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THE COURAGE TO RENEW RETREAT
Send us an email at Peopledevelopment.antigonish@gmail.comif you are interested in the retreat.
Dates are now finalized for 9 - 13 November, 2025. We are thrilled Dr Debbie Castle has joined the facilitation team - see details below. The next update will be provided here on September 1st 2025.
Retreat Description
The Courage to Renew Retreat is an opportunity to reimagine the path ahead, for ourselves, for civil society, and for the world. It is a retreat for global citizens committed to change.
If you are engaged in movements for equity, healing, and transformation or just care deeply about the future of the world — we warmly invite you to take part in this five-day retreat devoted to reflection, re-energizing, and deep reconnection. In the face of growing complexity, fragmentation, and urgency, this is a rare opportunity to pause, breathe, and gather strength through intimate and meaningful dialogue across borders and backgrounds.
Held in a spirit of generosity and care, this retreat brings together changemakers from Canada, India, and beyond who feel called to reflect, connect, and dream anew. Together, we will co-create a learning space that is safe, spacious, and nourishing—a space where our individual stories and collective experiences can meet and evolve.
This is a time to renew body, mind and spirit. The beautiful, peaceful environment of The Hidden Oasis is not only a place, it is a "space" for us to learn and be nurtured by nature, to relax and reenergize and to take the time that’s needed to rest – and detox – our minds and our bodies. Wellness and mindfulness activities, and spaces for individual and shared meditation and spiritual practices will be an integral part of the retreat. Participants can chose to explore each other's practices or spend time alone.
This retreat is not a traditional workshop—it is a co-curated journey. Each day will open space for quiet contemplation, intimate conversations in dyads and triads, large group sessions, and hands-on creative practices. The integrated moments for yoga, nature walks, art-making, shared meals, and faith-based practices, will help us root in what sustains us.
Discussion Themes
Currently, we envision the retreat to be a shared exploration that will flow through five interwoven themes. These themes will be enriched and confirmed with participants' suggestions and ideas as we move closer to the time of gathering in Pune.
1. Appreciating Our Gifts
We begin by recognizing the wisdom, experiences, and aspirations we each bring. In a world that often rushes past quiet knowing, we’ll slow down to honour the gifts—seen and unseen—that shape our lives and leadership. This is a time to listen, be witnessed, and affirm the value of what we carry.
2. Illuminating Complexities, Challenges, and Realities
We make space to name what’s difficult: the tensions we live with, the weight of the world’s injustices, the pain in our personal and professional journeys. Together, we will surface and hold the questions that matter most in our lives and for the future of civil society—without rushing to solve or explain them away.
3. Spotlighting What Is Working
Focusing on the positive, we will seek out what brings hope: stories of unconventional, “outside-the-box” experiments, emerging practices, and resilient models for change. Whether it’s community-led funding models or grassroots healing work, we’ll share what’s quietly (or loudly) working—and consider what could grow.
4. Nurturing Our Sources of Energy
We will also turn inwards and ask, what truly sustains us? What wells do we draw from when the work becomes overwhelming? We’ll explore practices—personal, spiritual, and collective—that renew our inner landscapes. This includes the role of faith, mindfulness, and the reconciliation of our inner and outer work.
5. Reimagining Ways to Carry On
As we begin to look forward, we’ll ask: What is calling us now? How can we carry forward the insights from this time together into our lives, communities, and organizations? We’ll support each other in imagining futures that are bolder, softer, and more just.
We Want to Hear from You
Prior to the retreat, we want to invite registered participants to share their hopes, curiosities and questions as part of a needs and capacities survey. This will help shape the flow of the retreat, ensuring it is grounded in your aspirations and lived realities. The facilitators' roles are to serve as curators of the learning journey, and the final design will be dependent on the people who come to breathe life into it.
We will endeavor to respond to the particularities of the social, political, economic and environmental situations identified and their local and global implications – and this will take all participants’ collective engagement. This retreat is not something being delivered—it is something we will create together. Based on the survey we will co-create a menu of options to be tweaked and finalized that span concrete actions to self-care based activities. And in that act of co-creation, something vital and beautiful may emerge.
Hosts and Conversation Facilitators
We are thrilled that Debbie Castle (Ed.D) has agreed to join the facilitation team for the workshop. Debbie has decades of experience in designing transformative learning opportunities for groups, has published a number of books on personal transformation and community change and has worked in over 40 countries. Participants say Debbie’s facilitation of deep conversations is not only thoughtful and heart-felt, but fun and inspirational as well. Debbie is one of the co-founders of People Development Ltd.
