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.
Time Table
Since the course of our trips is very dependent on the local weather conditions, this is only an exemplary time-table.
Arrival at Rhodes. Once you land, we pick you up at the airport to drive you to the new port of Rhodes City (~30 min.). After you complete the safety briefing on board, we finish off the day with a dinner and an icebreaker session.
Accompanied by a crew member and other participants, you explore the historic district of Rhodes City. Later, we kick-off the discussion panel with an introduction.
After breakfast, we set sail for the first time and travel our first 20 miles to the next harbor. You are welcome to join the process, learn your first sailor’s knots and help to manoeuvre. Once we arrive, we will pick a quiet spot for our first excerpt for discussion.
After we get our groceries and attend the captain’s briefing in which he informs us about today’s route, we set out early. On the next island, we continue our discussion panel and finish the day with a visit of a local tavern.
Today, we stay ashore. We explore the regional distinctions and hold a lengthy discussion panel over a cup of Greek Frappé. Until we meet again for dinner, everyone can individually choose what to do with the rest of the day.
We break the morning early to set sail around 8 am. After 6 hours at sea, we reach a bay where we cast anchor. Today, we don’t anchor at a harbor but stay at the bay. However, with the help of our dinghy, we can get to the island. After our daily discussion panel, we check the water level on board, arrange our food supply and keep anchor watch by turns.
Today, we hold our discussion panel in front of the magnificent volcanic backdrop of the next island in the Dodecanese region. There’s no better place for a discussion on Europe than the location where the European earth plate meets the Asian earth plate.
After many days on board with constant swell, we stay ashore for another day and more closely discuss questions and topics we developed over the first seven days.
We land our boat on the last harbor in Rhodes; we clean the boat, fold the sails and wrap up our sailing trip with a concluding talk and traditional Greek food.
After 9 nights on board, our trip comes to an end. Abundant with unforgettable impressions, new contacts and intellectual stimulus, we leave the boat and set forth on our trip home.
Our Boat
Our sailing boat “Marleen” has her home in Antalya, Turkey and a second one in the new port on the Greek island Rhodes. Marleen is a two-master, equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable sailing trip. Two convenient cabins with two and four bunks are situated under deck for our fellows, as well as a separate sleeping area for our crew. Each cabin comes with a full bathroom (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. Andreas and Angelika take care of everything associated with the boat and make sure we travel safely and soundly from harbor to harbor. The panel discussions and the accompanying programme are run by our director of the Europe Programme, Milena Wichert.
During our trips, the boat is not only our means of transportation, but also our accommodation. Our highest priorities are community and solidarity which are put to the test and get re-negotiated day by day. Remember that due to the limited space on board, privacy is confined. Thus, during our ten-day trips, all participants agree to respect each other and to accommodate individual needs and requests as best as they can.
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.