Reconnection in the Wake of Loss
Grief is an epidemic and a serious public health issue. Grief that begins in youth can have devastating long-term effects on health, well-being, and behavior. The Foundation exists to interrupt its destructive trajectory and transform its momentum into growth. For young adults navigating grief and loss, we provide a unique space in unspoiled wilderness, counseling, spiritual workshops, shared work, and community — to create or restore direction, balance, and a sense of peace and belonging.
Rather than pressured, intensive discussion groups, we offer discreet, authentic connection: with others on a similar path, with the natural world, with the Mediterranean culture, and with animals. Here, grief is allowed to unfold in its own way, and the heart is given the space to reopen.
There is no cost to come and heal with us. All that is needed is a commitment to well-being and to living fully after loss.
Connection is Everything
Grief is a testament to love. It arises from the loss of a deep human attachment. The physical relationship may be severed, leaving a survivor feeling unmoored, often regretful or abandoned, yet the bond of love and memory endures. Reclaiming the essence of that love, a gift that was and remains, is central to healing and transformation.
Grief is not depression, though when left unattended, it very often leads there. Nor is it self-pity, a weakness, or a failure to move on. It is a natural response that deserves to be respected and carried until its weight shifts from crushing to woven into the fabric of a textured life.
Time, space, and human presence are essential to the grieving journey. When life’s demands are set aside, and one is surrounded by nature, meaningful collaboration, and a supportive community, steadiness and direction can emerge.
The Foundation begins with refuge — a place to reawaken.
Set within 100 acres of quiet, rural landscape, it offers space to slow down, rest, and be held by simple, natural rhythms. Silence, nature, and unhurried time allow people to step out of urgency and expectation. In that gentler place, the inner landscape — the nervous system, the mind, even the musculoskeletal system — can settle. For those living with grief, the sanctuary provides what is often missing: permission to pause, to be exactly as they are, and to return to life naturally.
Grief affects the mind, the nervous system, and the body. The Foundation offers calm, grounded support for living with loss.
A licensed grief counselor oversees all therapeutic work at the Foundation. Counseling, both individual and group, is available at any time. It is offered as an option, not a requirement, and always with respect for personal boundaries and readiness. Emotional well-being is otherwise nurtured through time in nature and simple, restorative activities such as organic gardening, caring for animals, and equine-assisted experiences. These practices help restore rhythm, presence, and a sense of harmony and balance. Above all, the Foundation provides space for reflection and tools to process grief, allowing each person to move forward in their own way.
Grief isolates. Community brings people back into the presence of others.
The Foundation creates informal, shared spaces where relationships can form organically — through hikes, shared meals, games, swimming, time by the river, and collaborative projects. These moments are simple and unforced, allowing people to be together without expectations or explanations. A central gathering place, the Foundation Café, welcomes guests from near and far to share organic, farm-to-table meals. Around food and conversation, people of different ages, cultures, and backgrounds meet as equals, fostering real connections through everyday exchange.
For many young people living with grief, connection breaks. Here, reconnection begins — with others, with nature, and with oneself.
Participants are invited to engage, in ways that feel right to them, in activities such as permaculture and land regeneration, bilingual language and writing workshops, photography, music, theatre, cooking, and other creative and reflective pursuits. There are no programs to complete, only possibilities to explore. Collaborative projects fostering individual expression bring people together. Encountering different cultures and life stories brings new perspective.
Grief raises questions without easy answers. Here, there is space to explore them — without doctrine or expectation.
Optional practices such as meditation, time in the forest (shinrin-yoku), mindfulness, yoga, and guided reflection with experienced practitioners are available to those who wish to take part. These offerings support stillness, presence, and personal inquiry, each in a way that feels right for the individual. Spiritual exploration here is not bound by belief. It is about meaning — making room for reflection, inner listening, and a deeper sense of connection during times of loss and transition.
Local village churches offer weekly Protestant and Catholic services, where everyone is welcome. Participation in other traditional religious services can be accommodated virtually.
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We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience. — Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
After loss, structure and purpose matter. Meaningful work and hands-on learning help restore direction and confidence.
The Foundation offers paid internships and real-world opportunities for young adults who are beginning their path into adulthood or rebuilding after disruption. Participants may take part in roles in areas such as permaculture, land stewardship, natural building, and hospitality. Learning is rooted in doing. Workshops and skill-sharing in the arts, crafts, foreign languages, writing, and sustainability support both professional development and creative expression. For those farther along in their journey, the Foundation also offers guidance for developing and launching thoughtful, values-based entrepreneurial projects. The emphasis is on realism, responsibility, and work that aligns with personal meaning. Work here is not about productivity alone. It is about contribution, learning, and regaining confidence through participation in something real.
Grief can touch any life. Support should be accessible to everyone, regardless of background or means.
The Foundation offers scholarships, accommodation, and, when possible, travel assistance for participants traveling from abroad, including North America. These supports are intended to remove financial barriers so that participation is based on need rather than resources. Paid opportunities are available for local youth and Foundation residents, strengthening ties with the surrounding communities while offering valuable work experience.
For those who are able to give — your support helps us support others.
From Guests and Volunteers
Based in France. Open to the world.
Grief knows no borders, cultures, or languages. Loss is universal, even when the experience feels deeply personal and isolating.
The Foundation welcomes people from all backgrounds who are living with grief, loss, or life trauma. Some arrive from nearby communities; others travel great distances.
For many — especially those from fast-paced or highly structured environments — the change of scenery and rhythm itself is part of the healing. Life here moves more slowly. Time softens. Silence and nature create room to breathe, reflect, and reconnect.
This is not a place to explain or justify grief. It is a place to be met within it.
Wherever you come from, you are welcome here.