We are moving to a new website at www.afari.net

Click here or on the picture above to go to the new AFARI website.

The Asian Rural Institute
is  an international training institute for grassroots rural leaders from developing countries, mostly in Asia and Africa, and is located in Japan.
 ARI training focuses on sustainable agriculture through integrated organic farming techniques, community building, and servant leadership.  It is community based and hands-on learning is emphasized in all areas. Working together we grow and share our own food.
At the heart of the program is the concept of 'Foodlife‘– a term designed to recognize and value the inter-dependency between life and the food that sustains all life.  Servant leadership, Foodlife, and Community Building are the key concepts that enable the ARI community to live by its motto "That We May Live Together"
American Friends of Asian Rural Institute supports ARI in many ways and You can help AFARI.

We are moving to a new website at www.afari.net

An exciting new book from ARI!

Rural Leaders:  The Work and Community Impact of Graduates of the Asian Rural Institute

Rural Leaders, a new book published by ARI, depicts the work of ARI graduates worldwide.  A series of compelling stories that share both the triumphs and struggles of graduates as they work with their communities is illustrated with full color photographs. 

To find out more about the book, or how you can get your copy, go to the Rural Leaders book page.





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Volunteer videos

posted Mar 23, 2018, 7:27 PM by Robert Ray   [ updated Mar 23, 2018, 7:27 PM ]

St. Olaf College Volunteers at ARI made many videos of their Jan 2018 stay. See the videos here.

Announcements and News

posted Feb 24, 2016, 1:16 PM by Robert Ray   [ updated Jan 4, 2017, 2:30 PM ]

Check the out our new section on the Volunteer page - Personal stories of past ARI volunteers:

Announcing a special AFARI scholarship fund, in honor of Rev. Toshihiro Takami,  to fund an ARI participant each year.

See  New ARI buildings for farm and the Staff
      and a new Volunteer Video
Take a ARI Campus photo tour

ARI website has a new section  Graduate Profiles Pages

Running a Marathon for an ARI Participant to go to ARI!

posted Feb 23, 2016, 12:52 PM by Robert Ray   [ updated Apr 19, 2018, 1:48 PM ]

AFARI Executive Director J.B. Hoover ran the 2018 Soaring Eagle Trail Marathon Event to raise money to support an ARI participant. J.B. &  AFARI is looking forward to sufficient donations this year to achieve the goal of sending a participant ($20,000.00) to ARI. Please consider a donation to help us toward that goal. Details:

Latest News

posted Sep 20, 2012, 6:26 PM by Robert Ray   [ updated Feb 23, 2016, 3:05 PM ]

AFARI Executive Director J.B. Hoover announced that a grant for AFARI /ARI has been received to partially fund a new documentary film. Asian Rural Institute, an international training institute for rural community leaders, will make a 30-minute educational film on the teachings of Mr. Ardendu Chatteerjee, a 1976 ARI Grad and an environmental educator/consultant in India. This film covers the basic philosophy of sustainable agriculture and sustainable living that are the basic pillars of the ARI’s training program. Mr. Chatterjee, a graduate of ARI and a gifted educator, is aging; therefore, it is important to document his teachings and ideas in order for ARI to continue to use this valuable training for years to come. Taught by Takami sensei, Chatterjee's teaching and views parallel those of Takami-sensei and this documentary will preserve these concepts for new generations of ARI graduates.  In addition, this film will be distributed all around the world to graduates of ARI and ARI related people (supporters and sponsors) who are interested in, and will benefit from, Mr. Chatterjee’s ideas. 

A video preview is available on YouTube at this link.

ARI News

posted Sep 20, 2012, 6:20 PM by Robert Ray   [ updated Feb 24, 2016, 5:53 PM ]

ARI website has a new section  Graduate Profiles Pages

ARI website has a new section on Graduate Impact

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