Projects Abroad Accepting Last Minute Applications for Alternative Spring Break Trips for Students
NEW YORK – March 4, 2015 – College students across the United States are counting down the days till spring break and for those looking to avoid overcrowded and unruly typical spring break destinations and do something more worthwhile with their time, Projects Abroad is still accepting last-minute applications for their Alternative Spring Break Trips.
A Projects Abroad Alternative Spring Break volunteer picks up a young boy at a Care placement in Heredia, Costa Rica
“Our Alternative Spring Break Trips offer a range of opportunities for college students looking to make an impact in their week long break,” says Tom Pastorius, Head of Global Recruitment for Projects Abroad. “Instead of traveling to a beach in Florida to work on their tan, a student can contribute by volunteering at a turtle camp on a beach in Mexico, helping to protect endangered Olive Ridley turtles from predators and poachers. From supporting children in care centers and orphanages, to participating in medical outreaches for impoverished communities, students are sure to find a spring break volunteer program to fit their personal goals and interests.”
Alternative Spring Break Trips take place over one week and are all scheduled to coincide with the major university breaks. The majority of these projects take place in nearby destinations so that students can focus on impacting the community rather than recovering from jetlag. On each spring break trip, volunteers receive the same benefits as longer-term volunteers, including food and accommodation.
Here is a sampling of the Alternative Spring Break Trips available:
Sunday March 15th 2015 – Saturday March 21st 2015
Sunday March 22nd 2015 – Saturday March 28th 2015
In Costa Rica, students can devote their spring break to giving local staff at a care center a much-needed helping hand with the children. Based in the vibrant town of Heredia, volunteers contribute by giving the children individual attention, organizing educational activities and games, and doing vital renovation work at the center. This program is a great option for students majoring in Social Work, Child Development, or Education or anyone who enjoys working with children. Volunteering in Costa Rica also gives students the chance to develop their Spanish language skills, whether they are learning the basics or practicing conversation.
Sunday March 8th 2015 – Saturday March 14th 2015
Sunday March 15th 2015 – Saturday March 21st 2015
In the parish of Manchester, Projects Abroad is working to reduce the number of pit toilets in elementary schools and ensure that they all have running water. You can support this worthwhile project by digging foundations, mixing mortar, digging pits, laying blocks, and carrying sand, cement, water, and stones. The work that you do is crucial and will improve the learning environment of disadvantaged children. No construction experience is required, just a desire to work hard and lend a hand where it is needed.
Sunday March 8th 2015 – Saturday March 14th 2015
Sunday March 15th 2015 – Saturday March 21st 2015
Sunday March 22nd 2015 – Saturday March 28th 2015
In Guadalajara, Mexico, volunteers will work in poverty-stricken urban areas, including schools and orphanages, and participate in medical outreach work and public health campaigns. All volunteers work alongside qualified doctors and nurses and will gain a great deal of practical experience in the field. It is also a fantastic opportunity to engage with locals in a Spanish-language environment. This trip is ideal for pre-med students building a resume for medical school and those studying healthcare fields such as nursing and community health.
For more information about Alternative Spring Break Trips and how to sign up, visit www.projects-abroad.org/volunteer-projects/alternative-spring-break-trips
Projects Abroad was founded in 1992 by Dr. Peter Slowe, a geography professor, as a program for students to travel and work while on break from full-time study. The program had its genesis in post-USSR Romania, where students were given the chance to teach conversational English. After a few years just sending volunteers to Eastern Europe for teaching, the company expanded to sending volunteers of all ages around the world on a wide range of projects.
Projects Abroad is a global leader in short-term international volunteer programs with projects in 27 countries and recruitment offices in the UK, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Holland, Hong Kong, Norway, Poland, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, and the United States.
For details on volunteering abroad, visit Projects Abroad’s web site at www.projects-abroad.org
