Fall 2007 Habitat Sites | Fall 2007 Mission Service Sites | Winter 2008 Mission Service Sites
Spring 2008 Mission Service Sites | Spring 2008 Habitat Sites | Summer 2008 Site Listings coming soon

Spring 2008 Mission Service Site Listing and Descriptions

1. Bronx, New York
   Volunteers will participate in the work of the Augustinian Volunteers in an ethnically diverse parish. A small group, 8-11 people, will work at a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, a women’s shelter, a tutoring program, and an immigration center. Volunteers can also work at an after school program and have the opportunity to experience the poverty in our own backyard. You will examine the causes of inner city poverty and the devastation of the lives of those who are born into poverty. This is a wonderful community to work with and you can also continue your work through weekly volunteering after your experience.
   The cost is about $200-300 and is open to 11 people.
2. Chicago, Illinois
   Participants will spend the week working alongside the volunteer teachers of Chicago’s Inner-City Teaching Corps program. The Inner-City Teaching Corps trains recent college graduates to serve as full-time teachers in under-resourced, inner-city parochial schools, while living in faith-based communities and taking graduate courses at Northwestern University. As a spring break service trip participant, you will have the opportunity to work with individuals and small groups of students within the classroom, and develop/facilitate after-school activities within the school. This experience aims to provide you with a first-hand look at the educational inequities in urban communities, and various on-going efforts to empower children in the most under-served areas of Chicago.
   The cost is about $500 and is open to 12 people
   Website: www.ictc-chicago.org
3. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
   During this action-packed week, you will hear from low-wage and immigrant service workers (hotel, food service or laundry workers) who are struggling to make ends meet in Philadelphia, reach out to workers about their rights in the workplace and remedies for challenging unjust working conditions, and participate in at least one direct action (such as a rally or prayer vigil) in support of workers. You will hear and learn about sweatshops “in your own backyard” and how you and others can make a difference. Combine an urban plunge, social justice action and overview of Catholic Social Teaching all in one week’s experience. Participants will stay at the Augustinian Volunteer house in Philadelphia, cooking and eating all meals together.
   The cost is about $150 and is open to 12 people.
   Websites: http://www.iwj.org/ and http://www.unitehere.org/
4. Rancho Mastatal, Costa Rica - Environmental Service Experience
   The primary focus of this service experience will be to expose students to the rainforest and the importance of living in harmony with the indigenous peoples of Costa Rica and our environment. This is an education site that employs hands on experiential learning techniques using the rainforest as the classroom. You will be working with the Tico and Zapaton Indians, an indigenous culture in Costa Rica, to learn and understand differences and find solidarity. Volunteers will work to have a better understanding of rural poverty and the struggle of people who have so little by way of material goods. Two to three home stays will also be included.
   The cost is about $1000 and is open to 15 people.
   Website: http://www.ranchomastatal.com
5. Los Ninos, Tijuana - San Diego/Tijuana
   Volunteers will work along the California/Mexico border to acquire a deeper understanding of the complexities of Mexico and the border region as they experience both the economic poverty of the communities and the richness of the community relationships. The group will work shoulder to shoulder with Mexican residents in community-driven projects that enhance local schools and community centers. Volunteers will have an interactive and educational experience as they work with members of the community to learn about their culture and struggles. Volunteers will have the opportunity to meet with guest speakers to discuss poverty, human rights, social justice, and Mexican history.
   The cost is about $1100 and is open to 15 people.
   Website: www.losninosinternational.org
6. Chulucanas, Peru
   Volunteers will work at an Augustinian Mission in a small village of northern Peru. Volunteers will have the opportunity to meet the local people in their homes while working on projects necessary for the community (building, tutoring, and experiencing the Peruvian culture.) Your hosts, the Augustinian Volunteers, will guide you through various service projects, cultural experiences, and conversations with local Peruvians. Students will also spend a day touring Lima, Peru.
   The cost is about $1200 and is open to 18 people.
7. Miguel Aleman, Mexico
   Volunteers will be working the organization Faith Ministry along the Texas/Mexico border. Faith Ministry is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the poorest of the poor in the colonias of Reynosa and Miguel Aleman in Mexico with their housing, medical, spiritual, educational, and other immediate needs. One main goal is to construct a new home for a poor family living in the colonias. Members of the families receiving the home will participate in the construction. Volunteers will be staying in a secure, volunteer dormitory in Miguel Aleman, Mexico.
   The cost is about $1000 and is open to 15 people.
   Website: www.faithministry.org
8. Lima, Peru
   Volunteers will be working with Community Links which is a volunteer and international educational organization. Volunteers will experience a combination of community service, presentation, reflection time, family stays in indigenious communities and visits to local cultural sites. Work projects include a combination of working with street children, orphanages and soup kitchens. Through cross-border, cross-cultural immersion experiences they provide volunteers the chance to learn about the interconnectedness of our local, national, and global communities.
   The cost is about $1100 and is open to 15 people.
   Website: http://www.commlinks.org/
9. Mission Honduras
   Mission Honduras is a Catholic outreach organization that primarily works with children in Honduras. Volunteers typically do work projects in the morning (which may include painting, repairs, or construction) and building relationships with the children at the different sites in the afternoon (playing sports, reading, tutoring, or arts and crafts). Through education, which is unavailable to the poor beyond about the sixth grade, the children receive the skills necessary to become self sufficient and eventually to be competent leaders of families and communities. Volunteers will participate in morning and evening prayer with the community with whom they live and work.
   The cost is about $850 and is open to 16 people
   Website: http://www.missionhonduras.com/index.html
10. San Jose, Costa Rica
    This site works with numerous Costa Rican organizations that promote sustainable human development. Your mornings will be spent working in a local high school to help teach English classes, assist teachers, and help the community. Your afternoons will be spent learning more about the economic and political forces affecting the county, education system and daily lives of the people you are spending time with.
    The cost is about $1000 and is open to 15 people.
    Website: http://www.cidh.ac.cr/
11. Antigua, Guatemala
    Volunteers will be working with the God’s Child Program and the Asociacion Nuestros Ahijados to help thousands of Guatemala’s poor. Part of your trip will be spent working on simple, yet life-changing projects such as pouring concrete floors in shacks (to reduce illness and infection), constructing a flood control dike above a shanty town, or laying water pipes along a mountainside. Another part of your trip will be spent helping to build The DREAMER Center, an educational and health facility being built by the Asociacion Nuestros Ahijados on the edge of the San Felipe outside of Antigua, Guatemala. You will also have the opportunity to learn about Guatemala with its unique Mayan-Latina culture and breath-taking nature.
    The cost is about $1200 and is open to 20 people.
    Website: http://www.gcpnc.org and http://www.godschild.org
12. Waslala, Nicaragua: Nursing and Engineering Service Experience
13. Elko, Nevada: Nursing Service Expererience

