Asian Rural InstituteClass of 2015
Rural Leaders Training Program

CAMEROON

MALAYSIASRI LANKA

Mr. Jude Akehmbuom Zenabuin

Ms. Mey Fong Hoh

MeyIrfana

Apiculture and Nature
Conservation (ANCO)

Malaysian Care

Women Organization forDevelopment, Equality, Peace andTemperance (WODEPT)

JudeMs. Mohamed Nawsath Irfana Begam

Rural Community Development Staff

Field Assistant and DriverCommunity and Women’s Groups
Coordinator Volunteer

I am a lead trainer in beekeeping at APCO, whosemotto is, "Plant a tree, save a bee." Beekeeping,seed collection, market gardening, erosion control,and tree nurseries all help conserve our endangered
forests. At ARI, I will expand my skills to include
sustainable techniques for crop production andlivestock rearing.

As children, we could eat everything without fearand could save seeds, but not anymore. I hopeto help people return to chemical-free farming.
I work with indigenous people who want to keep
the rights to their ancestral lands and help them
to be good stewards of God’s creation throughsustainability.

In my district of Sri Lanka, women have few opportunities to develop skills enabling them to generate
income and support their families. I want to use thetraining offered at ARI to help women in my village
and district become economically self-sufficient.
My hope is that this will lead to better protectionof women's rights in future.

VIETNAMZIMBABWE

SIERRA LEONE

Duc

Emmanuel

NafoeiResearch Center for RuralDevelopment, An Giang University

United Methodist Church Nyadine
MissionAgency for Rural Advancement Sierra Leone (AFRA-SL)

Mr. Huynh Ngoc Duc

Coordinator of Floating Rice Project,Lecturer

I have participated in several research and development projects in Vietnam, studying soil fertility
and water control. As a rural leader, I hope tocreate training courses to teach organic farming
techniques that will reduce the use of pesticides
while increasing crop production levels.

Mr. Emmanuel Chiimba

Ms. Nafoei Miatta Finda M'Briwa

Administrator

At Nyadire Mission, Zimbabwe, I provide for thebasic needs of orphans and supervise the staff. I
hope ARI will give me training to equip the staff
as well as the local community. I grew up in a poor
rural community, and I want to teach others aboutsustainable farming practices.

Women's Programme CoordinatorI coordinate programs in two communities of theSouthern Province. The land is fertile, but becauseof the terrible roads, farmers, many of whom arewomen, find transporting their excess produce tomarket challenging. I hope to learn more about“servant leadership” and organic farming at ARI.

The Asian Rural Institute (ARI ) has been dedicated since 1973 to training grassroots rural leaders,
who live and work in their communities in countries located primarily in Asia, Africa and the Pacific.
Located in Tochigi, Japan, ARI trains rural community leaders regardless of nationality, race, religious beliefs, gender or age.
The aim of the training is to facilitate the self-development of rural people, in order to build a more just and peaceful society.
The training is practically-oriented. Participants learn through classroom lectures, discussions and study tours, thenput this learning into practice by managing their own fields and rice paddies, raising livestock, heading committees and organizing events.
The ARI community is almost completely self-sufficient, with more than 90 percent of the food we consume coming from our own campus.
ARI does not have an independent source of funds. We rely on the support of individuals, churches andfunding organizations to operate the training program. Furthermore, since ARI actively seeks out people fromthe most marginalized areas of the world, who have few resources to support themselves for this training,
we help them to connect with potential supporters for scholarship assistance.
ARI's training program is made possible by supporters' generous contributions.

UGANDA

INDIA
FredKabita

Ms. Kabita Pradhan Sarkar

Ms. Alemla SamuelSustainable Action for RuralSector (SARS)

Indian Institute for Mother andChild (IIMC)

Chumukedima Self Help Group
FederationMr. Fred Kugonza

Volunteer Field Officer, Farmer

Most of the people in my community aresubsistence farmers. Challenges include illiteracy,
malnutrition, water-borne illnesses, and the lackof storage facilities, processing equipment andgood roads. I focus on women and children, who
are traditionally barred from owning land. At ARI
I want to learn food processing and marketing toencourage people’s sustainable income generation.

