1500 in Tamil Nadu) |
9 weeks |
| Travel in Tamil Nadu (Palani Hills, Hampi) |
2 weeks |
| Periyar Sanctuary and Mitraniketan (Kerala) |
2 weeks |
| Sirius Community (Ecovillage in western Mass.) - Fall
only |
3 days |
Accrediting Institution
University of New Hampshire Durham, NH - 12 to 16 credits
Faculty
Wim Aspeslagh, M.A. in Int'l Studies, U. of OR. Long time
lead faculty
Dozens of resource people in and around Auroville and south
India
Program Dates (approximate)
Fall: Sep. 4th - Dec. 20th
Spring: Jan. 19th - May 3rd
Application Deadlines
(rolling admissions, apply early)
Recommended deadlines:
Fall: April 1st
Spring: October 1st
Cost
Tuition, program costs, room & board: $10,500
Courses
Studies in Sustainable Community Design - 4 credits
Students learn to recognize & analyze the physical,
social, economic, political, ethical, & spiritual elements
that make up sustainable communities. Students build strong
conceptual frameworks and have opportunities to practice
and experience community both by developing a learning community
and engaging with established host communities.
Human Relationships with their Environments - 4
credits
Students will study the role of human history, language,
education, physical landscape, society, and worldview on
shaping human-place relations. They will try out ways of
strengthening these connections through use of ecological
footprint analysis, ecological literacy, mindful awareness,
community/societal action, and systems thinking.
Internship in Sustainable Development - 4 credits
This field-based experience, combined with readings, dialogue,
reflection and a project paper, introduces the student to
the history, methods, and meanings of sustainable development.
Students select, implement, record, and evaluate an internship
project in sustainable development during their ten-week
stay in Auroville, India
Body, Mind, and Spirit: Cultivating Personal Sustainability
- * credits
Students are invited to inquire how the stories, myths,
education, upbringing, and lifestyles of their cultures
have shaped their worldviews. Students develop a range of
daily and weekly practices that support a deeper inquiry
into the essence of their being.
* Credit is anticipated by Spring 2004
For More Information
Contact Daniel Greenberg at daniel@livingroutes.org,
call (413) 259 0025, (888) 515 7333 or visit Living
Routes online at: http://www.LivingRoutes.org
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