Surya World assists with the construction of a hut with their bare hands, as part of their humanitarian project near Trichy in Tamil Nadu, South India. Their contribution saved the custodians of this project about 6 months of labour, with their limited access to manpower and lack of tools.

You can view our photo journal of this project here

Surya members of all ages from 5 continents plant native evergreen trees in a biodiverse garden project in Tamil Nadu, South India. Over the years Surya World has developed an ongoing relationship with Auroville, where seeds and trees are regularly sourced and a charitable trust near Trichy, where the planting is carried out. Plants are grown and maintained in a simple, ecological manner using principles of biodynamic agriculture and the numerous varieties provide shade, timber, food and medicinal support to the local community. Aside from holding nature awareness programmes with the community’s children, the objective of the garden is to provide a model for the local area that demonstrates how to grow with little water on such dry land. This is one of Surya World’s ecological projects with local partners around the world.

You can view our project images via this link.

As part of our objective to provide sustainable living skills, we held a bushcraft adventure in July where participants were trained how to make fires in humid terrain, and shared great moments connecting with nature in the lake of Annecy.

You can view our photo journal of this adventure here.

Our wilderness camping adventure in the Auvergne region of central France provided opportunities for participants to gain bushcraft skills in the summer. The rudiments of how to survive in nature was taught including how to use a knife, cut wood, make fire and archery, all in an atmosphere of fun.

You can view our photo journal of the adventure here.

Surya World has been donated use of a portion of land to develop an environmental project in Nigeria. The project idea is to create an eco retreat where people can come to for meditation, yoga, fresh air, healthy living and eating. This would be of particular benefit to those living in Lagos, a polluted mega-city that is choked with over 20 million inhabitants. The proposed retreat will have environmentally sustainable structures and chalets for simple living, set in generous gardens. In addition there will be farming on the land of food and medicinal plants. We are seeking local youth focused NGO’s and resource partners for direct involvement and to kick start this project. Join in this eco development project by completing our partnership form here:

https://www.surya-world.org/partnerships/

You can view our photo journal of the land survey here.

Surya members from the USA, France, Reunion Island and UK serve as volunteers in environmental stewardship projects in Kerala and Tamil Nadu Ashrams.

You can view our photo journal here.

In Queretaro, participation of youth volunteers in reforestation works was done in partnership with Ekocuates Queretaro with the objective of learning the skills and understanding the ethics of sustainable environmental development. Volunteers were responsible for watering all the new saplings during the workshop and a dozen participants carried out planting of around 600 trees over 3 days in the Sierra de Queretaro, organised by Surya Mexico during the months of June and July.

You can view our photo journal of this project here and here.

We were visiting and prospecting for land in the Chiang Mai province of northern Thailand as part of our objective to offer locations worldwide where individuals, families and groups can revitalise themselves and reconnect with nature through diverse means, ranging from practical to spiritual.

You can view more images of our research here.

A 3-day wild camping and bushcraft workshop was organised during the summer in the forests of the Cantal area of Auvergne France, providing the largely urban participants with the survival skills required to withstand and enjoy the experience. Training included navigation, fire making, knife work, archery, identifying shelters and learning survival principles in extreme and unpredictable weather conditions.

As part of our mission to provide environmental solutions for sustainability and self-sufficiency, Surya World members from France, Mexico, Nigeria, Reunion Island, Singapore and UK developed a mosquito deterrent garden to combat the problems faced by an ashram and orphanage near Trichy. Plant species were selected that could be administered internally, applied to the skin or line walkways as a preventative measure. In addition, we provided the ashram with local seeds from Kokopelli in Auroville that were easy to propagate (beans, tomatoes, cucumber, eggplant, amaranth, etc.) for nourishing the children.

You can view our photo journal of this project and our social activities in the ashram here.

During its annual trip to India, Surya World organised intensive tours and workshops with several communities in Auroville, Tamil Nadu that are well known internationally for their innovation in environmental development and green practices. Participants were able to improve their knowledge and obtain skills in ayurvedic plants and herbs, sustainable farming techniques, seed banking and spirulina farming from local experts.

You can view our project images here.

Over 20 volunteers planted 2500 pinus gregii tree saplings on 3 hectares of land over a 3-day period in the Sierra de Queretaro. This reforestation project was carried out by Surya Mexico in partnership with a local expert Rodrigo Calderon Gomez.

You can view our photo journal of this project here.