College students don’t usually need a justifiable reason for studying abroad. And study abroad in Israel? There’s the sun, the beach, the good food, the beautiful people… all very educational, of course. But for those students who are looking for a justifiable reason (at least one they can tell their undergraduate advisors or parents), how about a study abroad program with a conscience?
Living Routes, a program that coordinates study abroad in eco-villages all over the world, has a wonderful program in Israel based out of Kibbutz Lotan. The program is titled “Peace, Justice, and the Environment” and focuses not only on various aspects of environmentally friendly living and farming practices, but upon non violent communication and cooperation between Palestinian-Arab, Bedouin, and Jewish Israeli communities. Essentially, the program focuses on sustainability in Israel on a very broad scale.
Some of the highlights of the program include:
Gaining hands-on experience with organic gardening, adobe brick and straw bale construction, building with recycled materials, and more at the Center for Creative Ecology at Kibbutz Lotan. To see a demonstration of how a straw bale geodesic dome is created at Kibbutz Lotan, check out the clip below:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SEahWSgs0k[/youtube]
Experience environmental justice issues in the Negev desert with Bustan L’Shalom (an NGO that works with Bedouin and Jewish communities.
Put permaculture into action through a community project in a Bedouin village in the Negev.
Experience the unique dialogue at Neve Shalom – Wahat al-Salam, a mixed community.
We urge all students looking for study abroad opportunities, as well as educators looking for different experiences to offer their students, to take part in this truly unique program.
Read more about other eco villages in Israel:: Guesthousing It in Israel: Get Your Eco-Farm On, WWOOFing It: Organic Farm Volunteer Opportunities in Israel, Adam and Eve: An Eco Farm Paradise in Modiin
Author: Karen Chernick
Much to the disappointment of her Moroccan grandmother, Karen became a vegetarian at the age of seven because of a heartfelt respect for other forms of life. She also began her journey to understand her surroundings and her impact on the environment. She even starting an elementary school Ecology Club and an environmental newsletter in the 3rd grade. (The proceeds of the newsletter went to non-profit environmental organizations, of course.) She now studies in New York. Karen can be reached at karen (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
Very nice website I will study it. Your suggestions were very helpful, Thanks!
Your site contain a many useful information. I look for a lot of this experience. Thanks!
Hello
We receive volunteers, students, Spring Break Groups, environmental interns locally and from abroad. Also Eco Tour Organizations in Costa Rica and around the world are sending group of volunteers to La Gran Vista every year.
Most of the Organizations we work with are Volunteer groups, looking for programs that help with environmental education, like at our farm.
We would like to know if we could receive volunteers from you; our web site is http://www.lagranvista.com. Please help us start a grass roots campaign, talk to your friends, family and co-workers to help us promote our organization.
Hello.
We are less than a 20 minutes drive from San Isidro de El General, a major city in the South Central part of Costa Rica. we are an Environmental and Conservation Project, our educational project is a “School Farm” where students, volunteers and visitors can participate, learn and help.
We receive volunteers, students, Spring Break Groups, environmental interns locally and from abroad. Also Eco Tour Organizations in Costa Rica and around the world are sending group of volunteers to La Gran Vista every year.
Most of the Organizations we work with are Volunteer groups, looking for programs that help with environmental education, like at our farm.
We would like to know if we could receive volunteers from you; our web site is http://www.lagranvista.com. Please help us start a grass roots campaign, talk to your friends, family and co-workers to help us promote our organization.
We offer ideal opportunities for graduate students and researchers to extend
knowledge, pursue specific interests, find field work or extend opportunities for thesis material. Undergraduate students who want to pursue a career in conservation often need volunteer work and hands-on experience as a prerequisite. This experience is an excellent way to verify an interest in a specific field. La Gran Vista can provide excellent opportunities for gaining experience and making contacts at the outset of a professional career in conservation.
We think the best way to preserve our Planet Earth is for everyone to become active and lend a helping hand to Mother Nature. We have major problems right now from green house gasses and global warming, to massive land fills that keep piling up, pesticides in our fruit, vegetables, and meat, shortages of suitable drinking water. No matter what town, country or continent you live on we are all together under the same sun during the day and the stars and moon at night. If we all recognized the issues and started to change one bad habit at a time it would an enormous effect on the planet right away, but we all have to do it together, so start today and join us in our struggle to change the course we are on. Thank you for you helps.
We would like to hear from you very soon.
King Regards
Donald
La Gran Vista Agroecological Farm.
Costa Rica.