Shedding stress

The ASHA Centre, a place set against the rolling fields and quiet forests of Gloucestershire and run by the noted human rights campaigner and peace activist, Zerbanoo Gifford, along with a dedicated band of volunteers, embraces visits from groups of young people through the year. An ecstatic description of the place by a member of the Young Zoroastrians group from London in the newsletter of the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZTFE) speaks of the quality of the retreat where intellectual activity is fostered side by side with nature’s own stress busting therapy.

"One of the most impressive aspects of our stay were the quality of the seminar and discussion groups we had on Zoroastrianism. Both Alex and Mark Gifford, Zerbanoo’s two sons, helped us to understand some of the academic viewpoints on how Zoroastrianism has interacted with and influenced later faiths. At the same time, they also encouraged us to reflect on what makes our faith unique,” states the unnamed contributor.

Young Zoroastrians at the ASHA Centre with Zerbanoo Gifford (seated, 6th from left)

Alex Gifford and Adrian Locke, ASHA’s director, also took the youths through a drama workshop, introducing them to voice modulation and presentation techniques, to enable them to speak clearly and comfortably even to an unfamiliar audience.

The Centre’s gardeners have developed a natural method of cultivation that requires almost no water. The bountiful harvest which feeds the kitchen where visitors are provided three scrumptious meals every day, is attributed to a combination of naturally occurring plants coupled with an astrological calendar for planting. Apparently the technique has even worked well in climates where there is little rainfall, states the write-up.

The living quarters at ASHA with their wooden rafters and whitewashed walls blend with the surroundings while providing modern facilities. Zerbanoo Gifford had worked long and hard to set up the ASHA Foundation and the location of this particular site had thrilled her no end. The ZTFE’s Young Zoroastrians share the feeling: They are yearning to be back!