Alternative Breaks are service-learning experiences supporting alongside the community. Alternative Breaks are designed to heighten participants’ awareness of social topics, enhance their individual growth, and prepare them for lifelong community collaborators.
Community Outreach uses the some of the framework from our past national partner organization, Break Away, to create high-quality, consistent, and meaningful experiences for all of our participants:
Direct Engagement: Programs should develop projects identified by community assets and needs and in conjunction with community partners.
Full Immersion: “Alternative breaks provide participants with an opportunity to live in line with community, program, opportunities for individuals to consider ways of aligning values and actions regarding choices about the alternative break experience. Strong programs develop and communicate philosophies and corresponding practices around how participants will approach these topics during an alternative break”
Positive Impact: Alternative Breaks programs will work to have a positive impact on the community they are serving alongside. This involves individuals and leadership reflections and how we need to be consciousness of how we present ourselves in service with caring, compassionate, humble heart. This involves proper education, orientation, and mindfulness. Participants will be aware of the systems and broader understanding of the social topic.
Orientation: Prior to departure, participants are oriented to the mission and vision of the community, community partner, or organization(s) with which they will be working.
Education: Effective education provides facts and opinions from all perspectives on the issue, including ways that participants’ personal life choices are connected to the social issue.
Training: Participants are provided with adequate training in skills necessary to carry out tasks and projects during the alternative break. Ideally this training will take place prior to departure, although in some instances it may occur once participants have reached their site.
Reflection: During the alternative break, participants are encouraged to reflect upon the experience they are having, synthesizing the direct service, education, and community interaction components. Time is set aside for this to take place both individually and as a group.
Reorientation: Upon return to campus, participants transfer the lessons learned on break by identifying local organizations for continued education or service, sharing their experience, and by organizing or joining other small groups to support addressing the issue on a local scale.