Anuj Jain (MBA) is a passionate educator and changemaker in the international development space, with a heart for inclusive economies and transformative leadership. With experience across Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East, he blends strategy, systems thinking, and partnership-building to spark meaningful social change. Whether mentoring social enterprises or strengthening community roots at home in Antigonish, Nova Scotia or elsewhere, Anuj thrives at the intersection of learning, collaboration, and equity—with a vision of a more just, connected, and empowered world.
David Fletcher (PhD) is a lifelong educator, action researcher, and community-builder committed to social equity, people-centred development and Indigenous Knowledges. With over 30 years of experience across Africa, Asia, and Canada, he supports communities and organizations to grow through learning, resilience, and collective action. Grounded in deep listening and collaborative practice, David weaves together education, research, and strategy to strengthen grassroots leadership and systems change—always guided by a belief in the power of communities to shape their own futures.
VishwaMitra Yogesh is an extraordinary peace pilgrim who reinvented his life at 50, leaving a three‑decade IT career to walk—without money—from Pune across India and beyond to spread peace and unity. Over thousands of kilometres, he has transformed encounters into conversations of love, forgiveness, and hope—even inspiring change in would-be robbers with kindness alone. In 2019, he walked from Pune, India toward Bangladesh, driven by a simple belief: his religion is humanity—and peace is his pilgrimage. Now 66 he has done other walks in North America, UK and Japan and continues to spread the message of peace. His small ashram The University of Life is right next door to the Hidden Oasis, where the Courage to Renew Retreat will be held.
Delectable Cuisine
Every meal at the retreat will be lovingly prepared, strictly vegan farmhouse feast—think wholesome, homestyle dishes crafted from produce from Hidden Oasis's farm. Guests will enjoy nutritious breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner throughout the retreat. The Hidden Oasis’s plant‑based menus, juice‑detox choices, and special diet offerings nourish body and soul, perfectly aligning with the eco‑resort’s mission of sustainability, wellness, and mindful connection and promoting the retreat’s intention of refreshing and renewing body, mind and soul.
Logistics
This retreat is imagined to be with 20-25 friends and fellow travellers, on an at cost basis. US $ 400 for accommodation and food for the 5 days and US $ 400 to cover excursions to historical and cultural sites around Pune and other expenses.
Accommodation is offered in single or double well‑furnished, rustic lake‑side rooms nestled within Hidden Oasis's lush, shady 16‑acre eco‑farm. Each refreshing stay blends simplicity with comfort—en suite bathrooms, hot water, fans, and serene natural views. Expect a peaceful getaway free from air conditioning or alcohol. Wake to birdsong by the lake and return to warm hospitality and tranquil rest.
During early November temperatures in the area can get up to 29 in the day time and down to 13 degrees at night. There are often some partially cloudy days, but with little rain. The natural environment of the Hidden Oasis makes the climate very pleasant and refreshing.
There is a busy airport in Pune with many domestic flights and a few international ones. It is often faster, however, to travel by road from Mumbai International Airport direct to The Hidden Oasis and avoid Pune city traffic. Once you make your flight booking contact us and we can help arrange a pick up at Mumbai airport for a reasonable price with a taxi who knows the Hidden Oasis well. Similarly, if you are arriving by train let us know and a taxi can be arranged, or if travelling by car we can provide specific directions.
Frequently Asked Questions
These FAQs will be updated 1st September - send any questions to peopledevelopment.antigonish@gmail.com
Program Design
Who is the retreat designed for?
Changemakers. Students. Responsible consumers. Social entrepreneurs. Educators. Business leaders. Academics. Activists. Artists. Social Workers. Policy developers.
Do I need to have a background in social equity to attend?
Absolutely not! You only need an interest in self-care and for the work you do in the world, and for social equity and peace.
What are the objectives of the workshop?
Our workshop offers an opportunity to journey together to rethink and recharge personally and professionally for our work promoting sustainability, equity and community well-being. See the retreat description above.
What is the basic agenda for the five days?
Because of the co-created nature of the retreat - based on participants aspirations - further details on the agenda can only be shared closer to the time of the retreat.
How many participants are expected?
