Students venture out to make a difference via Alternative Breaks

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Not everyone will head home after finals.

About 150 students will travel throughout the country to dedicate the first week of break to a cause of their choice through the Alternative Winter Break Program.
This year, the program is working with 12 different issues. Each issue is addressed by a group of two site leaders and 12 students at an organization assigned by the program’s board members.

Shawna Ross, coordinator of Volunteer Center, believes the program is a great opportunity to enhance a student’s experience at Central Michigan University.

“It gives students a direct, hands-on experience in service,” Ross said. “The ability to volunteer side-by-side with communities outside their own allows students to learn skills that are unattainable in the classroom.”

Over 12,000 students participate in alternative breaks nationwide, but Ross applauded CMU for being one of few schools to offer the opportunity year-round.

The program’s board is broken up into different committees, which each satisfy a specific aspect of the trips.

The fundraising committee is often active year-round. They organize activities that allow students to raise money to cover the costs. A favorite one is penny wars, which is a program-wide event.

Groups also get together to raise funds for their assigned issue, while other students apply for grants and scholarships on their own.

Jennifer Jordan, a Bellevue senior and chairperson of Alternative Breaks, is eager to embark on her fifth this year.

“My trip to Belize made a huge impact in my life,” Jordan said. “I was able to see the direct impact of our work and realize that even the most subtle work can make a difference.”

Jordan is a site leader for the international issue this year, which will travel to Belfast, Ireland.

The group will work with the Amizade organization in an after school program for teenagers that seeks conflict resolution in Ireland.

Another issue is homelessness and hunger. The group will travel to Boston and work with the local rescue mission and food bank.

Travis Gibler, Buckley junior and site leader for homelessness and hunger, said the program gives students an opportunity to work with problems of which they may be unaware.

“I have been on three other breaks and they have all been a life changing experience,” Gibler said. “It’s great to go out to an area and be able to help those in need.”
Gibler said he hopes alternative break participants are able to gain a deeper understanding about the issue and bring back awareness and aid to the community in Mount Pleasant.