ASSEFA, in collaboration with Action Village India (AVI), UK, organized a four-day (January 29 – February 1, 2026), International meet at its Ayyanarpuram campus, Maduri, Tamil Nadu, India under the theme ‘Threads of Solidarity – Roots to Futures.’
This International meet brought together nearly *40 development practitioners* from England, the USA, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. Participants shared their field experiences, challenges, and innovative responses toward sustainable community development.
As part of the programme, participants undertook the following field visits to learn from ASSEFA’s grassroots initiatives:
- Dairy as an alternative livelihood for rural women in the Natham area.
- Climate-resilient initiatives for small and marginal farmers in Sivagangai Highland development initiatives in the Western Ghats.
- Holistic interventions for families working in firecracker units in Sivakasi.
- Dryland Farming Innovative and Extension Hub featuring solar-powered water pumping, fencing, and lighting systems.
The field exposure enabled rich learning and inspired participants to replicate similar initiatives in their own areas of operation. ASSEFA expressed its commitment to provide necessary support for these efforts. The heads of participating organizations reflected on how the thread of solidarity between their organizations and Action Village India has evolved over time and continues to grow stronger in promoting sustainable, community-led development.
‘Action Village India’ was promoted by ASSEFA nearly four decades ago. During the 1980s, a young Englishman, Mr. Chris Wilde*, returned to England after his association with ASSEFA and initiated a support group named Friends of ASSEFA. Over time, this evolved into Action Village India. The core objective of AVI is to connect people in the UK who are interested in *Gandhian philosophy* with Gandhian-based development organizations in India.
Article by Kumar Loganathan (ASSEFA, Feb 2,2026)
