ARI Family Blog

Early in 2025 I had the chance to spend some days with our Graduate Roy David.  During that time, I learned, first hand, about the plight of the Adivasi people of India, also known the forest dwellers, or tribals.  Roy David spent his whole life advocating for the rights of the Adivasi, never fearing danger nor seemingly insurmountable obstacles.  Last month, I came to find out those days were more precious than I could imagine, because I will never see him again.  He passed away of a heart attack May … Read more

ARI community came together to participate in the rice transplanting activity. At ARI, we believe that community means working together, sharing responsibilities, learning from one another, and supporting each other with respect and care.During the rice transplanting process, people from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds worked side by side. Each person brought unique experiences, leadership qualities, ideas, and strengths. We listened carefully to the instructions, cooperated throughout the entire process, and supported one another from beginning to end. Through teamwork and mutual encouragement, we successfully completed the work while enjoying … Read more

Participants successfully completed their first presentations at ARI! Their presentations explored the issues they hope to address in their communities, the work they are doing with their Sending Body organizations, and what they hope to gain during their time at ARI. Some of the key issues that stood out included the need for safe and nutritious food grown without chemicals, safeguarding minority communities, and increasing income generation, among others. There were many original and creative presentations that highlighted both their deep passion for their communities and their strong community engagement … Read more

On May 12th, I attended the 43rd Niwano Peace Prize Presentation Ceremony held at the International House of Japan. This year’s recipient is Mr. Benki Piyãko, a spiritual leader of the Asháninka indigenous people from the Brazilian Amazon. He is also widely recognized as an environmental activist, human rights defender, and social entrepreneur. The Niwano Peace Foundation stated the following as the reason for his selection: “The people of this region have endured immeasurable hardships caused by the destruction of the forests and the damage inflicted by invaders. For the … Read more

The Bee Project at ARI has begun. What’s truly surprising is what happened behind the scenes. As we were discussing how to set up a shed to place the hives, a Filipino staff member pointed to a shed that wasn’t currently in use and said, “We can just cut that shed in half and carry it over.” For a moment, I couldn’t believe my ears. What? Cut the shed in half? And carry it over?? What on earth did he mean? I decided to let that staff member take the … Read more

When I tell folks I work for ARI in Graduate Outreach, they can’t imagine what I do. When I try to explain, there is still no understanding. So, I decided to make this blog, to take you with me into the illuminating world ARI’s graduates. After many months of preparation, it is finally ready! Let’s go. https://ari.ac.jp/en/blog/ruralleaders

Organic farming class has started. Participants learned about the ecosystem, circulation of organic matters and local resources in the classroom. Then they learned practical skills like rice husk charcoal, Bokashi, compost, IMO (Indigenous Microorganism), WCA (Water-soluble calcium), etc. Those are the basic skills of farming in ARI foodlife work. Participants enjoyed learning. They also came to learn fundamental philosophies such as “Follow the laws of nature” and “What you need is around you.”

Our annual Golden Week tradition, English Farm Camp, was a wonderful success again this year! Under the theme “Farm is Your Friend,” we had a packed program including a hands-on experience building raised beds called “Hugelkultur”, a special curry workshop led by ARI staff Vero, and the chance to share meals and farm work with the ARI community. While most participants were visiting ARI for the first time, both children and adults bonded quickly. It was a high-energy, soul-nourishing three days for everyone involved. A huge thank you to each … Read more

For one week starting April 26th, we welcomed a delegation of eight visitors from the Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP), the organization that has produced the largest number of ARI graduates. Based in North Sumatra, HKBP is the largest Protestant church in Indonesia. Among the visitors was a graduate who is a coffee farmer from the Lintong region, famous for its delicious coffee, and they kindly brought a generous gift of their beans for us. Of the eight visitors, four were graduates from the classes of 2006 to 2014, and … Read more

A few years ago, many participants expressed strong interest in beekeeping, creating a valuable learning opportunity for ARI. Fortunately, one of our dedicated volunteers, Mr. Takafumi Miyake—an expert in honeybee cultivation—generously offered to establish a beekeeping initiative at ARI. This initiative not only provided hands-on training in sustainable honey production, hive management, and pollination practices, but also opened pathways for environmental education, livelihood development, and community engagement. Through this effort, ARI gained the capacity to both learn and teach beekeeping, empowering participants with practical skills, promoting biodiversity, and supporting local … Read more