TWO representatives of Tavistock environmental charity WestDEN have just returned from India where they visited community projects as part of the Europe/India Rural Links programme.
Max Jowett and Oz Osborne visited communities in Kerala and Tamil Nadu in India and found environmental groups in both continents had a great deal in common.
'We also have a lot to learn,' said Mr Jowett. 'Their small-scale balanced farms and self help groups have provided an income and quality of life that has transformed rural communities.'
During workshops, seminars and site visits the group members were able to see for themselves some of the pioneering work led by Indian colleagues who visited West Devon last year.
The Rural Links programme is managed by Mr Osborne who says one of the greatest challenges confronting these pioneering organisations is industrialisation and the promotion of Western values.
The Rural Links programme is a group of projects bringing together community organisations in the UK, India, Ireland, Albania and Ukraine.
Mr Osborne will be giving an illustrated talk about the visit at the next WestDEN members meeting on Thursday, March 14. There will be fairly traded goods on sale that evening to mark Fair Trade fortnight which runs from March 4-17.
The meeting will be held at the Methodist Hall in Tavistock at 7.30pm and is open to the public.