By Morag Gamble The permayouth champions in Uganda continue to inspire with a wide range of projects. In Nakivale refugee settlement, Ansima Casinga Rolande has just received a grant from a US-based foundation to create a living learning centre for women and children, and a tree-planning ecological regeneration project. Rolande is also hosting a youth … Read more
For many refugees in Malaysia, the journey of survival is intertwined with the search for belonging, education, and purpose. For Mohammed Ayas, a 22-year-old Rohingya refugee from Myanmar, that journey led him to The Blue Ribbon (TBR), a grassroots initiative blending permaculture, peacebuilding, and community empowerment. Ayas arrived in Malaysia as a child, separated from … Read more
by Ramphai Noikaew and Greg Pettys Nestled on the outskirts of Shri Lanna National Park in Northern Thailand, Panya Forest is more than a permaculture project, it is a sanctuary. Here, a community of seed savers works not only to preserve plant diversity but also the stories, songs, and ancestral knowledge carried alongside each seed. … Read more
Kasim, who has been working with Permaculture for Refugees (P4R), has co-authored a moving and inspiring new book with his partner, Zar, titled Our Journey from Afghanistan: A Story of Survival and Hope. This deeply personal narrative begins with their childhoods in Afghanistan, revealing the harsh realities they endured—especially Zar’s experiences growing up under oppressive … Read more
Ecohub has been a centre for permaculture education and ecotherapy for refugees on Lesvos since 2017. Originally based in a community centre just across from the refugee camp, it has provided education and green shelter to tens of thousands of refugees over the years. Launched by Better Days NGO in 2017, Ecohub was created to … Read more
In 2023, as political pressure in Pakistan intensified, the government declared its intent to expel Afghan nationals, placing thousands of lives in danger—many of whom had already fled conflict once before. Amid this crisis, a quiet but powerful effort emerged from within the global permaculture network. A group of dedicated permaculturalists, recognising the urgency and … Read more
Françoise Pierre, an Australian permaculturist and midwife, has worked with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Tajikistan, Sudan, and Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Through her frontline experience, she witnessed an alarming number of preventable maternal and infant deaths in refugee settings. One of her most urgent observations is that many of these deaths are linked not only … Read more
By Marguerite Kahrl We are excited to announce the world premiere of the documentary *Learning from Sparrows* – a compelling exploration of community, resilience, and hope through the lens of social permaculture. Set against the backdrop of COP28 and unfolding at the ecovillage of Torri Superiore, the film follows a transformative meeting of young people … Read more
written by Eunice Neves End of July 2021, Rowe and I were conducting online interviews to permaculture practitioners who were applying permaculture in very challenging circumstances. The first people we interviewed were two peace activists, students of Rowe Morrow’s, who were using permaculture to redesign a primary school in Kabul. During the interview, we understood … Read more