MIAMI (March 11, 2009) – While other students are looking forward to some rest and relaxation this spring break, close to 250 FIU students will be spending their time helping others.
From March 13-22, the students will be participating in FIU’s Alternative Spring Break, a program that gives them a chance to volunteer all over the world.
“Our motto is ‘changing the world, one break at a time,'” said Nestor Monclaude, marketing and public relations chairman with Alternative Breaks, a student organization founded nationally in 1991 and at FIU in 1993 that sends college volunteers throughout the world every year. “Students look at this as an opportunity to bring about change while visiting another part of the world. The most satisfying part is seeing the fruits of your labor before you go home.”
Some FIU students will fight homelessness in Los Angeles, while others work on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual issues in Tallahassee. In Peru, students will work with the poor and in Thailand they will give a helping hand to disadvantaged children.
“This is an amazing opportunity for our students,” said Rosa Jones, FIU vice president of Student Affairs. “It helps cultivate a sense of responsibility and consciousness that you cannot duplicate in a classroom. The groups participating are diverse and that is a true reflection of our FIU community.”
Media contact: Madeline Baró at 305-348-2234.
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About FIU:
Florida International University was founded in 1965 and is Miami’s only public research university. With a student body of more than 38,000, FIU graduates more Hispanics than any other university in the country. Its 17 colleges and schools offer more than 200 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations and law. FIU has been classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a “High Research Activity University.” In 2006 FIU was authorized to establish a medical school, which will welcome its first class in 2009. FIU’s College of Law recently received accreditation in the fastest time allowed by the American Bar Association.
To whom it may concern,
I would like to receive information about the volunteer program. Thank you so much and have a great day!
Sincerely,
Maria Sahonero
Hello Maria and anyone else who is interested,
Alternative Break is a great opportunity to learn about something important to you through service.
It is a really cool and fulfilling experience.
There is more info at http://www.fiu.edu/~abreak/about%20us%20page.html.
You can also contact the Center for Leadership and Service Division of Student Affairs and ask for either Bronwen Bares or Angel Garcia for more info:
Bronwen Bares
Coordinator – BBC
Biscayne Bay Campus
WUC 256
Telephone: 305.919.5360
Bronwen.Bares@fiu.edu
Angel Garcia
Coordinator – UPC
University Park Campus
GC 242
Telephone: 305.348.6995
Fax: 305.348.6991
Angel.Garcia@fiu.edu
That is excellent! I encourage more students to do so in their spare time, if we start giving more of ourselves, this world will certainly becomes a better place for all!