EDE Gaia Ashram, Thailand 2026
Overview
Type: Face to Face
Start Date: 15th January 2026
End Date: 15th February 2026
Website: gaiaschoolasia.com
Contact: gaiaschoolasia@gmail.com
Registration: docs.google.com/forms
Certified by:
What is Ecovillage Design Education (EDE)?
The EDE provides students of all ages with the knowledge and practical skills on how to design a society or a community/village which uses energy and materials with greater efficiency, distributes wealth fairly and strives to eliminate the concept of waste. The knowledge of EDE is also adaptable for personal or family level of transformation, in urban and rural contexts.
Why Take EDE at Gaia Ashram?
- Teaching from Lived Experience: Gaia Ashram was brought to life by Earth stewards who themselves attended the Ecovillage Design Education (EDE) course, a journey that profoundly influenced the creation of the ecovillage. This highlights the tangible impact and transformative power of the EDE curriculum. With over a decade of experience in building and nurturing ecovillage, we are enthusiastic about sharing our insights and experiences with you.
- Unique Learning Environment: At Gaia Ashram, you’ll learn from both a well-established intentional ecovillage and the traditional village of Isan. Our living community practices, combined with the extensive experience working with local communities, offers a rich and immersive learning experience that seamlessly integrates traditional wisdom with modern sustainable practices.
- Community Integration: The knowledge and lived experiences gained during the course can be applied across various settings, from projects and intentional communities to local groups. Gaia Ashram actively collaborates with the local village and school to integrate the EDE curriculum into their education system. This provides a unique perspective on how EDE principles can enhance and transform local education, fostering a sustainable future from the ground up.
- Hands on and experiential approach: Our course embraces a head-heart-hand approach, transcending mere theory to offer real-world examples and hands-on experiences of how to apply EDE in diverse contexts. You’ll witness firsthand how sustainable practices are implemented and maintained in a thriving ecovillage.
- Experienced Facilitators: Gaia Ashram has been hosting EDE since 2014. Our facilitators are seasoned community builders who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, having collaborated with a diverse array of groups, including NGO workers, young activists, international students, and local communities. They employ participatory teaching methods that spring from different teachings and lineages, ensuring a comprehensive and engaging learning experience for all participants.
How to run an EDE?
Several of our EDE graduates have carried on organising EDE programmes in their local areas, and you are warmly encouraged to do so after completing your course.
The recommended time frame of an EDE is four weeks, however this is not fixed and varies with each individual programme.
The material can be condensed into smaller workshops, spread out over a longer period, or distributed in blocks at different times and locations.