Varnasrama Collage Cambodia
Liaison: HG Gunaavatara Das
Our 2020 resolution at Yasodapura Eco Village (YEV) is to increase the development of the ongoing farm project and local community services at Chub and Prasat Village, Angkor Thom, Cambodia. According to the Government data, 75 percent of the Cambodian population lives in the village. So, villages constitute the primary living basis for the people here. Therefore, villages provide a livelihood to most of the Cambodian families. Living off the land (farming) is thus the way of life. Most of them don’t even keep money in their pockets; everyday they live on rice, little vegetable from the garden and of course fishing. Because of the lack of traditional education, the farmers do not know how to make agricultural production profitable in a natural and sustainable way. The farmers still follow the unhealthy farming techniques which degrade the soil fertility. Further, the climate is also harsh and unfriendly to farming. Here one hectare yields only 3 tons of rice at the most. Since agriculture is not so rewarding, people have begun to leave for city or for neighbouring country, Thailand for work as menial labor and to thus earn money. Some people opt for bank loans, but unfortunately most of them are not able to repay, further aggravating their difficulties.
Purpose
From our side, we try to help them, especially the youth to study and learn how to establish sustainable village community based on the Vedic culture. We do not talk about “religion” and conversion, we just make them realize Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, our original svarupa, the basic identity of every living entity as spiritual soul, our relationship with Krishna as servant and the highest service of serving Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Krishna about 5000 years ago taught us by example how to live in the village with material and spiritual opulence. Krishna and Balaram tended cows everyday in Vrindavan, where Balaram specifically held a plough, signifying agriculture. The Bhagavad-gita says that land is capable of fulfilling all the necessities of our lives if we live our life according to the instructions of Krishna. One need not resort to exploitation of land.
Part of Our Project
International Support
Our project, Yasodapura Eco Village will start Varnasrama College Cambodia, with the cooperation of expert volunteer teachers from India and Indonesia who know about different topics such as Organic Farming, Cow product, Cow protection, and Vedic sciences for Philosophy, Yoga and meditation. We have also invited qualified Cambodian teachers and monks from Pagoda who know about music or agriculture to sometimes help us with teaching.
Campus Location
The campus for the Varnasrama College Cambodia is located at Prasat village, Angkor Thom, Cambodia opposite to Wat Prasat. The program will include 30 days of intensive studies and practical sessions on the land every three month beginning February 2020. This program will be in collaboration with the secondary school and high school, with assistance from the local Cambodian teachers. The students need to be between 14-18 years. Students will be provided with free accommodation and food. After graduation they will have the option to pursue advance training either in India or in Indonesia with permission from their respective parents and the local authorities.
Online Application
Online Application Form is available on the website. Anyone can register by filling up the online form. We request you to support this initiative and thus help sustainable development of villages, organic farming community and cow protection services. This program is also open for selected foreign students also.