Prerna Community Organization

Darjeeling, West Bengal, India
Samendem Village, the most remote of the 5 villages
Samendem Village, the most remote of the 5 villages

Prerna worked with on several projects, starting with the Critical Ecosystem Protection Fund (CEPF), a Bio-diversity grant.

A PDC class and our classroom
A PDC class and our classroom
First PDC training in Darjeeling with Prerna and Anugylaya, february 20
First PDC training in Darjeeling with Prerna and Anugylaya, february 20
Group Photo of participants at a 4 day village training. Average villag
Group Photo of participants at a 4 day village training. Average villag
Villagers from remote locations in the darjeeling hills work together i
Villagers from remote locations in the darjeeling hills work together i

The Prerna Community Organization works with communities in a participatory format to strengthen Ecosystem health, system level food production, and community management of its resources in an equitable and inclusive manner.

 

Challenge:

Introduce permaculture as a solution to create community strength and self-reliance.

 

Solutions:

In 2004, after a PDI-run Permaculture Design Certification course, Prerna adopted Permaculture as an organizational level strategy. Since then they have hosted many Permaculture Design Certification courses, some in different states. They have developed a permaculture-based farmer training that has variations for adjusting it to different demographics and project deliverables (CEPF, Tea workers, village farmers), worked consistently with bio-conservation, waste management, organic farming, and community health and empowerment. 

PDI team members continue to work with Prerna, providing educational assistance for 2 or more trainings per year, and contributing to their ongoing project work.  

 

Project Lead:Rico Zook