AlemlaAdministrator, Community Organizer

Most rural Indian people are poor daily workers;
mothers and children suffer and die from a lackof education and medical services. Volunteeringwith IIMC, I have become involved with village
activities. I believe ARI training will increase
my self-confidence and ability to lead in thedevelopment of village people.

JAPANPresident, Community Organizer

I have worked in Dimapur since 2001, assistingsome of the poorest women in Nagaland to establish self-help groups, and also providing financial
services and training that are useful to them. AtARI, I wish to learn more about farming and animalhusbandry in a community where people frommany countries learn and work together.

LIBERIA
BeiMs. Atsuko Yamabe

YutoDorothy

Mr. Yuto Yazawa

Ms. Dorothy Lewah Yeanany
United Methodist Church Liberia

Farm Supervisor,
Women's Group Coordinator

A 2009 university stay at ARI informed me about
agriculture and food-related problems in andbeyond Japan. After graduation, I researchedorganic farming through sociological methods,
and I worked at a consumers’ cooperative. At ARI,
direct experience with farming and people fromother countries will deepen my understanding.

I recently graduated university with a major inagricultural economics. I want to use my studies
by helping people in developing countries. At ARI, I
hope to learn practical agricultural skills and hearfirst-hand from people what kind of agricultural
support is needed in their countries.

My work is with women who are doing farming.
Our organization helps street kids, single parents
and abandoned girls, to reduce their vulnerability
and increase their opportunities for a decent life.
My goal at ARI is to become an agriculturist. I
hope to glean new and different ideas from otherparticipants.

NEPAL
Bhim

SabitraMr. Bhim Bahadur Rai

Ms. Sabitra Chaudhari

National Development
Organization Nepal

Social Mobilizer

Trainer

I live in rural Nepal, where poor roads and great
distances to attend training programs create
many challenges. Part of my work includes helping
local farmers make natural fertilizer. I encourage
people of different castes, creeds, and religions tocooperate. I hope to start an organic agriculturaltraining center when I return home.

Boat For Community Development

We Tharu persons have traditionally farmed, butoften have been unable to feed ourselves. Many
have been forced to work as bonded laborers. We
help untouchable people and several ethnic groups
to raise their living standard. At ARI, I want tolearn more about servant leadership and organicfarming.

TANZANIA

LAOS
Tiliphina

Clevina

Kor

Ms. Tiliphina Banenwaki Thomace

Ms. Clevina Tibiita Kwigizile

Pr. Kor Thao

Anglican Church of Tanzania
Lweru Diocese

Evangelical Lutheran Church inTanzania, North Western Diocese

United Methodist Pastor

Field Officer

My work focuses on teaching agricultural skills,
including fertilizer use, new technologies, andanimal husbandry to poor and marginalized farmers.
At ARI, I plan to focus on agricultural technologies,
seed dissemination, crop protection, animal healthand new procedures for cultivating and harvestingrice.

Agriculture Trainer and Community
Organizer Volunteer

I was born into a farming family. My schooling
involved agricultural activities in which I took
leadership roles. My interest for the future lies
in working with the poor, especially widows andvulnerable women. At ARI, I hope to increase myknowledge of organic farming, thus improving
conditions for my community.

Laos Mission Initiative

I grew up farming my parents' land and still help
them, but now I am also a Methodist pastor. The
Hmong people have always helped each other,
but today's farmers face more troubles. I see
the need for sustainable agriculture and for thedevelopment of leaders in poor and undereducatedcommunities.

KENYAINDONESIA
Agnes

DaveMr. David Gitari Karoki

Mr. Joseph Ndirangu Gitimu

HKBP Ressort Simarmata

Kenya Anglican DevelopmentServices

Fountain of Life Care CenterMs. Agnes Thiolina Lumbantobing

Deaconess (candidate), Teacher

JosephVolunteer,Community Program Officer, Farmer

Extension Agent,
Agriculture Field Officer

As a deaconess in our church on Samosir Island,
Lake Toba, I have helped establish early childhood
education and a credit union, worked with parents
on family economics and promoted organic farming.
At ARI I want to learn to make bokashi, compost,organic pesticide and to develop sustainableagriculture.

