by Graham Tutthill

gtutthill@thekmgroup.co.uk

The many differences between life in England and life in Turkey have been brought home vividly to students from a Dover school who are taking part in a European project.

Students from Astor College for the Arts are hosting a group of young people from Koycegiz, a small town in Turkey.

The Comenius project is enabling them to study environmental issues as well as their different cultures.

The exchange began with 10 students from Astor College spending five days in Koycegiz where the focus was on the preservation and conservation of the amber tree forests and the leatherback turtles, called caretta caretta.

This week, 10 Turkish students are visiting Astor College studying the conservation of Samphire Hoe’s flora and fauna and sustainable tourism in the South East.

They are also looking at the role of women in English society. The Astor students will return to Turkey in March for the final part of the project looking at the role of women in Turkish society.

“During our time in Turkey our students were especially moved by the visit to the turtle hospital, the only one of its kind in southern Turkey,” said project co-ordinator Stuart Davies.

“As a result, our students presented £300 to our Turkish guests so they can pass it on to the turtle hospital.

“They raised this money with the help of the school council and the other students at Astor College.

“Our students are now very excited about the prospect of returning to Turkey.”

The cheque was presented by Astor College head Ed Pallant to Zekeriya Erek, head teacher of the Turkish school Anadolu Lisesi.

Astor student Bethany Robinson, 15, said she never thought she would have the opportunity to visit Turkey.

“We had to write why we thought we should take part in the project and the 10 best were chosen,” she said. “Turkey is so beautiful and the culture is quite different to ours.”

Languages student Ugur Tuncer, 17, said it was his first visit to England. “It is a fantastic opportunity for me use English grammar and conversation.

“Both cultures have good and bad points, so perhaps we could mix them up.”

Director of Education in the Koycegiz region, Muammer Yakacak, thanked the Astor staff and students for their hospitality and said his week in Dover was one he would never forget.