Ecuador - Saraswati Ahimsa Vana

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Welcome to Saraswati Ahimsa Vana… a hidden paradise in the Amazon Jungle that words cannot describe. We are a Bhakti-yoga orientated family starting up an organic farm and nature reserve to protect part of the Amazon rainforest and the animals within. Our goal is to teach our foreign visitors and Ecuadorian neighbours about simple living, high thinking.

At the current moment we are reforesting 26 hectares (approximately 60 acres) of secondary rainforest with native plants and trees from the Amazon, returning natural feeding grounds to the hunted animals. We are in the process of forming a legitimate Ecuadorian foundation to offer a haven to the surrounding Amazon wildlife.

for contact and exact location, visit their website: http://wisdomforest.org



Our project is a non-profit based community living system but we kindly ask for donations to be able to enlarge our nature reserve before the rainforest is cut down. To enroll on our volunteer program we ask for a donation of $10 a day, $70 a week... or $300 a month. This is to cover the cost of food and personnel and anything left over goes towards the nature reserve foundation. If you would like to give an extra donation to help buy surrounding land to protect the animals from hunters it'll be more than welcome too. We'll give you good vegetarian food 3 times a day...(please do not bring any meat, fish or eggs) and we ask you to help out with a minimum of 7 hours service a day, there is lots to do as this project is just starting up... We kindly ask everyone to refrain from smoking, drugs and getting angry throughout their stay... this place to get away from all of that boring stuff....

LODGING FOR VOLUNTEERS

We have just finished building the new lodge for volunteers. We have one big room for male and another for female volunteers. Both have a nice view of the jungle surroundings.

House during construction (now it looks like on the picture below.) We want to construct more houses like this and smaller ones for volunteers to live in.


This house hosts kitchen, yoga/conference room and toilets.


As a volunteer you’ll have the opportunity to experience a different culture and different way of living based on Vedic Principles, with people who care about nature and ecology. Volunteers have the opportunity to help and learn about vegetarian cooking, permaculture, natural medicine, green building, yoga, meditation, philosophy, and will learn about working with conscious art and educational programs for children living in and around the community. You can also bring your creative energies to our workshops, make new friends and have the experience of a lifetime.

The wild animals (monkeys, capybaras, toucans, macaws, deer, armadillo, boa constrictors just to name a few) are still hunted for food and the nearby forest is disappearing as we speak. Our goal is to work with the local community schools throughout the Napo Province and Ecuador to teach alternative sustainable ways of living and create a better future for Ecuador and its people.



If you are nice to the animals they will like you :)



This is the most dangerous animal in the whole forest but some fortunate souls are allowed to play with her





Can you see the bird?


for contact and exact location, visit their website: http://wisdomforest.org

WHAT TO DO THERE?

Tropical Permaculture

In the rainforest everything grows very fast and permaculture is the natural way to go here.








Green Building



Composting

Compost is great help in rainforest permaculture

Yoga and Mantra Meditation

for contact and exact location, visit their website: http://wisdomforest.org

Plus much more...

- Chocolate Making
- Drumming
- Teaching English
- Learning Kichwa
- Vegetarian Cooking
- Tubing in the river

And much more... every Sunday there’s an excursion to incredible river or waterfall off the beaten track, unforgettable places...

If you enjoy swimming you´ll be in your element around Saraswati Ahimsa Vana…



Planting coconut trees



Take a swing like tarzan!

Temascal - Aztec sauna

Banana harvest

for contact and exact location, visit their website: http://wisdomforest.org