Living Routes
Study Abroad in Ecovillages
UMass Amherst-accredited January, Summer, Semester and Year Abroad programs in Sustainable Communities
Living Routes offers accredited study programs (January, Summer, Semester and Year Abroad) with integrated Service Learning in Ecovillages in Australia, India, Peru, Scotland, Israel, Senegal, Brazil, Mexico and the U.S. (see program descriptions and links below). All Living Routes programs contain an integrated Service Learning component. Students receive an academic transcript from UMass Amherst, and academic credit is widely transferable to colleges and universities throughout the U.S. Additionally, participants who do not need academic credit often participate on Living Routes programs for the skills, research opportunities and experience they provide.
Ecovillages are unique communities where the theory and practical applications of ecological sustainability and social justice meet. In Ecovillages around the world, people are creating and modeling sustainable lifestyles in harmony with their local environments – restoring ecosystems and habitat, developing participatory models of governance, growing healthful organic food, building “green” homes, working for justice and social change, empowering girls and women and youth at risk, and utilizing renewable resources such as wind and solar energy.
These communities provide ideal “campuses” to immerse yourself in academic,experiential and service learning about sustainability, and prepare for lives and careers that make a difference.
Earn 4 or 16 UMass Amherst credits while:
- Learning about indigenous medicinal plants and intern in renewable energy development in southern India
- Studying human ecology, helping regenerate forests, and living on a self-sufficient island in Scotland
- Getting hands-on experience in sustainable development and building fluency in French in Senegal
- Building a super adobe house, learning organic farming and learning Capoeira in tropical Brazil
- Becoming a skilled consensus facilitator & leader for social change in the volcano belt of Mexico
- Designing ecological homesteads/landscapes with expert faculty in beautiful western Massachusetts.
- Learning how Amazonian fair trade coffee co-ops protect biodiversity and provide a living wage in Peru
- Studying and working for peace and social justice between Jews, Arabs and Bedouins in Israel
- Experience World Heritage Tropical Rainforest ecology and permaculture in Australia
To learn what students learn and experience day-to-day on one of our programs, check out our student blogs.
We accept students on a rolling admissions basis—Applications are available at here.
We also offer need-based scholarships to help make our life-changing programs more affordable.
Contact:
Gregg Orifici
Director of Admissions
Living Routes – Study Abroad in Ecovillages Worldwide
79 S. Pleasant Street, #A5, Amherst, MA 01002
(888) 515-7333 or (413) 259-0025
http://www.livingroutes.org
Last updated: March 24, 2010 by
