Newswise — A lot of students travel to exotic destinations during their spring break to get away from the stress of college, but many students at the University of California, San Diego spend their spring vacations providing humanitarian services to the Third World through the Alternative Breaks program. Participating in the student-run, non-profit program requires a lot of hard work and dedication, but several students return year after year because they say it has a lifelong impact on them.
The drug-free and alcohol-free trips foster international service, education and social justice and although similar programs exist on college campuses across the country, UC San Diego has one of the largest international Alternative Breaks programs in the nation.
Alternative Breaks at UCSD is open to all students (undergraduate, graduate, alumni and community advisers) and there are 12 participants per trip. The students travel to various countries during spring break, such as Brazil, Thailand, Mexico, China, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Peru to engage in volunteer efforts. The students undergo extensive preparation for the trip and they work on projects and issues that include caring for infants and children, teaching English, working with people affected by HIV/ AIDS, caring for the elderly or people with disabilities, working toward women's empowerment and sharing professional skills and experience.
"My first Alternative Breaks experience in Lima, Peru was life changing," UCSD alum Jerry Pang said. Pang provided services in the villages in Lima, Peru on his first trip. "Seeing videos and pictures of poverty and homelessness is one thing, but to experience first-hand was completely mind blowing. Although we were there for such a short period of time, we knew we made a difference to the people there by showing them that we care." Pang followed up his first trip to Peru with a trip to Xi'an, China and this spring he is going to Costa Rica.
Alternative Breaks is popular because it forces the participants to grow and learn about themselves, according UCSD alum and Alternative Breaks co-founder Chapin Cole. "Each experience is a little bit scary in the sense that you're thrown into a new environment," Cole said. "It allows you to learn new things, explore your personal growth and remember your role in the global community."
In 2004, Cole co-founded the organization at UCSD with another Alternative Breaks participant, Melissa Higgins. Cole and Higgins worked with the director of the Center for Student Involvement, Emily Marx, to create the organization because they wanted a service project that would allow students to travel and gain exposure to other cultures.
The program fosters growth because students start out as principal participants, but they can move up to become site leaders, then community advisors, if they stay involved with Alternative Breaks.
This year, Alternative Breaks at UCSD is spearheaded by Benjamin Trevias. Trevias went on his first Alternative Breaks trip to Costa Rica and this spring he will lead a trip to Thailand. He said he wanted to become involved with the program to expand his horizons and do work that makes an impact on the world.
Trevias said he is dedicated to promoting Alternative Breaks because he has made some of his closest friends through the program. "My Alternative Spring Breaks friends are for life," Trevias said. "The experiences we share through Alternative Breaks definitely help solidify relationships." He added that he learned so much from his first trip, he really wanted to help the program grow. "I had this immense feeling of wanting to contribute to the program that had changed my college, professional and personal life on so many levels," Trevias said.
UCSD alum Andrea Yee said, "I've spent a few other spring breaks traveling, but Alternative Breaks provides an entirely different perspective to travel and cultural learning. Performing community service in international communities enables participants to see further than the touristy resorts and attractions and it is always so rewarding to see and be a part of positive change."
Cole also said Alternative Breaks are much more memorable than typical vacations. This spring she will be serving as a community advisor on her fifth Alternative Breaks trip in Ghana, Africa. Cole has been on Alternative Breaks trips in Brazil, Mexico, Peru and China. "Each experience has been unique and renewed my appreciation for my position in this world," Cole said. "These trips are a way to help you realize that you can make change in the world." Cole said that she will continue to serve as a community advisor for the program for as long as she lives in San Diego because and she is passionate about Alternative Breaks and believes the program will continue to grow.
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