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The Case of Sadhana Forest

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The Case of Sadhana Forest Volunteer Travel and Learning Experiences in an Intentional Community: The Case of Sadhana Forest Elisabeth Andriopoulou Department of Environmental Sciences Socio Spatial Analysis Volunteer Travel and Learning Experiences in an Intentional Community: the Case of Sadhana Forest Thesis MSc Leisure, Tourism and Environment Wageningen University Department of Environmental Sciences Chair Group Socio Spatial Analysis Student: Elisabeth Andriopoulou Email: [email protected] Registration Nr. 84111915100 Thesis Code: SAL-80433 Examiners: Dr. Irena Ateljevic & Dr. Martijn Duineveld Date: 29 June 2011 Abstract The aim of this thesis is to explore the transformative/learning potentials of volunteer tourism in the context of an ecovillage/intentional community. In specific, looking into an ecovillage as a community of practice, this study is exploring its potential as a ground for transformative learning. Sadhana Forest, one of the many communities in Auroville, an ecovillage, part of the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) in South India has been selected as the case study. The final objective of this study is to unravel the broader impact of travel to intentional communities that are increasingly becoming travel destination for volunteers. The results of the qualitative research revealed that spaces such as intentional communities, that I have termed ‘bubbles’ have a great potential in fostering the paradigmatic shift towards the so called new paradigm, Transmodernity. In specific ‘bubbles’ serve as safe, nurturing space where travellers can try out new roles that they might take on in their future lives. Furthermore travellers have ample opportunities to learn in free flowing, creative ways, as has been identified for communities of practice. Learning revolves around sustainability, and alternative ways of being and living. Key Words: volunteer tourism, transformative learning, communities of practice, ecovillage, intentional community, Cultural Creatives, Transmodernity. Table of Contents 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 6 1.1. Background ................................................................................................................................... 6 1.2. Transformation and Learning ....................................................................................................... 8 1.3. Gap Identification and the contribution of this study .................................................................. 9 1.4. Research Objective and Research Questions ............................................................................... 9 1.5. Empirical Context ....................................................................................................................... 10 1.6. Type of Study .............................................................................................................................. 11 1.7. Relevance of the Study ............................................................................................................... 11 1.8. Thesis Outline ............................................................................................................................. 11 2. Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................................................... 13 2.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 13 2.2. Intentional Communities ............................................................................................................ 13 2.2.1. History of the Ecovillages .................................................................................................... 14 2.2.2. Ecovillages ........................................................................................................................... 15 2.3. Signs of Change .......................................................................................................................... 18 2.3.1. Cultural Creatives ................................................................................................................ 18 2.3.2. Paradigm shift ...................................................................................................................... 20 2.3.3. Ecovillages and their role in the paradigm shift .................................................................. 21 2.4. Communities of practice ............................................................................................................ 23 2.5. Transformative Learning ............................................................................................................ 24 2.6. Travel and Learning .................................................................................................................... 26 2.7. Volunteer tourism ...................................................................................................................... 27 3. Empirical Context: The Case of Sadhana Forest ................................................................................ 30 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 30 3.2. Auroville ..................................................................................................................................... 30 3.3. Sadhana Forest ........................................................................................................................... 32 3.4. One typical day in Sadhana Forest ............................................................................................. 35 3.5. What is special about the volunteer experience in Sadhana Forest? ........................................ 39 4. Methodology Chapter ....................................................................................................................... 42 4.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 42 4.2. Methodology, Methods and Paradigm ...................................................................................... 42 4.2.1. Qualitative Research ........................................................................................................... 42 4.2.2. Choosing a paradigm ........................................................................................................... 43 4.2.3. The Constructivist Paradigm ............................................................................................... 43 4.3. The Case Study Approach ........................................................................................................... 44 4.4. Methods of Data Collection ........................................................................................................ 46 4.4.1.Participant Observation ....................................................................................................... 46 4.4.2. Interviews ............................................................................................................................ 46 4.4.3. Post experience reflection ................................................................................................... 48 4.5. Triangulation .............................................................................................................................. 49 4.6. Data Analyses ............................................................................................................................. 49 4.6.1. Hermeneutic data analysis .................................................................................................. 50 4.7. Researcher’s positionality .......................................................................................................... 51 5. Results and Discussion ...................................................................................................................... 53 5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 53 5.2 Motivations and Expectations ..................................................................................................... 53 5.3 Process of Learning and Transformation in Sadhana Forest ....................................................... 55 5.3.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 55 5.3.2 Transformative Learning in Sadhana Forest ......................................................................... 55 5.3.2 What do volunteers say in respect to learning? .................................................................. 57 5.3.3. Impact .................................................................................................................................. 68 5.4 Sadhana as an (intentional) community ..................................................................................... 70 5.4.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 70 5.4.2. Sadhana Forest as a space ..................................................................................................
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