Student groups spend spring break volunteering

Many IU student groups left Bloomington for spring break not to relax and soak up the sun, but to volunteer and help people in need.   

Habitat for Humanity

For the past 14 years, IU’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity has sponsored spring break trips to different places around the United States. This year, Habitat will travel to two different locations in Florida, Lakeland and West Palm Beach, as well as two different locations in Alabama, Foley and Birmingham.

“IU Habitat sponsors spring break trips because the trips are an affordable and worthwhile way to spend spring break,” President of IU Habitat for Humanity Lauren Courtney said. “It provides students here at IU with the opportunity to interact with less fortunate people and is an excellent experience.”

The organization tries to eliminate inferior housing across the world. Through the use of volunteers, it builds new and affordable housing for those who need it.

“Habitat is not a handout, rather it is a hand up,” Courtney said. “Each partner family is responsible for paying back their interest-free mortgage, working 250 sweat-
equity hours per adult and maintaining full-time employment.”

Through the spring break trips, Courtney said she hopes many of the volunteers will see how much their work has paid off.

“The students learn the rewards associated with volunteering and helping others,” Courtney said.
 
The Timmy Foundation

The Timmy Foundation is a nonprofit foundation that sends supplies and volunteers to undeveloped countries.

“The foundation travels to set up sustainable health clinics with local nonprofits in order for people in smaller cities and villages to get health care when they may not otherwise have access,” said President of The Timmy Foundation Gaby Cheikh.

This year, a group of about 20 students will travel to Xela, Guatemala.

Since 1997, IU students have traveled to places such as Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Guatemala.

Cheikh said foundation members provide health care as well as referrals to local hospitals.

Through its trips, the Foundation gives its volunteers an idea of how to fix the problems they see on their travels.

“By traveling abroad, we give our volunteers a firsthand view of the effects and causes of poverty and more importantly a vision of how simple it is to combat that,” Cheikh said.  

Youth Advocating Leadership and Learning

On Sunday, Y’ALL will take approximately 60 people to Biloxi, Miss. to assist with disaster relief. 

Since 2005, Y’ALL has been traveling during winter, spring and summer breaks to get the biggest number of volunteers together.

“There is still a huge need for volunteers, so these seem to be the best times to get a large number of students down there,” Executive Board member Michael Nosofsky said.

Nosofsky said each trip proves to the volunteers what their assistance means to people.

“The people we help always display a tremendous amount of gratitude towards us for our help,” Nosofsky said. “This makes it that much better for us because we really see that we are making a difference in someone’s life.”

In the future, Y’ALL expects to continue with its relief efforts, provided that volunteers are still needed in disaster-stricken areas.

“As long as there is the need for volunteers to assist with disaster relief, I expect Y’ALL to stay active as ever,” Nosofsky said.

Alternative Spring Break

Seventy-nine students will participate in one of 12 trips, including three international trips, as a part of Alternative Spring Break.

ASB is a civic engagement organization based within the Kelley School of Business.

“ASB’s goal is also to create active citizens by providing students with knowledge about a particular social issue and then giving them an opportunity to get immersed in that social issue through their volunteer work during the trip,” said Brittany Nelson, president of ASB programs

The organization started in 1991 when one group of students volunteered in West Virginia.

“Our program has grown steadily, and currently we have 12 spring break trips, three winter break trips and five weekend trips,” Nelson said.

Each trip exposes students directly to social issues and shows them how to help.

“Our trips not only teach IU students about the different social issues affecting our communities but also arm them with a life-long knowledge about how to help solve those issues,” Nelson said. “This is a lesson that few of them ever forget and which sometimes shapes their lives.”