Our Projects
Ireland Master Unit – Ananda Bharatii
In the west of Ireland, in County Clare, you will find the Sunrise Education Trusts Master Unit, also known as Ananda Bharati which means the home of the Universal Mother. This eco-friendly organic farm, who’s vision is to teach about happiness and sustainability, has attracted many volunteers and visitors to date. The director, Didi Ananda Prama, with the help of many hands, has developed an oasis of beauty and peace conducive to holistic living. Chanting and meditation take place two times a day and sumptuous sentient vegan meals are served to all from the organic gardens teeming with vibrant vegetables, fruits and flowers.
Their project is to promote good health including an organic garden with medicinal herbs, apple trees and berry bushes, classes in vegetarian cooking and daily yoga. Free meditation lessons are offered in order to promote the unity of body mind and spirit. They utilize sustainable construction techniques such as earth bags, cord wood and hemp in order to educate potential methods that are eco friendly for the environment.
The 40 acre farm, which was bought in 1991, overlooks the Lough Derg, the second longest lake in Ireland, as well as the Slieve Aughty Mountains. At the time of purchase, 10 acres of Sitka Spruce and Pine trees were planted. In the Fall of 2004, Didi Ananda Prama began renovations on the house. She fixed up one room and bathroom to start with in the Fall and then came back in March 2005 and started planting a little garden with one volunteer.
Would you like to come and help out at the farm, you will be warmly welcome. Don’t hesitate to contact Didi Ananda Prama for more information.
Sunrise Nursery London
Sunrise London started in 1980 in Stoke Newington to provide high-quality education at a fair cost to Hackney families. The Tottenham Primary School opened in 1987, the Nursery was registered in 2005.
In 1982, the Sunrise Education Trust was formed as a registered charity and although the school depend upon parental fees to ensure our daily operation, they have received funds from Awards for all, the Vegetarian Society, Hackney Council and many kind donations from parents and friends.
Education at Sunrise Nursery is a harmonious balance between academic guidance, creative expression and inner growth, to develop the highest potential in every child.
Based on a synthesis of the UK Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), Montessori methods and Neo-Humanist principles, our curriculum provides varied activities. We enable imitation of practical life skills and use of equipment that encourages self-directed learning. Our nursery environment allows young children undisturbed absorption in their chosen tasks.
Our holistic approach nurtures the all-round development of the child: body, senses, emotion, intellect, creativity and spiritual awareness. We have daily circle time, yoga and singing sessions.
Romania Children’s Home
The Romania Children’s Home was founded in 1965 by a group of local and international women volunteers. After distributing humanitarian aid to hospitals and state children’s homes, and seeing the neglectful state of the institutions, the decision was taken to open a smaller, family-style alternative home where a more holistic, loving and creative environment could be created. Initially, there were ten children, which extended to 20 children in 2001.
Currently, there are twelve children from ages 5-17 years old living in the children’s home, which is located in Panatau, a beautiful, traditional rural village in the Eastern Carpathian Mountains of Romania.
A child in the AMURTEL family home, will at last not only have nutritious food, warm clothes, and a safe environment, the child also has chance to reclaim the simple joys of childhood: riding bicycles, celebrating birthdays, going camping, digging in the sand, playing with toy trucks, and building lego sets. Most importantly, the child will be surrounded by caring adults that can give the child the affection that he/she needs to build self-confidence and hope. The child will also have access to counseling and extra tutoring support to catch up in school. While it may not be possible to ever erase a child’s painful history, together we can rewrite their future.
Would you like to donate or come in contact with the Children’s Home, please contact Didi Ananda Devapriya.
Uma Nilayam Women’s Centre/LFT training centre
Uma Nilayam is an educational centre for women and youth. Nestled in the green heart of Italy – Umbria, it has beautiful surroundings and fascinating scenery and villages to visit near by. A small part of the property was bought in 2013 and in 2023 the property has been expanded on so it now includes 10 rooms and 2 outside smaller buildings as well as 6000 m2 of land.
The centre organises women’s retreats and activities and also invites women to come and spend a few days in a calm and supportive, spiritual environment. They teach Italian and social integration to foreign women. In the basement there is a place for production of natural soaps, cremes, shampoos and other natural products. In the garden you find lots of fruit trees like apple, pear, cherry, apricot, khaki, peach, grape, figs as well as 10 olive trees.
The centre is also holding the annual training for LFTs (Local Full Time volunteers).
If you would like to volunteer at the centre, you are welcome to get in touch with Didi Ananda Samprajina.
