permaculture

[Robyn Francis <erda@nor.com.au>]

Facilitating Resilient Community Development in Areas of Need:
Permaculture for 2/3rds World, Indigenous
and Culturally Diverse Communities

USA: Quails Springs, CA:  Part 1: 27-30 July, Part 2: 1-6 Aug, 2009.
Australia: Djanbung Gardens NSW  Sep 7-18, 2009.

Advanced Permaculture Training for Permaculture Activists & Community
Development Workers

This course develops awareness and skills for working in areas of need, and
with people from other cultural backgrounds in both a first-world context
and in overseas development work. The course is presented in two
complementary parts. The information and skills from both parts of this
course will empower Permaculture activists to work effectively with
communities to build resilience to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing
world of climate change and economic instability. Both courses assume the
prior knowledge of the PDC or working knowledge of Permaculture.

Part 1  Working with Cultural Diversity & Indigenous Peoples
The first part deals with cultural awareness, working with people from
diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, appropriate communications,
inclusive facilitation techniques and strategies for conflict resolution.
This part of the course explores issues and strategies specific to working
with indigenous, multicultural, ethnic and minority groups, refugees, people
at risk and community work in developed nations. The principles and skills
covered in Part 1 provide an essential foundation for Part 2 of the course
which goes into specific factors relating to overseas development work.
Part 1 provides valuable insights for those involved in working in community
development programs such as community gardens, city farms, schools,
transition planning, and other community initiatives which involve liaising
with people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, and with
disadvantaged groups.

Part 2  Sustainable Aid for Overseas Development Work
Part 2 builds further on the skills-set of Part 1 for those working or
intending to be involved in overseas aid and development work. Key issues
facing the 2/3rds world are addressed together with Permaculture strategies
to facilitate solution processes. Topics include survival security (food,
water, shelter), health and nutrition, environmental health, kitchen garden
and local food security programs, appropriate low-tech options, and
integrating permaculture with traditional production systems in humid and
arid tropics.  The course also addresses facilitation processes for
community directed program development, project appraisal and evaluation,
disaster preparedness, post disaster relief and recovery, and ways we need
to prepare ourselves for undertaking this kind of work including research,
working with development agencies and NGO¹s, and issues of personal security
in overseas field work.

Further Information relating to the full course (Part 1 & Part 2)
Course activities will include discussion, case studies, presentations,
participatory processes, role play, group projects, practical and
experiential activities.

This course can be very challenging on a deep personal level, and will
provide an invaluable basis for either working in the field or with support
foundations and organisations. Robyn Francis shares experience and insights
from over 2 decades of working as Permaculture trainer and consultant in
diverse countries and cultures including India, Indonesia, Fiji, Taiwan,
Cuba, with Australian Aboriginals and NZ Maori, multicultural groups in
Australia, and as advisor/mentor to Permaculture NGO¹s and activists around
the world. This course was originally developed by Robyn Francis in 1991 and
undergoes constant revision in keeping with global changes and their impacts
on the world¹s poorest and most vulnerable peoples.

Certification: Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion for
both Part 1 and Part 2 issued by Permaculture Education. These courses now
form part of the Accredited Permaculture Training Certificate IV and
Diploma of Permaculture studies with Erda Institute at Djanbung Gardens
Permaculture.  Part 1 completes training for the Certificate IV Unit of
Competency RTD4802A Develop approaches to include cultural and human
diversity, Part 2 completes training for the Diploma Unit of Competency
PIL508A Plan management strategies for overseas development projects.

Participants will need to bring: clip board, lecture pad, pens, colour felt
pens, ruler, sensible walking shoes, sun hat.  Bring useful resource books
and information relating to course topics and relevant projects. Advise
participants to revise their PDC notes and read tropical and dryland
Permaculture articles & chapters from Bill Mollison¹s Permaculture: A
Designers Manual. Recommend participants who have not previously completed a
PDC to read Earth Users Guide to Permaculture by Rosemary Morrow or
Introduction to Permaculture by Bill Mollison for a basic understanding of
Permaculture concepts, terminologies and practices.

REGISTRATION:
USA: Quail Springs July 27-Aug 6, 2009  www.quailsprings.org
info@quailsprings.org
Australia: Djanbung Gardens Sep 7-18, 2009 www.permaculture.com.au
admin@permaculture.com.au

Robyn Francis
Australian permaculture designer, educator, pioneer and presenter, Robyn has
been working internationally for over 25 years, throughout Australia, New
Zealand, India, Indonesia, USA, Germany, Cuba and Taiwan. The founder of
Permaculture International, Erda Institute and Djanbung Gardens
Permaculture, she was editor of the Permaculture International Journal, and
one of the key architects of the Accredited Permaculture Training providing
national vocational and trade qualifications in Permaculture. Her experience
has encompassed all climate zones in projects ranging from outback
communities to urban development, domestic gardens to public landscapes,
ecovillage design to bioregional and state planning, with clients ranging
from the grassroots to corporate and government sectors. One of
permaculture¹s early pioneers, Robyn has conducted over 100 PDC¹s plus
numerous advanced and professional development courses.  She has developed
one of permaculture¹s leading education and demonstration sites, Djanbung
Gardens in sub-tropical NSW, where she has established a bioregional campus
for vocational training in Permaculture. Robyn is also an accomplished
musician, singer-songwriter and artist, an avid gardener and enjoys getting
dirty walking the talk. For more information and full CV visit
www.permaculture.com.au <http://www.permaculture.com.au>


-- 
Pathways to sustainability through
Accredited Permaculture Training
Certificates III & IV and Diploma of Permaculture
Erda Institute Inc

Robyn Francis 
International permaculture design and
sustainability consultant, educator & facilitator

Djanbung Gardens 
Permaculture Education Centre & Demonstration Farm
PO Box 379 Nimbin NSW 2480
02-6689 1755  /  0429 147 138
www.permaculture.com.au