We are a local non-profit located in the unique village of Auroville. Our main projects revolve around the reforestation of 70 acres of severely eroded land and the creation of a tropical dry evergreen forest that is unique to this part of the world.
Volunteering Activities
What We Need
Volunteers mainly plant, mulch, and water trees during the season, work on water conservation in the forest and around the community, cook, clean, maintain the community area, and spend time with local and community kids.
When & Who
What we Provide
Accommodation for volunteers is in exchange for a 25 hour work week, 5 hours a day, 5 days a week.
This is a 100% vegan environment, so we ask volunteers not to bring or eat any non-vegan food in the forest. A vegan is a person who does not consume any animal products as food. Vegans do not eat meat, fish, eggs, dairy (milk) products, honey, or any other animal products. As vegans we aim to reduce animal suffering, move towards a more sustainable and rational use of land resources, and reduce the high level of “greenhouse gases” produced by vast numbers of farm animals.
Our Fees
This is a nonprofit ecological project that does not generate any income. Therefore, we cannot provide free food for volunteers. We have communal vegan organic meals. We all equally share the cost of the organic food ingredients we purchase. The total cost of food per person (including 3 meals a day) is 500 Indian Rupees per day (just under $8 USD).
More Services we Offer
Free facilities for volunteers include a small swimming pool, free 24/7 unlimited access to the Internet with your own device, four hours each day of AC power to charge electrical equipment, a small collection of books, the use of several bicycles, and a playground for children. There are also daily workshops offered that are run by our volunteers and vary each week and can be anything from yoga, to Capoeira, to non-violent communication, to arts and crafts, and much much more!
Contact Person
Other Ways to Help
Come at 6AM or 8.30AM and volunteer with us for one day. Accommodation is not provided for one day volunteers.
Additional Info about Us
We look forward to welcoming you to Sadhana Forest soon!
Our main project is the reforestation of 70 acres of severely eroded land. We are working to re-create the tropical dry evergreen forest indigenous to our area. This forest type is found only in Southern India and Sri Lanka and provides a rare biological richness due to its very high species abundance (over 1000 species of trees, shrubbery and liana). The tropical dry evergreen forest is now close to total extinction as only 0.01% survives. This is a last moment effort to keep this very rich and beautiful forest on earth. As part of our reforestation effort we are also working on water conservation and soil management.
We practice an eco-friendly way of life including veganism, alternative construction, solar energy, biodegradable toiletries, and compost toilets.
Volunteers mainly plant, mulch and water trees, according to season.
Volunteers should not smoke cigarettes, use drugs, or drink alcohol during the entire time of their stay. Only come when this is a realistic lifestyle for you.
Looking forward to welcoming you!
11 Reviews
If you want to do some voluntary work to help where it is needed - ecologically and socially - and are looking for an organization that is not profit orientated, which community is living VEGAN and eco-friendly, planting trees, educating on sustainability, encouraging compassion in all forms, enabling volunteers to discover different cultures in a safe environment, reducing waste wherever it's possible, supporting longterm instead of shortterm solutions and practicing an all-in-all conscious, natural and down to earth lifestyle – Sadhana Forest is the organization for you :)"
The food is Vegan the lifestyle is simple and lovely.
The 2 sevas a day along with the community sevas help the functioning of the community. Seva a selfless act in essence is the spirit of the community. We all pitch in to help the community run smoothly.
If it is serving lunch or being a runner to bring plates to everyone before meals the community sevas show the togetherness of all.
The water conservation techniques used are beautiful and the forest itself is filled with trees and life.
Volunteering at Sadhana Forest has enriched me as a human being as I grew with the trees.
I wish everyone could experience what I did."