I work with Anglican Development Services of Mt.
Kenya East Region, helping Kenyan farming families
contend with the many challenges of farming. AtARI, I hope to broaden my knowledge and skills inorder to better help the poor and marginalized
realize their potential in holistic and sustainableways.

I work with the Maasai, a pastoral people in Kenya,providing rehabilitation services to prostitutes
and people with addictions. We help them form
welfare groups and find other income-generating
activities. At ARI, I will focus on field management
activities and how to provide better nutrition forboth people and livestock.

GHANATHE PHILIPPINESZAMBIA

Solomon

Job

Lydia

Jeduako Society of the MethodistChurchChristians Meeting in Gospel Hall

Chipembi Farming College

As an agricultural trainer, beekeeper, and paraveterinarian, I see too much good quality soil
destroyed by bushfires. I know that integratedorganic farming technologies can restore health toour land. I want to learn this kind of farming so I
can teach others how to protect the environmentand become self-sufficient.

I work with a semi-nomadic community in themountains of Palawan Island, who experiencefood scarcity due to poor resource management.
Because of limited education they are exploitedand suffer from inadequate health services. I wantto gain more “hands on” knowledge of agricultural
skills and a deeper community life.

Mr. Solomon Koduah

Agriculturist, Trainer,Para-veterinarian

Mr. Job Lagrada

Missionary, Community Organizer

Ms. Lydia Kaunda Chibwe

Agriculture and Life Skills Trainer
for the Disabled

At Chipembi Farm College, I teach agricultural skills
to youth, women and local farmers, and I support
disabled students by teaching them daily activities
such as cooking, washing and farming. I want tounderstand servant leadership and to share organic
farming methods with my students and small-scale
farmers.

MYANMAR
Mary

Chit Chit

EliCommunity Association for
Rural Development (CARD)

Shwe Gyin Karen Baptist
Association

Rural Development Organization(Hopin)

Ms. Mary

Director and Community Organizer,
Chin Women's Empowerment GroupI work with a tribal community across several
villages in an undeveloped and remote area,
where shifting and slash-burn farming results inlower productivity and contributes to poverty.
I train people in income generation, community
development, and gender awareness. On return,I hope to establish a rural development center in
my community.

Mr. Saw Chit Chit

Field Staff, Farmer

My sending body integrates community development into its spiritual mission with the goal of
reducing poverty, aiding the displaced and helping
families to be healthy. We encourage self-helpgroups, in which people can depend on each otherto share the local resources for the benefit of
the entire community.

Ms. Elizabeth Ma

Field Facilitator

Currently, I train women and low-income families
in sound financial management. At ARI, I will focus
on leadership and community building, as well as
learning organic and sustainable farming
techniques. I want my people to stop relying on
chemical agricultural methods, so their families
and the environment will be healthier.

MYANMAREh WahMs. Naw Eh Wah Paw

Hpa-an Mawlamyine Association,
Karen Baptist Association

Assistant Director, Hpa-an ChristianSocial Service and Development
Department (CSSDD); Field Facilitator,
CSSDD Rural Basic Integrated Development ProjectMy people have good land, but many lack thetechniques to develop it sustainably. I am now an
assistant director for the Christian Social ServiceDevelopment Department. At ARI, I want to gain
technical skills to train others in environmental
awareness, organic, sustainable agriculture, andbreeding good livestock.

LianChan Hup

Tedim Association of Baptists

Chin Relief and Develoment
Program (CRDP), Thantlang
Association of Baptist Churches

Mr. Gin Suan LianFarmer, Teacher,
Volunteer

My people, the Zomi-Chin, still practice theold ways of farming, but this type of shifting
cultivation alongside dependence on chemicalfertilizers is transforming once green hills intoruin. My challenge is to develop the techniques totransition towards sustainable, organic farming
methods suited for our local climate.

