Aliya Tuzhilin OC ‘17

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Jagori Grameen, India (2017-19)

Aliya Tuzhilin graduated in May 2017 with a double major in Psychology and History. Aliya grew up in a multicultural household speaking Russian and Bengali at home. She has a strong interest in food justice that stems from her South Asian heritage, and is eager to engage in fieldwork in sustainable agriculture and conflict mediation. During Summer 2016, she interned at Rainforest Alliance, a New York-based conservation NGO, doing evaluations and research on projects such as the sustainability practices of Nescafe coffee famers. She was Co-Head of Real Food Challenge Oberlin, which assists the College in implementing its commitment to serve responsibly produced food. Her senior private reading involved research into motivating behavioral change towards pro-environmental product choices. In addition, she was a mentor and brought a classical Indian dance form, Odissi, to the students in Lorain County’s Girls in Motion program.

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Pahadi Ecosystems
Pahadi Ecosystems

Aliya Tuzhilin ‘17, Jagori Grameen Fellow

One of my favorite places around Rakkar is tucked away behind the very last hotel on the very last road through the village. It is a path between a gorge, meandering along side the Manuni Khad (Manuni river), that curves through a series of foothills before the Dhauladhar Mountains.

Thoughts on Farming, Mustard, & Self-Sufficiency
Thoughts on Farming, Mustard, & Self-Sufficiency

Aliya Tuzhilin’17, Jagori Grameen Fellow

Each day I look forward to work at Jagori or in the field for the chance to meet people who are so quick to love and welcome me wholly. My warmest moments are joking with Kamlesh (from the SAFAL team), holding hands with Vimla or Nimbo (Jagori fieldworkers and farmers), eating with Mintu in the kitchen, or working with Ratan (the farm manager) and hearing his stories.