DESIGN A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE WITH OUR ECOVILLAGE DESIGN COURSE
Are you passionate about building a better world?
Join our Ecovillage Design Education (EDE) course to gain essential skills and deep understanding to create thriving regenerative communities.
A five-week comprehensive course in the fundamentals of Sustainability Design.
The EDE is holistic and experiential, offering practical tools and inner transformation. It is an intensive, globally recognized program that teaches you how to build and transition communities toward sustainable, regenerative living.
Program Details
Date: January 10th – February 10th, 2027
Location: Gaia Ashram, Thailand
Course Fee: THB 67,500
Includes: Accommodation and 3 vegetarian meals daily
Recognition: Certified by Gaia Education, UK.
*Be one of the first 5 registrants and apply before September 30, 2026 to get your early bird ticket!
WHAT IS ECOVILLAGE DESIGN EDUCATION (EDE)?
The International Ecovillage Design Education (EDE) course, certified by Gaia Education & Global Ecovillage Network, is a 32-day program run by certified trainers. It is recognised as a contributor to UNESCO Global Action Programme (GAP) on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).
EDE equips students of all ages with the knowledge and practical skills to design communities and societies that are inspired by the wisdom of nature, utilize energy and materials more efficiently, ensure equitable wealth distribution and well-being, as well as create circular flows of system elements. The insights gained from EDE can also be applied to personal or family transformations, whether in urban or rural settings.
Below is the design of the five weeks following this map of regeneration:
Why Take the 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.
Daily Schedule
Your Contribution
Standard fee:
67,500 THB per person
Early bird fees:
60,750 THB per person. Register and pay deposit before September 30, 2026.Limited spaces available.
*The remaining fee shall be paid on arrival in THB cash.
This contribution covers:
- High quality facilitation by experienced and accredited trainers from different countries with diverse backgrounds
- A full-day exposure trip
- 3 vegetarian / vegan meals each day
- Accommodation in our dormitory
All for a 32-day program
Dormitory accommodation is included in the course fee and private single rooms and double rooms come with an extra fee. We have limited availability of private rooms. Here are the costs to upgrade to a private room for the duration of the course:
- Private single room: THB 7,750 THB extra
- Private double room: THB 12,400 THB extra
- Family house: THB 32,000 extra (2 bedrooms with a shower and cooking space attached, ideal for a family)
Please contact gaiaschoolasia@gmail.com to reserve your room.
How to Apply?
Register in our Registration form and make a deposit down payment of 13.500 THB to secure your spot. The remaining fee, after the down payment, will be paid after the program is confirmed, through electronic transfer or cash at arrival.
*** Please note that this course will only happen when with a minimum number of 16 participants. We will announce by September 30th 2026 whether or not the course will happen. In case of cancellation from our side all the deposit payment will be fully refunded.
If we could not reach the expected number of participants by September 30th, 2026, the course will be postponed to January 2028
*Apply before September 30, 2026 to get your early bird ticket.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation up to 45 days prior to the course start date: 80% refund of your deposit
Cancellation up to 30 days prior to the course start date: 50% refund of your deposit
Cancellation up to 15 days prior to the course start date: 30% refund of your deposit
Cancellation within 14 days before the course start date: No refund,
You can also postpone your participation in the program or choose to join another program instead. This will be valid for a one-year period.
If the course is cancelled by Gaia Ashram due to the minimum number of participants not being reached, a full refund of your deposit will be issued.
Gaia Ashram reserves the right to cancel the course, even at short notice, if there is a danger to the well-being of the visitors and organizers, such as viral infections (COVID-19 pandemic), storms, or natural disasters (fire, hurricanes, floods). In these cases, deposits will be refunded at 100%. The organizer cannot be held liable for personal losses, we recommend getting travel cancellation insurance beforehand.
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Interested, but don’t have enough time for our 32-day EDE? Check out our 7-day Ecovillage Lifestyle Experience Week (ELEW) Course aka mini-EDE and 5-day Deep Ecology Course
Want to get in depth into Ecological Dimension? Check out our transformative 17-day Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) Course
Check out also our Training of Trainers Course if you want to become certified Gaia Education Trainers.
Get To Know Our Facilitators
Om Sunisa Jamwiset Deiters
Kai Sawyer
Thao Ngo (Kin)
Petra Čarman
Benjamin Murray
Tom Deiters
