Faced with the severity of our global climate crisis, worldwide, institutions like Temple University have embraced their responsibility to promote sustainable practices and environmental stewardship.
Temple University’s Office of Education Abroad and Overseas Campuses is doing its part by empowering students to live more sustainably while studying abroad through Global Green Grants.
The grants are $500 awards given to students studying abroad to fund sustainability-focused projects. These projects can take many forms, from conducting research to organizing educational events, creating documentaries, or engaging in volunteer work. Read about several student projects below.
Stay Local, Buy Local
Julie Kleaver
Sociology ’24, Temple University
Study Abroad Location: Temple University Rome
Kleaver first learned about Global Green Grants at the beginning of the fall semester when she visited the Office of Sustainability’s table on campus. Immediately, the grants resonated with her.
As a dedicated advocate for sustainability, she had been actively involved in the university’s green initiatives since her arrival at Temple. And as an “eco rep” for the Office of Sustainability, she worked on urban greening efforts and at the community garden. In the spring semester, Kleaver also began working as a communications and programming assistant for the Office of Sustainability, planning and promoting campus-wide campaigns.
“I always wanted to study abroad,” she said, “and I was already passionate about sustainability, so applying for the grant felt like a natural choice.”
Project: While studying in Italy, Julie focused her project on sustainable food systems. “Italy is a leader in sustainable farming, so I wanted to introduce students to the culture of slow food,” she said.
She organized and hosted tours of farmers’ markets, which coincided with Temple Rome’s Stay Local Weekend, an initiative encouraging students to explore locally and minimize their carbon footprint. Her professor, Barbara Parisi, introduced her to the Italian organization Campagna Amica, which supports local farmers by establishing farmers markets. Kleaver led students through these markets, distributing pamphlets she created to explain Campagna Amica’s work. The tours allowed students to practice their Italian in a dynamic setting, and the experience prompted a rich discussion among students about the importance of local food networks and how they compare to the far more industrialized networks in the U.S.
Embracing Reuse
Katie Chin
Health Science ’25, Thomas Jefferson University
Study Abroad Location: Temple University Japan
Chin, a student at Thomas Jefferson University, learned about the grants through an email she received from Temple Education Abroad while applying to study at Temple University Japan (TUJ). She was happy to learn that Global Green Grants are not exclusive to a Temple student: any student participating in a Temple-run study abroad program is eligible. Since she was already planning to go to TUJ, she decided to apply for a grant as well.
Project: While Japan is known for its strong environmental awareness, Chin identified a significant challenge: the country’s reliance on single-use plastics. From fruit wrappings to lunch containers, plastic is prevalent in daily life. To address this, she held workshops at two Japanese elementary schools—one for special needs students and one private school—focusing on reducing plastic use. Through presentations, a Kahoot quiz, and an arts-and-crafts activity where students decorated reusable pencil cases, Chin taught the children about the importance of sustainability, giving them their own reusable mugs and encouraging the children to opt for reusable items rather than single-use plastics.
Breathing New Life into Old Gear
Ezekiel Cartwright
Sport and Recreation Management ’25, Temple University
Study Abroad Location: Temple University Rome
While preparing to study abroad in Rome, Cartwright spoke with a professor about potential scholarships and grants. Many were based on academic performance, but Global Green Grants stood out to him because they offered the opportunity to work on a meaningful project abroad.
Project Details: As a Sport and Recreation Management major with a passion for sports, Cartwright decided to focus his project on the reuse of athletic gear. His project was even more important given the cultural significance of sports in Italy. He collected used sports gear and donated it to children in need. Cartwright visited flea markets, primarily Porta Portese, one of the largest in Europe, where he collected about 90% of the items for his project.
“Collecting clothes is simple, but it’s crucial to donate them to reputable non-profits with a proven track record,” Cartwright said.
With the help of his Temple Rome professor, Professor Castiglione, he found additional sources for donations and connected with a local non-profit. In total, he collected and repurposed 75 items, including clothing and soccer balls, to support children in need.
Collective Impact
These projects illustrate the profound impact that Global Green Grants are creating by enabling study-abroad students to apply sustainability principles in real-world settings, and by making tangible environmental contributions to different countries and cultures. Through these diverse grants, study abroad students in Temple programs have become advocates for global sustainability, carrying forward their classroom lessons into their future careers and communities.
For more information on applying for a Global Green grant, see our website.
By Massin Larbi, CLA ’25, Global Engagement writing intern
Header image provided by Ezekiel Cartwright