Auroville youth abroad

Auroville youth are often asked why they choose to go abroad. The majority answer that they wish to pursue higher education. Others want to travel to see the world or take up work outside.

Some youth are able to do higher studies in their parents’ country of origin. For most, the major factor is cost. In some countries, higher education is free; in others, it is prohibitively expensive. Youth often have to fundraise for visas, tickets and tuition. A lucky few have family abroad to support their integration. Many try to connect to Aurovilians or Friends of Auroville to have a feeling of “home away from home”.

Over the years, there has been a tendency to opt for Europe, and especially programs based in the Netherlands, England, Scotland, France, or Germany. However, there are also a large number that pursue their higher education here in India, or as far away as the United States. There has been no discernible trend to pursue any particular field of study or work. Youth have travelled to learn everything from visual arts, carpentry and artisanal training, medicine, business, hotel management, culinary arts, communication and design, pure sciences, environmental sciences, humanities and social sciences.

By age 18, most Auroville youth have tried the range of activities available within Auroville. They are eager to explore wider horizons in search of new challenges. So many enjoy the dynamism they experience in the larger towns or cities where they end up.

The majority continue to call Auroville “home” and express a clear need to eventually return. Many express a growing understanding and commitment to Auroville’s ideals, regardless of where they may be physically situated. Often, it is only after they leave that they discover their own deep connection with Auroville. With distance comes greater clarity. In the process of finding the words to explain such a complex experiment to those who ask, one is forced to reflect more deeply on it.

Those that have been out, tend to strongly encourage their peers to also try to explore the world. On account of the widening of perspective, and reflection on Auroville from a distance, many feel that it is a necessary step in discovering who they are and what they would like to contribute to Auroville on their return. Many realise that Auroville is nothing but a smaller reflection of the world, as it embodies a multiplicity of cultures, and many of the challenges that humanity struggles with at large. However, it is when the youth go out that they also realise how Auroville, with its unique Charter and Dream, calls for a very specific commitment to work for an ideal that exists nowhere else. And so, when the opportunity to return home becomes possible, many tend to return. Some stay a few years longer to earn enough to pay back their debts, or save enough to kickstart their lives back home, but they do return.

The main reason I left Auroville was to attend university. I was set on staying in India, and I’d always been interested in aviation, so I looked for the best options available to me. I got into my first choice: Hindustan University in Chennai, which is one of India’s premier aviation schools. I’m still getting used to the change because some things aren’t quite how I imagined them to be. Since moving to Chennai, I’ve learned and realised how much I took Auroville and the people there for granted. I’ve always imagined myself wanting to leave Auroville and live in the city, but I’ve realised that in the end, I’d like to return to Auroville and live a tranquil life.

One thing I’d like to tell the younger ones back home is that it’s fine to want to get out and explore, but don’t take for granted what you’ve been given, and always remember that we are privileged in comparison to most.

I chose to leave Auroville to study further and gain different experiences. I chose to study in Brussels mostly due to practicalities. I found a good English programme and could stay with family, which made everything much easier. I have an EU passport, so Europe was the most accessible option outside of India. Brussels is also a very spirited and diverse city, which was an attractive feature.

I think I have grown more comfortable with large, dynamic settings. There are always new things to see and new people to meet. Finding people I could relate to was made easier because I was studying with people from different countries, and we had similar interests related to our studies. Some things were challenging at first, but after adapting to a new way of life, I began to enjoy it more and became more confident.

The biggest lesson for me was being more independent and learning how to live in a new place without much guidance. In Auroville, everything seemed obvious because it was the only reality I knew. In Brussels, I had to learn a lot of things which were obvious to people here but completely new to me.

I do plan to come back to Auroville as it will always be my home. At the moment I am not sure if I will live in Auroville permanently. I want to explore more of the world before deciding that.

Auroville is a very special place, both subjectively and objectively. It is unique. Regarding my newfound perspective, I think I have understood more of Auroville’s failures and successes which were not as evident when I was living there. In some ways it is quite extreme to contrast Auroville, which is community-driven, close to nature and experimental, with Brussels, which is more individualistic, metropolitan and structured or organised. It has definitely made me look at Auroville in another light, situating its character in the world, and how it is affected by different currents existing in the rest of the world. I appreciate certain values we hold in Auroville more now, such as the emphasis on learning, and that learning is not confined to academia or a specific aspect of life. I think that this is a great innovative attitude to have.

I would say that Auroville is a place of experimentation and gives a lot of opportunities and resources to learn so many different things. I think when you are young in Auroville you should use these to your advantage and try as many things as possible even if you are not sure if you will like it or be good at it.

Leaving Auroville after high school was never a question for me. Despite its positive attributes, Auroville was no longer serving my individual growth. I was really desperate to go out and find different ways of learning in the world.

The Netherlands was the smart choice due to my nationality. I decided to study Hospitality Business Management as the Netherlands has one of the top three universities in the world in this field. I have always been interested in business development even though it is not my strong suit. And with my prior experience in the hospitality industry, I was easily accepted. I would say that I am not an academic by nature, but I enjoy learning through active implementation of knowledge. Therefore Hotel School with its combination of theory and practice was ideal because I can challenge myself and also build more hands-on experience within the industry.

I can’t even begin to explain how much I enjoy my time abroad. In addition to my time at the university, I have completed a six-month internship in Malta. I have also had the opportunity to travel within Europe. I am truly thankful to have met so many people who have changed my life for the better. My biggest learning has been to discover that the world is absolutely unlimited. There are endless possibilities and countless opportunities for new, beautiful, and unexpected experiences.

