The International PermaYouth Convergence (IPYC–2025) is a celebration of permaculture, youth leadership, arts, culture, and music across six days in the mountains of Timor-Leste.
Taking place in the village of Fatuquero, Ermera, this inaugural event is inspired by the highly successful PermaYouth movement already thriving across Timor-Leste. At its heart, the IPYC–2025 is a call to action for young people across the globe. By sharing permaculture knowledge and practice, we’re building an active global PermaYouth network, future leadership and global environmental stewardship.
Planting Water, Growing Communities Co-hosted by Permatil (Timor-Leste), Permatil Global (Australia) and the PermaYouth Association (Timor-Leste), the IPYC–2025 brings together delegations of youth (17 to 35 years) and their community leaders from six continents to camp onsite in Fatuquero, Ermera. The theme for IPYC–2025, “Planting Water, Growing Communities,” reflects the powerful work already underway in Timor-Leste—work that’s having a nation-changing impact. With the backing of the President of Timor-Leste, The Hon. José Ramos Horta, we want to expand this movement across Timor-Leste and internationally to communities that urgently need these solutions.
What to expect at IPYC–2025 Over the six days, participants will be immersed in all things permaculture to share and engage in practical activities about food, water and climate resilience, leadership training and cultural exchanges. The program will highlight innovative and effective watershed management practices including in water and ecosystem restoration and catchment management, working with your community, and the benefits that come from learning and sharing together. By night, participants will come together to share and enjoy a celebration and exchange of knowledge of indigenous culture, music, art and friendship. After the convergence ends, participants are invited to explore more of Timor-Leste—whether by visiting cultural landmarks in Dili or venturing into the country’s diverse landscapes and communities. And the journey doesn’t stop there: the PermaYouth Association (Timor-Leste) will continue to support attendees post-event, helping to establish and strengthen the global PermaYouth network.
Why it matters—and how you can get involved At the core of IPYC–2025 is an urgency to share tools of resilience and skills for our youth to utilise at the forefront of climate action, land care, and community leadership.
That’s where you come in. We’ve launched a crowdfunding campaign to help fund the event and support youth from across the globe—especially from under-resourced communities—to attend. Your contributions will help us identify and engage emerging youth leaders, cover their travel, and offer free tickets that include all transport, meals, camping, and participation in the entire program. If we exceed our fundraising goals, we’ll be able to further subsidise costs for selected attendees, helping us ensure that the IPYC–2025 truly reflects the diversity and strength of a global youth movement. Or join us in Timor-Leste—you can get directly involved by registering to attend as a participant, a volunteer, or a presenter.
Building a regenerative future together We invite you to support this global Convergence, share it with your networks, and help us bring together the next generation of earth stewards, community builders and changemakers. ** Join us in Timor-Leste, for IPYC–2025. ** Donate to the crowdfunder. ** Support global youth leadership in permaculture.
Thanks to the generous donors to Permaculture Australia’s Permafund, our small grants program is ready to launch another round of grants. This time we are calling for applications from groups in Australasia, South-East Asia and the Pacific Islands.
A Sumatran Farmer teaching a PDC
We need your help to spread the word to any groups within the region, or any Permaculture teachers who may know of eligible groups amongst their past students. Please share this notice and our contact details with them.
We hope that by funding small projects we will help to build the capacity of Permaculture groups in our region while they do important work to improve the natural environment. By publicising the successful projects in our newsletter and social media, Permaculture Australia members and supporters will learn more about groups active in our region.
This work can include the provision of information or education, or the carrying on of research about the natural environment or a significant aspect of the natural environment as well as running on the ground projects which will improve the natural environment.
The Permafund grant program is only for projects that benefit or protect the natural environment, which includes regenerative agriculture and permaculture education.
Please read the 2025 Grant Guidelines carefully before deciding if your organisation is eligible to submit an application. To see the types of projects that have been funded in the past please look at articles on our website.
The 2025 Grant Application form and Grant Guidelines are available for download from the Permaculture Australia website as Word or Pdf documents here.
Permafund grants support community organisations in Australia and around the world to learn about permaculture design and sustainable strategies to apply to their projects to enhance and restore their natural environment.
Project successes have led to better water management and soil enrichment, improved food production and greater biodiversity. Additional benefits have been improved income and food security, the creation of alternative economy initiatives and climate change mitigation.
Below are several thankyous with gratitude from Permafund grant recipients.
“Thanks so much for greening our community.” Andronico Otieno Mitta, Mkulima Sasa Regenerative Agriculture CBO, Kenya
Mkulima Sasa Regenerative Agriculture Syntropic Greenery
“Dear Permafund Team. Hope this update report meets you well. We have been blessed by some good rain once again and continue to be blessed by the work done using your funding. We continual to be proud of how the Food Forest is coming along and the knowledge it continues to impact in the community. I wish you could see the farm now. From an arid piece of land to this. Thankyou once again for all you have done for us, the women, children and the community.” Nyakio, Founding Director of Agatha Amani House, Kenya
Agatha Amani House Gardens
“The crops chosen by the community are amaranths, eggplants, peanuts and corn because they are market gardening and food crops that give good yields during the harvest after 2 weeks of sowing. On 9 November 2024, a team of agronomists made a field visit to Runingu to technically support the members of the Fanyatu club in their amaranth and eggplant fields. They worked the land, cut strips and directly sowed amaranth seeds. It was a wonderful learning moment where each member found the opportunity to observe and practice the permaculture technique. The community continues to thank the financial support of Permaculture Australia for the generous gesture it has made through the financing of this agricultural recovery project in the “permaculture sector” of the Ruzizi plain. Today, everyone is mobilizing to practice market gardening with a view to improving their socio-economic living conditions within households. Debaba Sango Bienvenu, Fraternity Kivutian (FK), Democratic Republic of Congo https://fanyatu.org/
Fraternity Kivutian Fenced Garden
Permafund also received this heartfelt comment about the impact of this Fraternity Kivutian project for a special family.
