Selvasannidhi Murugan Kovil circa 1981.

Guru Gama Objectives

Guru Gama is conceived as a pilot project for a system of education that teaches integration and harmony with the individual's environment. We plan to teach how to understand, conserve and use the environment as a valuable resource. With this in mind we propose:

1. To establish the first Guru Gama or Elders' Teaching Community where village elders and teachers will train young people in traditional lore.
2. To encourage the students to contribute as staff to both Living Heritage and other eco-tourism ventures with a similar focus on the social, cultural, and physical environments, carefully balancing minimal activities of persons from the outside with traditional village life.
3. To give priority student admission to the Guru Gama to young people who have been displaced by the war.
4. To establish a regular Living Heritage program of traditional activities according to the village calendar, to which we will allow the guests of other Eco-tourism ventures to participate.
5. To develop programs with young people nominated by specific villages that wish to conserve their traditional life style.
6. To consider the Guru Gama at Koslanda as a pilot project that can be replicated in a short period of time in conflict devastated areas.