Field Trips
It is mandatory to attend four field trips organized within the scope of the program. Fellows will thus experience peace and development studies not only in the academic setting but also in vital historical and practical contexts. Each trip is planned to last 2-5 days, and accommodation, transportation and meals will be covered by the Peace Center. Where accommodation facilities are shared, Fellows will be asked to choose whom to share with. Fellows are responsible for their own personal expenses, covering telephone calls, internet usage, hotel room mini bar and laundry, among others.
Fellows are not allowed to travel individually or ahead of the groups. Also, Fellows are not allowed to bring their families or friends with them during the field visit.
Fellows are recommended to take note of key events, observations and questions throughout the field trips. It is also advised to pack lightly for field trips.
Giresun-Kulakkaya Field Trip
Lush and green throughout the year, rocky mountains, the cool waters of the coast and plantations of tea, hazelnuts, tobacco and corn, the Black Sea is a unique part of the country. Located in northeastern Türkiye, Giresun has a castle perched on a steep rocky slope, crowning the city and overlooking the beach. This is where the Roman General Lucullus saw cherries for the first time, and liked them so much he introduced them into Europe.
The touristic Kulakkaya Plateau in Giresun province stands out as a sustainable development site where workshops on local food systems, gastronomy and women’s cooperatives also take place. Through various activities, the Fellows will learn how to strengthen the role of youth and women in agriculture, maximize benefits from the integration of local agricultural products into national development, and incorporate innovation into smallholder agriculture
Mardin-Gaziantep-Hatay Field Trip
With its high mountain ranges, remote plateaus, lakes and river beds splashed with colour, plus some of the best Turkish architecture anywhere, southeastern Anatolia brings history to life. Mardin is one of the few cities in the country that has preserved its traditional aesthetic architecture, and is unique also because of its unusual location on top of a hill. Gaziantep is the most important industrial and agricultural area in southeastern Anatolia, and best known for its special varieties of kebap, lahmacun and baklava, and its Antep pistachios. The eastern part of the Mediterranean region features the Dörtyol (Issos) Plane in the Hatay province, where Alexander the Great defeated the Persian king Darius. As a result of his victory, a port city bearing his name was established which is now the modern day Iskenderun. The road leaves Iskenderun on the southeast and goes through the Belen Pass to Antakya (Antioch). This first Christian community founded by Saint Peter has given Antakya a special religious significance, and the first sermons were preached in nearby cave. It is considered a place of pilgrimage, and the city also boasts a mosaic exhibition of rare beauty in its museum.
Gaziantep and Hatay were among the 11 provinces in southeastern Türkiye hit by the earthquakes in February 2023. Home to innumerable civilizations throughout its long history and renowned for its tangible and intangible cultural heritage, this area also comprises a considerable number of the migrant population residing in Türkiye under temporary protection. This field visit will enable the Fellows to witness relief, recovery and reconstruction efforts for resilient structures, institutions and communities. They will also visit religious landmarks, cultural centers and archeological sites surviving the disaster with no significant damage. Among them is the Archaeology Museum, featuring the world’s largest mosaic exhibition in Hatay, which has hosted for centuries a variety of religions, creeds and cultures in peaceful coexistence. The Saint Pierre cave church, recognized as the world’s very first cathedral by UNESCO, also remains intact in the same province.
Ankara Field Trip
Ankara, the modern-day capital, is located squarely in the middle of Central Anatolia and has been planned and developed for a contemporary society. The most visually impressive structure here is the Anıtkabir mausoleum built for Atatürk, who founded the modern Republic of Türkiye by winning the War for Independence and then made Ankara its capital. The Museum of Anatolian Civilisations is among the best museums in the country, and has exhibits from Anatolian dating from 50,000 BC to the 2nd century AD.
In Ankara, the capital of Türkiye, the Fellows will visit various public institutions and international organizations related to policymaking in cooperation and development like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Turkish Environment Agency, UNDP Türkiye, UNHCR Türkiye, and UN FAO Türkiye.
Çanakkale
Stretching along the Dardanelles strait, Çanakkale is a land where natural beauty and history meet. The region is marked by rolling hills, olive groves, and pine forests that open toward the Aegean Sea, but also by the scars of devastating wildfires that threaten both livelihoods and ecosystems. At the same time, Çanakkale carries deep historical significance, from the legendary city of Troy to the battlefields of Gallipoli, where soldiers from many nations once stood and where their memory is preserved.
The fire-affected forest zones and the memorial sites of Gallipoli stand out as key locations for reflection and learning. In these cemeteries, soldiers of different faiths and cultures rest side by side, symbolizing both the tragedy of war and the possibility of reconciliation. Through various activities, the Fellows will explore how community-based disaster management, particularly in wildfire prevention and recovery, can build resilience, while visits to the memorials will highlight how shared remembrance fosters intercultural dialogue, peacebuilding, and inclusive heritage.
