Turkish farmer harvesting peppers from her greenhouse.
How about Boztepe, Turkey, as part of a new Rutgers international service-learning study abroad opportunity from May 16 through June 3? The deadline to sign up for “Empowering Turkish Women Farmers” is March 31. The town of Boztepe is about 25 kilometers from Antalya, which is located on the Mediterranean Sea and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.
Students will live and work on farms in Boztepe as well as assist with delivering a Suzanne’s Project workshop at the local elementary school. Suzanne’s Project, modeled after the popular U.S. women’s farm management program Annie’s Project, was adapted to Turkish conditions to train local women farmers on the basic skills and best practices for them to sustain and scale profitable agricultural businesses.
Participants in this study abroad experience will also make a weekend cultural trip to Istanbul to see major tourist sites like Topkapi Palace plus the Harem; Hagia Sophia; the Museum of Islamic Art; Grand Bazaar; Spice Bazaar; Blue Mosque; and more.
This new International Service Learning Study Abroad Program is facilitated by Robin Brumfield, an extension specialist in farm business management and professor in the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics at Rutgers. To learn more, contact Robin Brumfield, who serves as the faculty advisor for this program, at brumfield@aesop.rutgers.edu or Gregory Spear, International Service Learning Coordinator, at gspear@gaiacenters.Rutgers.edu. Read more about the program.