“My name is Shukuru Zuwena, I am a widow of 5 children, my husband died in 2022 following an illness. After his death, I found it difficult to live, but today, I greatly thank the Australian Permaculture Association for its project which consists of cultivating amaranths and eggplants as part of the revival of agricultural products in the plain of the Ruzizi. And the impact of this project is positive, because we feed our children with the products harvested in our fields and others that we sell to buy clothes. My best wishes for the year 2025.” – Shukuru Zuwena
“Conclusively the grandmother kitchen gardens was a big success and an eye opener as many people took interest and copied and tried in their homes and requested for more to be extended to them, the little fund was timely and so much appreciated since it enabled us realized our objectives and goal for this project. Much appreciation to the Permafund team for the trust.” By Patrick Paul Kidega, Project Manager Kitgum Permaculture Practitioners Association, Uganda.
Kitgum PC Grandmother with Oblong Gardens
“On behalf of Chinansungwi Relief Hand Organisation (CHIREHO) of Malawi, I would like to submit our project report for the project implemented with the funding from the Permaculture Australia. The project implemented has helped the community as well as our organization a lot though it met with some challenges outlined in the project. Your assistance is highly appreciated. Thanks very much” Charlie Nzima, Executive Director, Chinansungwi Relief Hand Organisation (CHIREHO)
CHIREHO Permaculture Gardens Establishment
The Permafund team are heartened to receive these reports and testimonials of gratitude.
Identifying environment restoration projects that integrate permaculture practices and ethics and represent the best ‘bang for the buck’ helps maximise the impact of every dollar raised for or gifted to Permafund.
It’s easy to donate to Permafund via the Permaculture Australia website. Donations over $2.00 are tax deductible in Australia and can be made here.
The proceeds of fundraisers and donations to Permafund are gratefully received and so far, have supported seed funding grants for 93 community projects in Australia and 16 other countries.
In the spirit of Fairshare, the 2025 Permafund grant round opening shortly will focus on applications from Australasia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.
For more information, please contact the Permafund team:
If you are between 17 & 35, you can be a Permaculture Youth Ambassadors representing Australia at the 2025 International Permaculture Youth Convergence (IPYC) at Timor Leste (East Timor) in the hills above Dili from October 20 – 25 this year!
This is the opportunity of a life-time to take the next step in your permaculture journey. Connect with hundreds of other like minded permie youth change makers from around the planet learning about and working towards creating “the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible”.
500 East Timorese Permie Youth Leaders will be hosting another 500 from around the world with the intention of building an active global PermaYouth network, future leadership and global environmental stewardship.
The day program includes permaculture practice and development of leadership skills in:
Water resilience
Sustainable Agroforestry
Agro ecology
Permaculture in action
Art, music and indigenous culture
The night program will be a real “hoot” with participants coming together to share a celebration and exchange of indigenous knowledge, culture, music, art and friendship.
After the event, we will spend another three days touring the many cultural sites in and around Dili and enjoying some additional permaculture site visits.
The cost of the convergence including food and accommodation will be minimal (yet to be confirmed) but my intention for the South Australian team is to collaboratively fund raise to offset associated transportation and additional food and accommodation costs.
I am looking to support and co-ordinate a team of up to 10 inspired South Australian Permie Youth Change makers on this journey. I am also looking for a non male permie to jointly share this responsibility with me. If your state or territory does not have a group attending, and you would like to be part of this amazing event maybe you can join up with us. To learn more about this awesome opportunity, contact Jasper Simmons on 85289113 or jasperearthwizard@proton.me
The Australian Permaculture Convergence 2025 isn’t just a gathering — it’s a cross-pollination of ideas, experience, and action. And the speaker lineup? Absolutely buzzing.
Join us in Kangaroo Valley this October to learn from some of the most passionate and pioneering voices in permaculture:
David Holmgren – Co-originator of Permaculture, sharing deep system thinking & regenerative vision
Anna “Nana” Matilda – Everyday Permaculture for renters, suburbanites & small-space living
Pete the Permie – Fruit tree wizardry, cool climate know-how & homesteading brilliance
Robina McCurdy – Community-scale permaculture, earth rights & participatory design
Taranar – Mycoregen:The act or process of utilising endemic fungi for bush regeneration.
Whether you’re here for design systems, social permaculture, bioregional strategies, or practical skills — there’s a voice, topic, and workshop for you. This is a convergence of perspectives, and we need all of them.
October 3–7, 2025 – For Catering and Planning purposes – Order your tickets NOW!
The Australian Permaculture Convergence 2025 isn’t just a gathering — it’s a cross-pollination of ideas, experience, and action. And the speaker lineup? Absolutely buzzing. 
October 3–7, 2025 – For Catering and Planning purposes – Order your tickets NOW!
Gangurang- Kangaroo Valley, NSW
Tickets:
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