Participants and Graduates

For the future of children Nilani is a pioneering social worker in Sri Lanka. Born and raised in a poor family, she received a scholarship and studied at Sri Lanka’s first social welfare school. After teaching at her school and other educational institutions, she worked with Save the Children, where she interacted with a wide range of people. On December 26, 2004, an event occurred that would dramatically change her life. While on a business trip with her family to the coastal region, she encountered the massive tsunami caused by … Read more

This August 12, one of our graduates deeply involved in global peace-building visited the campus to speak about this important work. Thomas Mathew, a graduate from India, travels to Japan almost every year to attend the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony on August 6th and the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony on August 9th. Peace activities are a critical pillar of his work. His passionate commitment to peace activities was sparked by his training at ARI in 1988. During the Western Japan Study Tour, he visited Hiroshima, where he encountered the history … Read more

Return of the Forest When Veny and Kengo’s time at ARI came to an end in 2012, they had no plans to make a food forest in the tropics of North Sumatra, Indonesia—Veny’s hometown. Both of them are ARI graduates (2005 and 2012), having met when Veny was a training assistant in 2012.  Kengo, originally from Japan, had never been to Indonesia before, and the term ‘food forest’ was likewise new to both of them. At ARI, Kengo learned the basics of organic farming and was especially attracted to permaculture, … Read more

Healing from the Soil Have you ever thought about what it is like to be a refugee?  Much to my surprise I found it can be sheer boredom.  I learned this from ARI graduates in Sri Lanka, who, during their civil war, had to flee their homes and lived in refugee camps for some time.  At breakfast, they lined up for food.  At supper they lined up for food.  The rest of the day they just sat.  No work. No TV or radio.  Nothing.  There was absolutely nothing to do.  … Read more

Two Bags of Food A big bag brimming with fresh vegetables. Another bag filled with flour, grains, salt, sugar, and spices. It’s a hefty amount, good for a week or two. Every month 35 families gather at the SEEDS India compound, not just to receive this food donation, but to greet each other and talk over tea and snacks. With all those kids laughing and playing, the atmosphere is super bustling.  SEEDS India is a local NGO started by ARI Graduate, Thomas Mathew. They have numerous programs to help folks … Read more

Peace from food. This is the theme of our summer fundraising campaign for ARI, and I was asked to share with you some things we can learn about it from ARI’s graduates. By the way, I am Steven Cutting, the coordinator for Graduate Outreach, which means I frequently communicate with our graduates. I talk to them almost every day, as a matter of fact. So, I am probably the best person to assign this task. But…Peace from food. Peace from food. What does this truly mean? No peace from no … Read more

Easter / Travel Fee Campaign special series

Easter / Travel Fee Campaign special series

Easter / Travel Fee Campaign special series

Easter / Travel Fee Campaign special series