Service & Justice Experiences (SJE)
Service & Justice Experiences
provide opportunities for students, faculty, staff and alumni to serve locally, around the United States, and abroad during university breaks. Participants in the program: Serve with people and partner organizations who work every day to improve the lives of impoverished and marginalized people in their own communities Build community within their groups and begin to develop relationships with the people with whom Villanova partners Complement class work with first hand experiences of life at the margins of society and exposure to the knowledge and insights of people they encounter Explore their spirituality and develop a deeper relationship with God while living out the Gospel value Examine issues of injustice and develop a life-long commitment to working for the Common Good
Student Leaders
Service and Justice Experience Student Leaders are Juniors or Seniors who have participated in at least one SJE and want to enter deeper into the experience and lead their peers by: Establishing and maintaining contact with their site to confirm details related to accommodations, schedule, meals, etc. Selecting group members. Working as a team with their advisor(s) especially with: Managing group dynamics before, during and after the break experience. Planning and leading group meetings and daily reflections Insuring that the group arrives at their scheduled locations each day on time. Encouraging each member to fully embrace and participate in the experience. Enforcing safety during the work experiences, down times, and during travel. Insuring that all paperwork is completed and submitted in a timely fashion. Engaging fully in the experience, learning from their group and the community they encounter, and taking this experience with them in their future endeavors. Having fun doing so!
Advisory Council
The SJE Advisory Council is a newly forming group of students, faculty, staff and alumni who gather to examine the SJE program. They will work together to ensure that the program is evolving with the times and is effectively serving the student population as well as our community partners.