The Farmont Summer School
At the heart of the Farmont Foundation’s Summer Academy is time and space for meaningful exchange. Each year, young people from across Europe come together for a ten-day sailing journey – a shared experience at sea where small actions can lead to lasting impact.
Life on board the foundation’s sailing boat is intense, collaborative, and deeply rewarding. Participants engage in discussions about social and European issues, challenge their own perspectives, and explore what it means to take responsibility – for themselves, for each other, and for the communities they’re part of. Living in close quarters requires cooperation, empathy, and openness – and offers the chance to see the world, and yourself, from new angles.
The Farmont Foundation covers all program costs, including meals, accommodation, and travel. Each sailing trip brings together five participants, supported by an experienced crew. Together, they explore the Turkish coast and nearby Greek islands, gain hands-on sailing experience, and take part in the rhythm of life at sea – from setting sails and navigating to cooking and sharing stories on deck. It’s a learning environment like no other – shaped by movement, conversation, curiosity, and the belief that even the smallest gestures can have a big impact. We aim to empower those who are committed to building a more connected and compassionate world.
In this spirit, the theme of the 2025 Summer Academy is: “Small Acts. Big Impact.” This year’s motto invites us to recognize the power of small actions – a shift in perspective during a conversation, a moment of care, a bold idea. Each of these can create ripples of change. In a time when global challenges can feel overwhelming, we believe in the ability of individuals to spark transformation in the small and strengthen connection in the big.
In 2025, the Farmont Foundation will offer two sailing journeys, each with five participants:
📍 September 18 – September 27, 2025
📍 October 7 – October 16, 2025
All information on how to apply can be found under the “Application” section on our website. There you’ll also find the application form and further details available for download.
Voices from our participants:
Time Table
Because the course of our trip is dependent on the local weather conditions, this is only an example itinerary.
Arrival in Antalya, Turkey. We will meet you at the airport and drive you to the marina where our yacht Marleen is harboured. After you complete the safety briefing on board, we will end the day with dinner and an icebreaker session.
Accompanied by a crew member and the other participants, you will explore the historic district of Antalya. When you return to the boat we will kick off our discussion panel with an introductory session and an activity to get to know each other better.
After breakfast, we will set sail for the first leg of our journey, travelling 20 miles to the next harbour. Along the way, you are invited to join our crew, learn your first sailor’s knots, and help to steer the boat. Once we arrive at our destination, we will anchor at a quiet location for our first guided panel discussion.
After we have gathered the necessary provisions from the mainland we will attend the captain’s briefing in which he will inform us about the day’s route, and then we will make an early start for our next destination. At the next harbour, we will continue our panel discussion and end the day with a visit to a local restaurant.
Our fifth day will be spent mostly ashore. We will explore the regional differences and hold a lengthy discussion panel over a cup of Turkish coffee. Until we meet again for dinner, everyone can individually choose what to do with the rest of the day.
We start the next morning early and set sail at approximately 7 am. After 6 hours at sea, we will anchor at a secluded bay where we will remain for the rest of the day. However, with the help of our dinghy, we can reach the mainland if necessary. After our daily discussion panel, we will check the water level on board, arrange our provisions, and maintain a rotating anchor watch.
On day seven we will hold our discussion in the middle of the sea, with the Turkish mainland on one side and the Greek islands on the other. Artificial borders have led to numerous conflicts in this area and the border of the EU which we will sail across has become the wall of a fortress to many. In such a socially and politically charged location we will discuss the future of the European idea.
After spending many days at sea, with the constant motion of the waves you may need a break, that’s why on day eight we will stay ashore for an additional day to discuss the questions and topics that we have developed over the first seven days in more detail. At this point in our journey, we can gaze across the ocean from Greece looking towards Turkey.
Upon arriving at our final destination in Turkey we will proceed to clean the boat, fold the sails, and conclude our sailing trip with a traditional Turkish meal and a final guided discussion.
After spending nine unforgettable nights on board, our journey is finally drawing to a close. Filled with indelible impressions, newfound connections, and intellectually stimulating experiences, we disembark from the boat and prepare ourselves for the homeward journey.
Our Boat and Crew
Our sailing boat the Marleen is moored outside Antalya, Turkey, where she was originally built. Marleen is an impressive two-masted, sailing yacht, equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable trip at sea. There are two inviting cabins with two and four bunks respectively, situated below deck for our participants, as well as a separate sleeping area for our crew. Each cabin comes with a full bathroom (complete with a shower and toilet). The common area, which separates the crew area from the guest cabins, has a large corner booth and a fully equipped kitchen. On deck, you will find plenty of space to sit and lay under the summer sun.
On the boat, our experienced captain and skipper Andreas Wolke and Angelika Reinhold are in command. They will take care of everything associated with the boat and make sure we travel safely during our journey. The panel discussions and the accompanying programme that form the foundation for the summer school are run by Europe Programme Director, Milena Wichert. As a theatre director and professional coach and mediator, she combines creativity with personal development and turns the group sessions into a lively format that promotes a change of perspective.
During our trip, the boat is not only our means of transportation but also our home. Our paramount priorities are community and solidarity. These values are continually being tested and recalibrated with each new day. It's important to remember that due to our limited space on board, privacy is somewhat restricted. As such, during our ten-day excursions, all participants must be mutually committed to respecting one another and making the utmost effort to accommodate individual needs and requests.
Call for Applications
Applications are open to people in full-time education (academic or vocational) as well as young professionals whose main place of residence is in Europe. Participants must be between the ages of 18 and 25 years old.