The Permaculture Internship at Dharmalaya is for people who want to work with hands, head and heart, to cultivate a practice of working with the natural energies and elements of the land; to co-create an integrated, harmonious and productive ecosystem in which all beings have the opportunity to thrive.
Overview
Dates: October 2026 (following the Permaculture Foundations course) exact start date TBC – May 2027
Duration: 9 months, with a 6 month minimum on-campus commitment
Location: Dharmalaya Institute, Bir, India
Course type: Internship
Prerequisites required? Yes. Interns must have completed a permaculture course with Dharmalaya to participate in the internship. The Permaculture Foundations course will be running from early September to mid-October (exact dates TBC) to support the intake of interns.
Who is this internship for? Interns will be an integral part of the Dharmalaya community, so an open mindset and willingness for self-reflection and personal development are essential. In addition to permaculture thinking, interns will be supported in the development of leadership skills, compassionate communication and community building.
The Permaculture Internship at Dharmalaya is open to anyone, regardless of background or experience, who has a strong wish to deepen their understanding and application of permaculture concepts and design thinking through practical application. This is a program of embodied learning, involving hands on work on a daily basis, and designing and implementing projects to enhance and support the Dharmalaya campus. Interns will be working alongside local staff and long-term volunteers, learning from their skills and experience in place, and participating in an ongoing program of online sessions and mentoring support. Interns need to be committed to a rigorous program of learning and contribution to the Dharmalaya community.
Interns will be selected through an application process to help us identify the applicants best matched with the programme.
PrerequisitesApplicants for the Dharmalaya Permaculture Internship should meet the following minimum requirements:
Completion of the Permaculture Foundations Course at Dharmalaya, or similar program on campus.
Open to experience, willing to learn, service orientation: The world is complex and nuanced, and learning comes in many forms. Our expectations and strongly held convictions can limit our access to the richness of understanding different ways of seeing and being in the world. You will gain the most from this program through curious enquiry, self-directed learning and a commitment to working not just in the pursuit of your own benefit, but also for the benefit of others.
Language: Interns must be able to understand spoken and written English (ideally with fluency). Basic Hindi is also recommended though not absolutely necessary.
Time: Interns must commit to a minimum of six months doing full-time work and study in the programme. There will be several weeks throughout the internship where online classes are not offered, and it may be that students wish to take leave of the program or use the time for their own research and reflection. Longer commitments of 9-12 months or more are much preferred. If you are interested in a shorter experience, we recommend you consider one of the Dharmalaya Institute’s intensive training workshops followed by a period of volunteering at Dharmalaya to gain greater depth of understanding and proficiency.
Training: Interns will also have the opportunity to participate in the other training programs that are offered at Dharmalaya throughout the duration of the internship at a reduced cost.