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Alternative Break Experiences
The purpose of an Alternative Break Experience (ABE):
- raising awareness of social issues and injustices
- encouraging reflection and questioning
- moving towards an integrating justice and service into life
- encouraging a polycentric world view
- encouraging both individual and shared leadership
- integrating faith into the fabric of the experience
- approaching the trips as a partnership with other people
- fostering respect and community among the participants
- providing a fun, safe and challenging break experience
What is ABE?
ABE works hard to provide meaningful trips, both nationally and internationally. We firmly believe that exposure to other cultures, places, and ways of life will enhance the lives and perspectives of trip participants. Each year, we strive to provide quality experiences that will complement academic experiences and inspire hearts.
Five Pillars
Students, co-leaders and staff combine the 5 Pillars of ABE as a framework to guide their trip experience. Alternative Break Experiences are not typical mission trips, and our participants are not typical tourists. By embracing these pillars, our participants grow in values-based leadership and develop a more integrated global vision. Derived from our Catholic and Benedictine heritage, the concepts of Social Justice, Community, Reflection, Learning and Intentional Living merge, offering participants an experience to inspire their lives.
Social Justice - Why does an injustice happen?
Community
- Respecting individuals while affirming the common good.Reflection - Finding meaning in our trips.
Learning - Experientally learning the "invisible realities" of the world.
Intentional Living - living our lives in a way that carries out our experience.
Facebook Us! Find us under "Justice Trips" on Facebook! We look forward to friending you!
Contact: springbreak@csbsju.edu