Spring 2008 Habitat for Humanity Sites

There will be 8 sites this spring:

1. Sea Island, South Carolina: freshmen-only experience!
   Website: http://www.habitat.org/cd/frame/frameset.aspx?url=www.seaislandhabitat.org
2. Sumter, South Carolina: freshmen-only experience!
   Website: http://www.habitatsumter.org/index.html
3. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
   Website: http://www.habitat.org/cd/frame/frameset.aspx?url=www.habitatmb.org
4. Laredo, Texas
   Website: http://www.habitat.org/cd/frame/frameset.aspx?url=www.habitatlaredo.org
5. San Antonio, Texas
   Website: http://www.habitat.org/cd/frame/frameset.aspx?url=www.habitatsa.org
6. El Paso, Texas
   Website: http://www.habitatelpaso.org/
7. Americus, Georgia
   Website: http://www.habitat.org/cd/frame/frameset.aspx?url=www.esthfh.org
8. Slidell, Louisiana
   Website: http://www.habitat.org/cd/frame/frameset.aspx?url=www.esthfh.org

Winter 2008 Mission Service Sites

Cape Town, South Africa Mission Experience

Volunteer Work: Volunteers will be working with an organization named 2-way travel. The goal of 2-way travel is to make a difference in people’s lives everyday.  South Africa’s political history is marked by many human rights violations and injustices that have left much of the country’s population living with the lasting effects of these scars. 2-way travel is committed to making a tangible difference in South African society by addressing some of the wrongs of South Africa’s past. 2-way travel is based in Capetown and works with Christian and non-Christian organizations in the greater Capetown area. 2-way travel partners with these organizations to meet some of the immense needs of the South African society.

