News

Today, April 1st, marks the beginning of the 2025 academic year at the Asian Rural Institute. The campus is once again full of life as we welcome 28 new Participants to the Rural Leaders Training Program and 2 Training Assistants. Over the next nine months, they will live and learn together, gaining hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture, servant leadership, community building and more. This year also brings a leadership transition. After 10 years of dedicated service as Director, Tomoko Arakawa is stepping back. She will continue supporting ARI in a … Read more

The air is warming, the trees are beginning to bud, and the land is stirring with new life. After the long winter, spring is finally making its way to ARI. The gentle shift in seasons reminds us of the deep connection we share with the soil, the food we grow, and the communities we nurture – principles that are at the heart of ARI’s mission. Our animals certainly feel the change. The goats, who spent much of the winter indoors, now happily roam outside, basking in the sunshine and nibbling … Read more

“Director’s Report” A big surprise party carefully planned for me last night surprised me a lot!! I was incredibly delighted and moved! As I will finish my 10-year term as Director of ARI at the end of this month, and also to celebrate my birthday, ARI family members, and those who have helped me gather together without my knowledge! They celebrated with my favorite Korean food (Bibimbap + ARI pork BBQ + birthday Wakame seaweed soup), lots of sweets (all homemade in the Koinonia kitchen), and bouquets. (In fact, a … Read more

Spring has arrived at the Asian Rural Institute (ARI), bringing with it new life and fresh energy. This season of renewal is extra special as we celebrate the birth of five baby goats! Our two adult goats recently gave birth—one to three kids and the other to two—adding more joy and vitality to our farm community. The newborn goats are already filling the farm with their playful energy, hopping around and bonding with their mothers. Their arrival is a beautiful reminder of the cycles of life and the deep connection … Read more

Blooming plum blossoms this week herald the coming of Spring.With the new season coming, ARI hosted two presentations for learnings by graduates of the 2024 program. First, Momoko, a graduate from Japan, reported on her one-month Asian Internship program in the Philippines, where she visited several graduates’ organizations in January and February. Her time with their communities gave first-hand experience in the major differences of development between Japan and other countries, including those of her classmates in 2024. She saw that despite economic challenges, they were able to mobilize local … Read more

The ARI community is happy to welcome two new Training Assistants TAs) who recently arrived to support this year’s Rural Leaders Training Program; Jeremiya (2019 ARI Graduate) from India and Veh (2018 ARI Graduate) from Malawi. They will spend the next year to deepen their knowledge through working at a particular section of ARI to tackle the problems of their community.TAs play a vital role in the ARI community, working alongside participants in farm work, food processing, and community-building activities. Their presence brings fresh perspectives, and we look forward to learning from and with them … Read more

In January, while the campus is closed, ARI staff convened with professional trainers to undertake an intensive 5-day course in non-violent communication.NVC starts with understanding ourselves. Trainers taught ARI staff the skills in observing our situation including others’ actions, savoring our feelings based on the situation, seeking and understanding our needs, then making a request of others to fulfill that need.ARI staff also practiced conflict resolution based on the skills of NVC, seeking to understand the feelings and needs of aggrieved members of the group. Even in a workshop-style safe … Read more

A new group recently arrived at the ARI campus – piglets! At ARI, we practice self-sufficient sustainable agriculture. This means that over 90% of the food we serve in our dining hall is grown and raised on our campus. This includes almost all our proteins: soybeans, chicken, and pork. We do not merely raise livestock, but raise life which sustains many other lives. These piglets are part of that cycle of life. At ARI, we learn to appreciate their role in sustaining life across campus and beyond. They will stay … Read more