The question of whether I will return to Auroville causes me a bit of internal struggle. At this time I feel like I have outgrown the Auroville life and I want to continue to grow within this community abroad. I do see myself eventually coming back, likely on a part-time basis, with consideration of how I may be able to contribute to the community.

Auroville is an experiment that has brought to life a truly unique environment that extends into the development of forward ways of living. These, as with everything, can be both positive and negative. However, I must say that I have never seen anywhere else that comes as close to it as Auroville does. The environmental mindset, gift economy, supportive community, and general open-mindedness are values that I am grateful to have grown up with. I try to carry these positive aspects into the world around me. They have become my strong core values which shape the way I move in the world. I am proud and thankful to have grown up in Auroville.

Auroville, in all its beauty, also does have its limitations. My advice to my peers in Auroville, even if it may sound extreme, is to leave as soon as you are able to. Whether you have just finished high school or have just turned 18, leave and stay gone – not forever of course, but there is so much more in the world out there to experience. It will not always be easy, there will always be times of struggle and homesickness, but I believe these moments are critical for one’s personal growth. It can be the easiest route to just stay in Auroville for your entire life, but I am so thankful to the people who helped me leave, that I too want to support others to go out.

I felt like I was stagnating in Auroville, and I wanted to pursue my interests in a more challenging and resource-full environment. I chose Berlin because it’s the epicenter for alternative music, and I found a university whose approach to education is very similar to some of Auroville’s schools: interdisciplinary, with a diverse student body, and with an emphasis on curiosity.

With new opportunities, experiences and faces, I really noticed the value of being outside my circle / echo chamber.

Auroville to me has always been about community, sharing and freedom, and it remains so. By sharing I mean open knowledge, open ideas and welcoming initiatives / projects. 

To my peers in Auroville, I would say this. Do not pay attention to rigid academic structures and people that discourage you from pursuing what you want. Be curious and engage in community / youth initiatives. The alternative path is harder, but worth the effort, and definitely better.

I left Auroville to see the world from a different perspective. I also needed a break for myself and I wanted to make a change in what I was doing. I went to Münster in Germany where I joined a volunteering programme with the German Red Cross.

It was a great experience, as I was exposing myself to new surroundings. There were good and bad times, but it was all part of the experience. It made me realise how advancement / technology is making a huge difference, but at the same time it made me think about what is missing in that advancement.

My perspective on Auroville has changed. I saw Auroville as a magic bubble full of potential where cool new experiments take place. And this bubble is often taken for granted. I feel that what we have in this magic bubble needs to be scaled outward. I would recommend that my peers back home get more involved in Auroville. Get to know the history and current situation. Care for and respect Auroville.

After Transition School, I went to the Lycée Français. Once I was done with my baccalaureate, I chose to leave Auroville to pursue my studies. I moved to Paris and enrolled at La Sorbonne.

Paris is wonderful. It’s challenging and hard to understand, but living here is a great experience. I’ve learnt how to survive. I’ve learnt how to take things one step at a time and to deal with the pressure and stress that come from living in a big city. I’ve also learnt how to be completely independent and live my life the way I want to.

I do plan to come back to Auroville. I have been thinking about it quite a lot lately, but uncertain about when I’ll actually be back.

I appreciate Auroville a lot more with this newfound perspective. I am who I am today thanks to Auroville, and I’ll always be grateful for that. I’ve always believed that Auroville shaped me in the right way, and exposed me to all the right things in life, but unfortunately, it doesn’t really prepare you for the “real world”.

Go out into the world, see it, experience it. It will help you grow on so many levels. It will not be easy, it will be stressful, and you’ll feel all kinds of pressure, but it will definitely be worth it. What you experience will make you appreciate Auroville a lot more.

I chose to leave Auroville because I am passionate about psychology and wanted a degree that will later be useful to me in Auroville. Scotland has one of the top universities offering this degree, and they offered me a scholarship.

I love Glasgow. It is the friendliest city, and the experience so far has been incredible. There is one saying that has always stuck with me which goes, “There is no bad weather, there is just the wrong clothing.” I try to live by this in life. I think it’s really funny.

I do plan to come back to Auroville. It is and always will be home. My entire family is there, and I couldn’t imagine raising my kids or settling down in another place. However, things can change, so you never know. 

Auroville is an oasis of sorts, and as cliché as it is going to sound, I do truly think it is a chance for a better world. Not only does it strive for a better humanity, but its ecological and environmental focus is incredible. At the same time, leaving Auroville has also allowed me to see it from a different perspective. I can see that it still has a lot of growing to do, but don’t we all?

If I could say anything to my peers in Auroville, it would be to leave, because it is the single biggest gift you can ever give yourself. Leaving Auroville, even if it is just for a short while, will allow you to see if from outside the bubble. It will allow you to not only appreciate it, but to also see its faults. Leaving also gives you the space and tools to grow into yourself.

I chose to leave Auroville to pursue a BSc in biology in Ljubljana, Slovenia. I wanted to have more experiences outside of Auroville, and I also just missed Slovenia. As great as Auroville is, it’s still a bubble. So I’d say it’s definitely worth getting a different perspective. I do have plans to return to Auroville, but I am not sure when. Auroville is a part of me, a part of my childhood and my home.