Volunteers address the injustices caused by South Africa’s political history through meaningful community service. This year, volunteers will be working primarily with children at Baphumelele’s Children Home in Khayelitsha – an orphanage for children with HIV/AIDS. Since the children will be on summer vacation (South Africa has opposite seasons than the U.S.), volunteers will be organizing a summer camp for the children. Volunteers will also be working on a construction project to help with important maintenance jobs.

The group will also have an opportunity to discover the beauty of Capetown through visits to Robben Island, Table Mountain, Lions Head, and the Cape of Good Hope. Volunteers will experience the South African culture through two-night home stays, braais (barbeques), church services, and visiting the Kayamandi townships.

Approximate Dates: December 28, 2007-January 12, 2008

Approximate Cost: ~$2,700 which includes airfare, accommodations in University dorms or guest house, food, transportation within South Africa, program fees, group guide and weekend excursions.

Website: www.2waytravel.com

Cochabamba, Bolivia Mission Experience

Volunteer Work: The peaceful city of Cochabamba lies in central Bolivia at the foot of Mt. Tunari in the Andes Mountains. More than twenty years ago, large numbers of unemployed miners moved to Cochabamba to seek employment. When they were unable to find jobs over a long period of time, they fell into desperate poverty.

Volunteers will be working with the Maryknoll Fathers and lay missioners in Cochabamba, Bolivia. The Maryknoll Lay Missioners is a Catholic organization that works with poor communities in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, responding to basic needs and helping to create a more just and compassionate world. Since 1911, Maryknoll has responded to the worldwide cry of people in need, such as the poor, the sick, the elderly, war-zone refugees, and orphans.

This is a cultural immersion experience. Volunteers will be working with the indigenous community in schools, churches and development programs. Volunteers will have the opportunity to learn more about the culture through daily interactions with the community.

Dates: December 27, 2007-January 12, 2008

Approximate Cost: ~$1,600 which includes airfare, accommodations in a volunteer center dorms, food, transportation within Bolivia, program fees, group guide and weekend excursions.

Website: Some information about Maryknoll Missioners can be found at http://laymissioners.maryknoll.org/index.php?module=MKArticles&mk_page=about.html

You can read about some lay missionaries Bolivian experiences at:

• http://www.mklaymissioners.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=94&Itemid=0
• http://www.mklaymissioners.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=67&Itemid=0
• http://www.mklaymissioners.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=84&Itemid=0

Chennai, India Mission Experience

Volunteer Work: Volunteers will be working with an organization called Dalit Solidarity. Dalit Solidarity, Inc., is a non-profit organization that works to promote human rights, social justice and economic opportunities for the Dalits, also known as the 'untouchables' of India. Dalit Solidarity was founded in 2000 by Fr. Benjamin Chinnappan, a Roman Catholic priest and a Dalit himself, who now works in the US as a chaplain for the Veterans' Administration. Over the course of the past six years, Dalit Solidarity has established a boarding school for students in grades 6-12, a medical clinic and a Community College, and has instituted a home-building and social empowerment program for Indian widows.

Volunteers will have the opportunity to facilitate with different work projects throughout their time in India. Volunteer projects include: working with the Bridge Program – and education related program for 25 children, a home building project for widows, a soccer camp for 600 Indian children, a women and children health program and teaching swimming lessons.

The experience will give volunteers the unique opportunity to travel and work in an area of India that is seldom seen by visitors. You will also be able to make a substantial contribution to a segment of Indian society that suffers from substantial discrimination, not only as Dalits, but as women and as widows. Volunteers will experience a variety of educational and participatory activities designed to promote cultural awareness and a greater understanding of the discrimination faced by the Dalits in rural India.

Dates: December 27, 2007-January 12, 2008

Approximate Cost: ~$2,500 which includes airfare, accommodations in a volunteer center dorms, food, transportation within India, program fees, group guide and weekend excursions.

Website: http://www.dalitsolidarity.org/index.htm

Fall 2007 Habitat Sites

The leading cause of homelessness and a major reason for hunger is the high cost of the U.S. housing. The average hourly wage needed to rent a two-bedroom dwelling in the U.S. is $12.47 per hour while the minimum wage is only $5.15. Housing is considered affordable if it consumes less than 30% of a family’s income.

