Earth building and passive solar design course in Indian Himalayas July-August 2014

Earth building and passive solar design course in the Himalayas. Tentative dates 15 - 28 July and 29 July - 11 August (two separate modules). We haven't announced it properly yet, haven't set the dates or cost but as soon as we do it will fill up in a few days so I want to tell the Permies friends ASAP so you can think about the travel idea. It will be taught by:

Sourabh Phadke from Pune, an architect who has done a lot of earth building and run a lot of participatory courses like this. See his website soarhub.in (has free downloads of cartoons about composting toilets, earth building and all kinds of cool stuff)

Sonam Wangchuk from Ladakh, and engineer, inventor and social activist who designed all the passive solar heated earthen buildings at SECMOL as well as several others. After 15 years of successful solar heated earth building experience he did a masters in earth building at CRATerre in Switzerland. See www.secmol.org

Robert Celaire, a solar designer from France will teach for one week.

It will be very practical, several hours building with mud every day, plus classes with Wangchuk, Sourabh and/or Robert. SECMOL Campus includes an alternative high school, so you will enjoy dance parties, good fun, vegetarian local food, and conversation with people from Ladakh, India, and all over the world.

Last year we from SECMOL's side were a little late in announcing it, and Sourabh's enthusiastic following filled both modules up within four days, so almost all the participants were Indian. This year we expect a better mix of world participants, Ladakhis, and other Indians. The course is in English.

Look at www.secmol.org for a general idea of the campus it will be held at.
The cost will include about Rs 8000 (under $150) for room and board for each 2-week module, plus the course fee should be at least twice that but we haven't calculated our costs yet. You'll have to get yourself to the site -- fly to Delhi and then by air (1 hour) or by road (3 days) to Leh, Ladakh, in the very north of India. Best to give yourself 1 or 2 days to acclimatize to this altitude before starting the course (3350m, 11,000 feet). You'll also have to get a visa for India first.

The dates and costs are posted:
http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=25982de5e10c930a28374bc75&id=b208ffbd78&e=89946dddd4

Greetings,
For the 2014 apprenticeship, we are back at the SECMOL campus to learn how to build with the earth beneath our feet and the sun above our heads! This beautiful campus is located near the village of Phey in the Indus Valley. This year, the course shall focus on two codependent themes:
Earth Construction & Solar Passive Design.

The apprenticeship will comprise physical work and experiential learning supplemented by theory classes, practicals and discussions.
(To watch a video on last year's apprenticeship, click here)

The course shall be divided into two modules of two weeks each:

Module I: Earth Construction: 15th July - 28th July

Module II: Solar Passive Design: 29th July - 11th August

The course will be facilitated by Sourabh Phadke, Sonam Wangchuk and Robert Celaire.

We are inviting applications from individuals wishing to be a part of this journey.

Who should apply:
- Individuals interested in sustainable processes
- Individuals who enjoy working in teams and living in a community
- Individuals who are physically fit

Investment:
The apprenticeship fee is 15,000 Rs. per module (two weeks). This includes the course contents, a study tour, simple vegetarian food and dormitory style accommodation. Scholarships are available for deserving candidates.
Participants shall travel to and from SECMOL on their own and bear the expenses for the same.

How to apply:
Please send us a note about yourself along with your contact details and the module that you wish to apply for, at soar.hub@gmail.com by the 10th of June, 2014.

Please visit www.secmol.org and www.soarhub.in to know more. Please feel free to mail queries if any, to the email address mentioned above.