Service and Justice Experiences

Flying

Annunciation House is a Catholic organization that accompanies the migrant, homeless, and economically vulnerable peoples of the border region through hospitality, advocacy, and education.  Participants will learn about the issues facing the border such as immigration, economic development, human rights, and social justice.  Participants will be immersed in the border culture and realities of the many people and groups that live and work there. The food that you will eat and the conditions which you will live in are as much a part of the experience as the people and groups that you will meet.

Learn More about annunciation House and the Border Experience: http://annunciationhouse.org/baexperience/

Cost: $750       Participants: 14

Flying                                                                                                                      

The Fort Smith area is rugged, mountainous and steeped in rich American history. Arkansas Valley Habitat has constructed 91 homes since 1989 in Crawford and Sebastian Counties. Participants are lodged at a local church and several meals are shared with people from the community.

Website: http://habitatfs.org/                                                     

Cost: $750       Participants: 14

Driving

The Church of the Pilgrims has a long history of social justice actions, including hosting adult and student groups through their “Pilgrimage” program.  During a stay, a Pilgrimage group will participate in service learning and activism through organizations serving the working poor, and people who are homeless and hungry in Washington, D.C. The group will also integrate those experiences through workshops and reflections. This brand new SJE is focused on interfaith dialogue and action, with the chance to see how people of different religions are inspired to respond to justice issues in our nation’s capital.  Participants can expect to visit a variety of places of worship, engaging with those who practice diverse faiths, and learning skills for open dialogue and mutual learning.

Website: http://www.churchofthepilgrims.org/; http://www.thepilgrimage.org/

Cost: $350        Participants: 12 

Driving

There is significant need for both new houses and neighborhood revitalization projects in Winston-Salem where 5% of the housing does not meet the minimum housing code and 2.5% live in over-crowded conditions.  Forsyth County HFH has built 375 homes and served more than 1,400 families in our 30 years. Participants will stay in dormitory style housing and will meet with Villanova alumni from the area.

Website:  http://www.habitatforsyth.org/

Cost: $350       Participants: 16

(Begins Sunday, March 5th)

Flying

Habitat for Humanity of Taos fills an important need in the Taos community, where 90% of the population cannot afford to purchase a home. Taos’ average home price is over $300,000, but the median Household income is under $32,000. Most of the home building is done by volunteers, but they do have paid professionals who oversee work, including licensed plumbers, electricians and construction supervisors.  To date, Habitat for Humanity of Taos has built 29 homes with 93 family members served.

Website: http://www.taoshabitat.org/

Cost: $700       Participants: 14           

Driving 

Marion County has the highest unemployment rate in the state and poverty housing is rampant. The affiliate is striving to eliminate that by building one quality, affordable home at a time.  Participants will have plenty of work to do and will be welcomed by the Marion community, which prepares most meals for college groups.

Website:  http://www.marionschabitatforhumanity.org/

Cost: $350  Participants: 18               

(Will depart in the evening on Friday, March 3rd)

Flying

Rostro de Cristo (Face of Christ) is a lay Catholic volunteer program located in Durán and Mt. Sinai, Guayaquil, Ecuador. The goal of Rostro de Cristo (RdC) is a simple one: to BE with the people. The group will spend most of their time in the local community visiting with neighbors, partner foundations, or after-school programs. Cultural traditions invite the group to spend their days much like their neighbors, which means that your group will participate in daily trips to the market, cooking, and cleaning. Though direct service may be incorporated into your experience, it is not the focus of RDC’s mission.

Website: http://www.rostrodecristo.org/

Cost: $1,400    Participants: 12

Freshmen Only

Driving

Union-Anson HFH operates in 3 counties. Along with building homes we have a full time home rehab and recycling program to meet the needs of our community. We begin new construction during Collegiate Challenge, so each group will have a myriad of tasks to complete during their stay. Students will lodge at our fully equipped Restore.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided daily.

Website: http://hfh-nc-union.huterra.com/

Cost: $350       Participants: 16

(BEGINS SUNDAY, March 5th)

Driving  

Aquinas Center is located on the campus of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Community in the heart of South Philadelphia. Parishioners and guests come together to express hospitality, promote education, and engage in service.  The group will have a true cross-cultural experience in this community that is home to immigrants from various parts of the world as well as long time residents of South Philly.  This immersion experience will involve meaningful service that balances interaction with people (tutoring, recreation, literacy, etc.) and demonstrated impact (community gardening, packing food, painting, etc.) as well as neighborhood tours, educational presentations, and guided reflections around faith and justice topics.

Website: http://staquinas.com/aquinascenter/

Cost: $300       Participants: 10

(BEGINS SUNDAY, March 5th)

Driving

Located in central Appalachia, Bethlehem Farm is an intentional Catholic community that strives to transform lives through serving the local community and teaching sustainability. During the week at the Farm, the group works with the surrounding community, prays together, learns about and from the people of Appalachia, and experiences ways of practicing and living a sustainable life. The group may find themselves doing a variety of projects, from working alongside a family in repairing their home to practicing sustainability by working the farm and preparing the food it produces.

Website: http://www.bethlehemfarm.net/main/

Cost: $350       Participants: 15          

Driving

Mt. Pleasant is located on the South Carolina coast 30 minutes northeast of Charleston.  Too many families in the area live in substandard housing.  Participants may work in a variety of projects from framing to brick work and landscaping.  Volunteers will be trained and coached in a relaxed and fun environment.

Website: http://eastcooperhabitat.org/

Cost: $350       Participants: 15        

FRESHMEN ONLY

Driving

Hickory is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and has been named an “All-America City” three times. Habitat for Humanity of Catawba Valley is a non-profit, Christian-based community organization dedicated to building simple, decent, and affordable housing for hard-working, low-income families in their community. They build approximately 10 houses a year with the help of many volunteers and donors.  They’d love to have you come and work alongside them.

Website: http://www.hickoryhabitat.org/index.html

Cost: $350       Participants: 16

Flying

Beaumont, TX is just west of the Louisiana border, 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico and right in the middle of gator country. Participants will work in building or repairing houses and can move inside to the ReStore in case of inclement weather.   The group will be housed at a local church.

Website:  http://www.beaumonthabitat.org/HFHJC.asp

Costs: $750     Participants: 14

(Begins Sunday, March 5th)

Driving

Participants will engage in the Urban Challenge Program where they will have the opportunity to build bridges of understanding. The group will confront issues which divide us – poverty, race, class – in a prayerful and constructive environment.  During the day, the group may work at a variety of sites in Camden and Philadelphia: schools and pre-schools, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, homeless shelters, soup kitchens and food banks, housing rehabilitation, drop-in centers for persons infected and affected with HIV and AIDS, and other social service agencies in the area. In the evening, they will have the opportunity to discuss urban poverty and social and economic justice, and reflect on our call, as disciples, to embrace a “preferential option for the poor.”

Website: http://www.romero-center.org/

Cost: $300       Participants: 10

Flying

San Diego is fast becoming the hub of an emerging trans-border culture, and the city is home to the largest refugee population in America. Participants will explore the rich trans-border culture of the San Diego region while participating in volunteer service learning projects along the U.S. side of the international border with Mexico.  Much of this week will be spent learning Via's methods of community development, and coming to a greater understanding of the human aspects of border issues and immigration.

Website: http://www.viainternational.org/san-diego.html

Costs: $800     Participants: 14