Melissa Jiha operating a cotton candy machine to serve children and their families.
The University of Tampa’s PEACE Volunteer Center is making it possible for students to vacation and make a difference at the same time.
This year, many students will spend their vacations and weekends giving to others.
According to Hannah Duprey, alternative break head coordinator, there are eight total trips this year.
PEACE (People Exploring Active Community Experiences) has already done a fall weekend trip to Give Kids the World Village in Kissimmee, FL and have planned seven more trips to take place this school year.
24 students participated in the fall trip and 40 applications were submitted.
“We were able to double the amount of people we can bring on the trips, which was great,” said Duprey.
Over winter break, a group of students will take a trip to Pompano Beach, FL.
The trip is called “Special Spaces” because students will be redecorating the rooms of children who have life threatening diseases.
There will also be two alternative spring breaks.
One trip will be to Key West for an environmental clean up.
The other will be to Tennessee to a therapeutic horse ranch.
The day after graduation, a group of students will travel to Peru. Participants will teach English in schools and speak about the importance of sanitation.
Though these breaks have already reached their full capacity of student participants, there are still more chances to vacation and help.
During spring semester, applications will be available for students who want to participate on two weekend trips and the Domestic trip.
The two weekend trips are still being planned, but one will be in February and the other in April.
The Domestic trip is in Boulder Creek, CA where students will be working at a YMCA camp.
This trip is also still in the planning stages, but applications will be available next semester.
These trips aren’t only important to the students that participate, but to the coordinators, as well.
“I’m excited just to see the trips happen. I love going on the trips and seeing people grow throughout the trips,” said Duprey.
If you’d like more information on upcoming alternative breaks or would like to receive PEACE’s newsletter for information on applications e-mail alternativebreaks@ut.edu.
