The ASHA Foundation

The ASHA Foundation is a British educational charity working for the empowerment of young people worldwide.

Our core belief is that unlocking the human potential and inherent goodness in young people is vital for our world today.

Our mission is to create an exceptional educational environment in which young people can experience a potentially transformative sense of inspiration, connection and purpose.

The Foundation is based at The ASHA Centre in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. It is a beautiful Georgian home set in five acres of biodynamically cultivated gardens.

At the Centre, we offer an integrated programme of community, land and arts-based activities that are designed to meet the core challenges that young adults in Europe and beyond now face.

Typically, we run nine-day courses, though we have also coordinated larger events, including month-long training courses and cultural exchange programmes. We have implemented 120 such projects, generally receiving outstanding feedback (see below).

Our educational approach is holistic and non-formal, based upon the following practices and principles:

1. We teach through head, heart and hands
2. We work with the arts to nurture creativity and innovation
3. We harness the power of nature to learn and heal
4. We work to foster a truly global, human community

We have an in-house team of staff and volunteers made up of individuals from diverse cultures, countries and faiths with expertise in all the areas we specialise in. We also employ visiting professionals to give lectures and workshops.

Over 3,000 young adults and youth workers have taken part in our project activities, coming from a total of 32 countries.

Below is a selection of the feedback we have received over the years:

- "The ASHA Centre gave vibrancy and hope to every fibre of my body. It allowed me to be the change I wanted to see in the world." Alexander Scott, England

- "Wonderful, enriching training that really focused us, provided invaluable support, advice and tools and really gave us the confidence to go out into our community and implement our project!" Paul McNulty, Scotland

- "I think this course represents excellence in the field of Erasmus+ training courses. The organization was perfect." Agnese Polonara, Italy

- "I felt the course changed the way I understood the topic. More importantly, it changed how I viewed my own ability to work in the area, as well as understand my passions better." Orr Vinegold, England

- "The ASHA Centre isn’t just a place of work or seminars... It’s home. It’s a place of peace, community and equality. If I had the chance I’d come back immediately!" Leandra Wagner, Austria

- "My experience at The ASHA Centre was enriching, educational and entertaining. It opened my eyes to a broad spectrum of ideas and introduced me to a wonderfully diverse group of people." Jen Witts, England

- "It is one of the most special places I have ever been to." Aaron Callaghan, Northern Ireland

- "I was hugely impressed by the professional way the Centre is run and the quality of teaching. As a participant from Findhorn Ecovillage, it is great to see other centres doing such good work in the world and reaching so many different people." Karyn Simpson, Scotland

- "I’ve learned a bunch of very practical insights and skills around leadership, self-care, effective and fun collaboration and how to contribute to positive social and environmental impact." Luke Flegg, England

- "The stay at The ASHA Centre changed my life. I learned how a responsible and loving community can treat each other, and how that strengthens the wellbeing and results in a good achievement of the community members." Miriam Pfister, Germany

- "It’s the best place I have ever been to, in all the programs I have attended." Edison Frangu, USA

The word ‘Asha’ is an ancient Persian word. It means ‘rightness’ and is suggestive of goodness, beauty and truth. In some Indian languages, it means ‘hope’ and in Hebrew, ‘blessing.’ This positive constellation of meanings reflects what The ASHA Centre strives to be and has become in the lives of many young people.

Below is a quote from our Honorary President, the former leader of the British House of Lords, Baroness Jan Royall of Blaisdon:

"ASHA is a centre of excellence where pioneering ideas are put into practice and where service is not just a motto but a reality. At ASHA, hope becomes action. It is a magical place, where everyone feels at home and leaves transformed."

ASHA has organised a large variety of Erasmus+ projects (KA 1 and 2), Youth in Action activities (Actions 1, 2, 3, 4.3 and 5.1), Grundtvig Adult Learner Workshops, and Europe for Citizens Programme projects, as well as other international projects involving young people from Israel, Palestine, South Africa and India.