Alternative ways to spend your breaks – Spring abroad

Instead of spending spring break relaxing or partying, many Tulane students have opted to spend their break in service to the community.

Groups of Tulane students will volunteer their time and service at several sites throughout the world March 27 through April 3. Students looking to avoid the conventional spring break experience have the option to participate in Tulane Alternative Breaks, a program that offers several service projects during spring break.

“TAB is part of the national Alternative Spring Break movement, in which college students perform volunteer service rather than the traditional spring break experiences,” said Adam Pasci, a senior involved with the organization.

According to the application for Tulane Alternative Break, “The purpose of TAB is to broaden Tulane students’ understanding of the world around us and build active citizenship.”

Students may volunteer at Austin, Texas; Savannah, Ga.; or Miami, Fla., and participate in a diverse array of service projects at these locations, ranging from tutoring troubled youth, to restoration of the Everglades, to removing invasive species from a nature preserve. In addition to helping the local community, those participating in TAB will also have the opportunity to grow closer to other volunteers.

“All trips stress the small-group dynamics in getting participants to build bonds with their fellow Spring Breakers,” Pacsi said.

Tulane Hillel will also run an Alternative Break trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina. The trip will emphasize service to the local Jewish community, sophomore Aaron Picus said.

“A fair amount of the community hasn’t recovered from the stock market crash in 2001 there, so the Argentine Jewish community has not been easily able to sustain itself,” Picus said.

The trip will also be a unique religious experience for volunteers as it falls on the Jewish holiday of Passover.

“We’re doing community service work in both Jewish and non-Jewish communities and spending time learning about social issues,” Hillel Co-Associate Director Corey Smith said.

Picus said the Jewish adage that you don’t have to totally change the world, but you cannot neglect your part sums up his reason for volunteering.

“That’s kind of my stance with volunteering,” he said. “I would expect others to do the same for me if I needed the help.”