Earth Net Foundation has been a global partner of the MESA program for 4 years now sending many new generation farmers to learn volunteering on organic farms in the USA. Now Earth Net Foundation is happy to return the favor and offer the chance for Americans (and other nationalities if interested) to come learn and volunteer with some of Thailand’s leading organic farmers. This first program of its type is scheduled from November 2, 2012 to January 25, 2013. The program starts with a two-week orientation course at the Wanakaset Learning Center in Sanam Chaikhet, Chachoengsao. This course combines intensive Thai language instruction with practical knowledge on organic agroforestry and self-reliance. The course ends with joining a forest walk in the Eastern forests, one of the last healthy forest areas of Thailand. The participants will then join their placements with leading organic farmers and farmers’ organizations in Thailand. Opportunities for hosting include Earth Net’s Organic Agriculture Center’s and associated farmers in Chiang Mai and Yasothorn, as well as other leaders in this area including Joko Learning Center of Nan, the Community of Agro-Ecology Foundation of Surin, and Khao Kwan Foundation of Suphanburi, which is also where the exit seminar will be conducted. Aside from the hands on experience, MESA has linked with Professor of Agroecology, Miquel Altieri, of UC Berkeley to integrate learnings in a greater perspective and provide a Certificate of International Training in Agroecology to all participants who complete the program. For more details and to apply visit http://cita.mesaprogram.org/destinations/thailand