Rev. Chan HupPastor, Youth & Missions Director,
Agriculture Volunteer

As village coordinator, I manage a model farm in anarea where many communities face grave environmental problems due to destroyed forests, deadsoil and unsafe drinking water. To help as many
farmers as possible practice a permanent organic
farming system, I hope to deepen my leadershipskills at ARI.

Advanced Training Course

THE PHILIPPINES

INDIA

Nick

Khaling

Ms. Khaling Toshang

Mr. Nicholas Pahanggin Tahuyan

Dorcas Noble Fund

Philippine Association forIntercultural Development (PAFID)

Secretary, Community Organizer

Program OfficerI teach organic farming with a focus on women.
As a TA, I will work in the Graduate Outreach andFarm sections, and hope to gain new ideas. My plan
is to create an organic model farm at a school, sochildren can learn how to grow their own food.

I work with tribal groups in Mindanao, assisting
140 farmers with income generation throughsustainable livelihood programs. Our goal is toalleviate poverty and promote education so thatindigenous people will not live in servitude tolandlords. We support their efforts to obtain
Certificates of Ancestral Domain.

(2007 Graduate)(2008 Graduate)

Training Assistant (TA)ARI Graduates who have worked intheir countries for five or more years
may apply to be a TA. Those applicants who
have achieved good results in theircommunitites are invited to come to ARI
to assist in the training of the participants.

JAPANPhotography: Kazushi TsukamotoMotokiMr. Motoki Che

The 2015 participants receive scholarships
from the following organizations*:

Graduate Intern (GI)I am continuing my training at ARI, this year witha focus on Meal Service. I want to make easy,
delicious, balanced meals for the community, andproduce a recipe book for others to use. I also
want to grow personally and spiritually as I live
among the diverse ARI participants, learning how
to connect well with people, in- and outside thekitchen.

American Friends of ARI (AFARI), American School in Japan Swimming
Club, ARI Supporters Association, Asunaro Scholarship, Asian Rural
Welfare Association, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Global
Citizens Foundation, Harstra Foundation (Netherlands), Igarashi Fund,Japan Students Services Association (JASSO), Japan Evangelical Lutheran
Association, National Council of Churches in Japan, Niikura Kai
Foundation, Osaka Community Fund, Rotary Yoneyama MemorialFoundation, The Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Tokyo St. Timothy
Service Scholarship, St. Columban's Foreign Mission Society, Tokyo American Club Women's Group, UCCJ Bancho Church, United Church ofChrist in Japan (UCCJ) Ecumenical Scholarship, The United Methodist
Church - General Board of Global Ministries, United Church of Canada,
Wesley Foundation (Japan), World Council of Churches

A Japanese graduate of ARI is eligible to apply tobe a GI. The internship is twelve months long,starting in April immediately after graduation.
The intern focuses on one section of the farm inwhich he/she wishes to gain deeper understanding
and more extensive experience.
The GI also takes part in all other aspects of ARI
life as an actively contributing community member.

*Some applications pending as of May 1, 2015(2014 Graduate)

The Graduates of ARI

1,303 Graduates
Theological Seminary for Rural Mission / Tsurukawa Rural Institute・South-East Asia Course (1960-72): 116 graduates, 17 countries

Asian Rural Institute, Rural Leaders Training Center (from 1973 on)・Rural Leaders Training Course: 1,107 graduates, 55 countries
・Advanced Training Course: 80 graduates〒 329-2703

That We May Live Together

442-1 Tsukinokizawa, Nasushiobara,Tochigi, 329-2703 JAPANEMAIL

栃木県 那須塩原市 槻沢 442-1

TEL 0287-36-3111 FAX 0287-37-5833

TEL +81-287-36-3111 FAX +81-287-37-5833

WEB

info@ari-edu.org

FACEBOOK

Asian Rural Institutewww.ari-edu.org