We’re anticipating between 20 and 25 participants.
Do you have to come for the full five days or can you join for part of the workshop?
To get the full benefit of the workshop, you should plan to attend all five days.
What is the timing of each day’s program?
We expect participants to arrive by 2:00 pm on November 9th and to depart after lunch on November 13th. Details of the design are still being worked out. We hope to have an evening welcoming program on the first day. Mornings may begin with optional nature walks or yoga activities before breakfast which will be served 8:00 – 9:00. The program will start after breakfast and continue (with a refreshment break) until lunch and then there will be a rest break. If there is an excursion or special activity there may or may not then be a session from 4:00-6:00 before dinner. One other evening there may be a cultural show of some kind. Details will be provided as they evolve. Our hope is people can put other work and responsibilities aside and be present in the retreat space in a relaxed and flexible manner until they depart on Thursday afternoon.
Accommodations, Meals, Visas and Transport
What accommodations are available?
There are beautiful, rustic deluxe and premium accommodations available at Hidden Oasis in a natural setting near the lake. Have a look at https://www.thehiddenoasis.com/rooms for details. The Hidden Oasis has a 4.7 rating on trip advisor. You can read reviews here:
We envision all retreat participants staying at Hidden Oasis.
Will meals be provided?
Yes. See the description above. If you have special dietary needs please let us know when you register.
Is the space accessible?
The main training room and some of the accommodations are wheelchair accessible. Please let us know if you have any special needs or concerns. Further details on the accessibility of the workshop venue will be provided shortly.
If I am from outside India do a need a visa?
Tourists to India need a travel visa. Check the requirements for your own country. We advise that you also arrange your own health insurance. We can not take any responsibility for these elements of your visit.
What are the transport arrangements?
The Hidden Oasis is about 1 hour south of central Pune. Further details regarding transport will be provided.
Facilitators and Preparations
Who is facilitating the workshop?
The main facilitators are Anuj Jain and David Fletcher. Additional facilitators include Debbie Castle and Vishwa Mitra Yogesh. You can read our bios above.
What experience do the facilitators have in social equity and personal transformation?
Combined we have nearly 150 years of experience with groups in many different countries! And we are still learning! Please read our bios above and click on the "Learn More about ..." buttons.
Who are the partner organizations involved in offering the workshop?
The Hidden Oasis and VishwaMitra Yogesh's Ashram, The University of Life, are official hosts of the retreat. They have invited People Development and Facilitators for Social Change to collaborate on this initiative. We’re in conversations with other organizations who may potentially join this initiative as partner organizations.
Is there any background reading we should do in advance of the program?
A reading list will be shared during the workshop, but there are no prerequisite readings. We're working on putting together a list of resources for those who may be interested in doing some readings prior to coming to the workshop. Please check back here for more information.
Costs and Registration
What is the cost of the workshop? How do I pay?
The cost of the workshop is US $400 for food and accommodation and an additional US $400 for historical and cultural excursions and other expenses. We will strive not to have any additional charges, but depending on the wellness and ecoactivities chosen there may be some additional minimal charges for honourariums for the resource people. We ask that 25% of your payment be made at time of booking and the remainder when you arrive at the Hidden Oasis. Payment can be made in US$ or INR. If you are not able to attend and have to cancel your registration we ask you do so by 15 October 2025. 50% of your advance payment will be refunded. After 15 October there can be no refunds.
How do I register?
Check back here on September 1st 2025 for a link to register. But don't wait until then, email us at Peopledevelopment.antigonish@gmail.com and let us know you are interested.
Staying Longer Around Pune and Visiting Other Parts of India
What other things are there to do around Pune, India? Can I arrive earlier or stay longer at Hidden Oasis?
There is lots to see and do around Pune! The state government tourism website https://maharashtratourism.gov.in/districts/pune/ has a wealth of wonderful ideas to make your trip memorable. Hidden Oasis would be happy if you wanted to arrive early or stay longer at your own expense. Please make your arrangements with them directly.
Can I visit other parts of India easily from Pune?
It is possible from Pune to do a day tour around Mumbai, a 2 day tour to The Taj Mahal and Agra, a four day tour of the golden triangle including Delhi, Agra and Jaipur or to visit many other places. Consider adding on a short visit to other parts of India either before or after the Courage to Renew Retreat. We are happy to give suggestions, but these arrangements would have to be made on your own.