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Gaia University Orientation
in the Virgin Islands
The first Gaia University orientation in the Virgin Islands came to a close December 13th. It was the largest and most diverse group of new Associates thus far, with people from five continents in attendance, ranging in age from their late teens to mid-sixties.
The orientation took place at the Virgin Islands Sustainable Farms Institute (VISFI), located on the island of St. Croix. VISFI is currently in development to become one of an ever-growing number of linked Gaia University Regional Centers. VISFI’s founder, Ben Jones, graduated from the Gaia U OLE (Organizing Learning for EcoSocial Regeneration) pathway this October.
As a participant myself, I can report that the VISFI site was absolutely breathtaking. The landscape was lush with vegetation, most of it edible, and we could see across the mountains to the turquoise blue of the Caribbean Sea from the veranda of the community center where classes were held.
We were particularly fortunate to have six Australians with indigenous roots among us, all involved in the struggle for indigenous sovereignty and land rights. The growing Australian interest in Gaia University is largely due to the work of Gaia U graduate Ian Nigh, whose graduation from the MSc IESD (Masters in Integrative Eco-Social Design) pathway was held during the VISFI orientation itself. For the past year, Ian has been working with the United Nations Traditional Knowledge Initiative and has become deeply involved with the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA). Gaia U Associates can read more about his learning journey and work in Australia on our GEL site.
A major highlight of the orientation was the cabaret night at the end of the first week in which we were able to share some of our ‘talents and un-talents,’ from filmmaking to dance, song and poetry. The surprise appearance of a local stilt walker lent a carnival-like atmosphere to the evening, and celebrations went late into the night.
During the second week we broke into guilds to focus on content for our respective pathways, Organizing Learning for Eco-Social Regeneration and Integrative EcoSocial Design. We also explored fundamentals of holistic land and project management and were introduced to some basic principles of re-evaluation counseling in preparation for the four-day intensive held on site immediately after the orientation.
The last day came more quickly than expected. Scanning the glowing faces around our closing circle it was clear that each person in attendance had found what they were looking for. After two weeks of intense learning and unlearning the sense of bonding and support was palpable between us. We have returned to our respective homes and projects with new inspiration, challenges, motivation and the assurance that we are not alone in our work as world-changers.
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Bachelors Programs 
