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Alternative Break Experience Sites
International
San Lucas Mission - San Lucas Tóliman, Guatemala
Participants have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Guatemalan culture, as well as build relationships with the community of San Lucas and other volunteers. Father Greg, a Minnesota native and priest of San Lucas, is the founder of the mission. Projects may include but is not limited to the following: assisting in cooperative community projects such as helping with the reforestation project, sorting coffee beans, assisting families on their land, construction, and helping to restore buildings that are in desperate need of repair.
Experiences: Spanish immersion, cultural diversity, restoration, reforestation, hands-on.
Fundacin Mahatma Gandhi - Dominican Republic
Fundacion Mahatma Gandhi - Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
An important part of this trip is the cultural immersion. In the past participants have had the opportunity to work with children between 6-15 years of age, perform small building projects, hold soccer or sports camps, participate in environmental education in the community, visit the elderly, learn more about issues within the community, assist in sports education for girls, English tutoring, work in classrooms, theatre projects, library organization, and even their own initiatives. Participants stay at Casa Paz, a volunteer housing facility for Fundación Mahatma Gandhi.
Experiences: Spanish immersion, cultural diversity, social justice, children, hands-on.
Tanzania
May 12 - June 12, 2010
This is an opportunity to live the Benedictine value of solidarity with people in Eastern Africa. While participating in the Benedictine monastic life, participants will do service work in the surrounding communities with the monks.
Experiences: Community service, Monastic life.
Los Amigos - Chimbote, Peru
Los Amigos is a faith-based organization dedicated to supporting programs that improve and transform the lives of the poor of Chimbote, Peru. The needs of the residents of Chimbote are basic: food to eat, shelter from the elements, care when they’re sick, jobs to provide for their families, and access to education so their children can build a better future.
Experiences: soup kitchen, shelters, home building, tutoring, medical.
US/Mexico Boarder Awareness Experience
January 3-9, 2010During Winter Break participants will go to the border of the United States to learn about immigration, femicide, NAFTA, and other important border issues. They will be spending time in St. Anthony, New Mexico; El Paso, Texas, and depending on safety guidelines Juarez, Mexico. The home base is the Women's Intercultural Center in Anthony, New Mexico. They will participate in an overnight home stay with families in Antony and a two night home stay with families in Juarez. They will tour many organizations that help with immigration issues, attended speakers about various issues, and get to know the people of these communities.
Experiences: Eco-Justice, Spanish immersion, community, globalization, cultural diversity.
Educational and Justice Issues
Operation Breakthrough –Kansas City, MO
Operation Breakthrough is the state’s largest day care center. Its mission is to help children who are living in poverty develop to their fullest potential by providing them a safe, loving and educational environment. This organization provides day care, meals, Children’s Mercy Clinic, a dental clinic, speech therapy, play therapy, housing assistance, food and clothing to children and families of the inner city of Kansas City.
Experiences: Working with inner city children, education, poverty.
Operation Breakthrough Web Site
Men's trip - Chicago, IL
January 2-9, 2010Participants will be spending the week serving with after school, social justice, and social service programs. They will have an opportunity to work with people of many different ages and races, and expand their perspectives past everyday college life. Incorporating the aspect of a larger view of the Catholic Church, participants will be attending Mass at St. Sabina's Church (An African-American Catholic Community of Faith, Education and Service) and a High Mass at St. John Cantius. Participants will also have the time to get to know the city and do some sightseeing, including visiting the Sears tower, hanging out in Millennium/Grant Park, and going to the Art Institute of Chicago.
Experiences: Hands on, community
Reservation Experience – White Earth Reservation, MN
Participants will learn about the Native American culture of Minnesota, and gain a better understanding of their way of life. Opportunities involve volunteering in the Circle of Life School, Waubun School, Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the reservation, helping at the Natural Resource Department, and shadowing home care nurses and doctors at the local clinic.
Experience: Learning about the culture, working with youth, environmental, health care disparities.
Amate House - Chicago, IL
Amate House is the young adult volunteer program for the Archdiocese of Chicago. Participants will help at parishes and schools in the city, and participate in a formation program that encourages them to understand and explore the link between Christian faith and service.
Experiences: Poverty, community, working with youth.
Jonah House - Baltimore, MD
Participants will have the opportunity to spend time with the community and learn and reflect about nonviolence and resistance. They will partake in learning sessions with people from the community, discussing the history of Jonah House, non-violence, Biblical non-violence, the war in Iraq, the economic situation, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Depleted Uranium, and other important information. With a sustainable focus, participants will explore the community, work at a food pantry, and help around the farm property.
Experiences: Community, non-violence, resistance, environmental.
Environmental
Ghost Ranch - Abiquiu, NM
Situated in north central New Mexico, this ranch is a place where issues of environmental ethics and eco-justice are lived out in a beautiful natural setting. The ranch provides a wonderful experience with a community of people driven to preserve the natural beauty of this mythical place. By experiencing the local community, cultural history and mission of the church, the examination of our own lifestyles is a main component of this trip. The week will also include a community work project - cleaning irrigation pathways or tutoring, as well as helping with various projects on the ranch.
Experiences: Environmental, eco-justice, Native American culture, hands on.
Rebuilding Together, hurricane Relief - New Orleans, LA
Spend the week working in Louisiana with Rebuilding Together New Orleans as you help reconstruct houses and repair damages of Hurricane Katrina. Rebuilding Together New Orleans believes in a safe and healthy home for every person, working to preserve affordable homeownership, especially for those who are aging, veterans or with disabilities, and revitalize communities by providing free home modifications and repairs, making homes safer, more accessible, and more energy efficient.
Experiences: Physical labor, culture, community, hands on, restoration.
Habitat for Humanity - Stroud, OK
Spend the week in Oklahoma living among a wonderful, welcoming and close-knit community while volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. Opportunities include building homes, painting, and getting the chance to experience the incredible hospitality that their community has to offer.
Experiences: Physical labor, culture, community, hands on, restoration.
Glenmary Farm - Vanceburg, KY
Glenmary Farm provides an immersion and retreat experience. The experience will involve working at sites in the community of Lewis County, one of the poorest areas in Kentucky, while interacting with the people there, and also working at the Glenmary farm. Participants are expected to leave at the door the anxiety of time and anticipation, living simply in the moment. Combining prayer, work, and learning, Glenmary fits right in to the ABE mission and gives participants an unforgettable experience!
Experiences: Poverty, community, environmental, hands on.