If you choose to participate in Habitat for Humanity site you will be helping to build low-income, affordable housing. Habitat for Humanity is an international organization that builds homes or rehabilitates homes for the working poor. HFH relies on volunteer labor and donations to sustain its services. Each family who applies for a house must commit to hundreds of hours of labor and will receive a home with a no-interest mortgage that is adjusted to the family’s income. You will be building for 4 ½ - 5 days and building skills are not necessary. Hopefully you will get to know the family for whom you are building, but this is not guaranteed. When you are not building, the week is focused on spending time with your group as well as reflecting on the culture, work and experiences you encounter. Reflection times provide an opportunity to discuss the moments that raise questions, touch your heart, and challenge or confirm your beliefs about the world, the poor and yourself.

The cost of the trip includes airfare (if applicable), van rental, room and board, donation to the Habitat affiliate, transportation to and from the airport and a T-shirt. The total will depend on the location of the affiliate.

Cost ranges from $300-800 depending on airfare and affiliate donation.

There will be 10 sites this fall:

• Brunswick, GA
• Lexington, KY
• El Paso, TX
• Pittsboro, NC
• Grand Rapids, MI
• Eagle Butte, SD
• Maryville, TN
• Fort Smith, AR
• Richmond, KY
• Slidell, LA

Fall 2007 Mission Service Sites

Rancho Mastatal, Costa Rica:

Volunteers will work and stay at the Playa Hermosa Turtle Reserve on the coast of Costa Rica. The primary focus of this global conservation program will be to expose volunteers to the rainforest and the importance of living in harmony with the indigenous peoples of Costa Rica and our environment.  This is an educational site that employs hands on experiential learning techniques using the coast as the classroom. You will also have the opportunity to work with the Tico and Zapaton Indians, an indigenous culture in Costa Rica. One-two of your days will be spent in cultural/community exchange with the indigenous children at the La Gloria school.  One home stay will also be included.

The cost is about $1000 and is open to 15 people.

Website: http://www.ranchomastatal.com

Tohatchi, NM:

This is a cultural immersion experience into the Native American culture. Volunteers will live with host families on the Navajo Indian reservation. During the day, volunteers work on various service projects determined by the needs of the community. Volunteers will learn about the Navajo culture which includes spirituality, family and history of the Navajo Nation. You will experience the beauty of the nature while exploring the reservation and the spirituality of the Navajo’s by participating in a sweat lodge.

The cost is about $740 for 16 people.

Los Ninos, Tijuana: San Diego/Tijuana:

Volunteers will work along the California/Mexico border to acquire a deeper understanding of the complexities of Mexico and the border region as they experience both the economic poverty of the communities and the richness of the community relationships. The group will work shoulder to shoulder with Mexican residents in community-driven projects that enhance local schools and community centers. Volunteers will have an interactive and educational experience as they work with members of the community to learn about their culture and struggles. Volunteers will have the opportunity to meet with guest speakers to discuss poverty, human rights, social justice, and Mexican history.

The cost is about $1100 and is open to 15 people.

Website: www.losninosinternational.org

Rostro de Cristo, Ecuador:

Rostro de Cristo is a Catholic program whose mission is to provide spiritual and educational opportunities for young people from the United States to live out the Gospel together with the people of Ecuador. The program invites participants to lead a simple lifestyle, build an intentional Christian community, be in relationship with the Ecuadorian people and reflect on the face of Christ in their joys and struggles and work with the Ecuadorian people to find long term solutions to the problems of poverty and together seek opportunities to improve the lives of the people. Group members will dedicate several hours to visiting and sometimes working with residents of different areas every day.

The cost is about $1200 and is open to 14 people.

Website: http://www.rostrodecristo.org

Chulucanas, Peru:

Volunteers will work at an Augustinian Mission in a small village of northern Peru. Volunteers will have the opportunity to meet the local people in their homes while working on projects necessary for the community (building, tutoring, and experiencing the Peruvian culture.) Your hosts, the Augustinian Volunteers, will guide you through various service projects, cultural experiences, and conversations with local Peruvians. Students will also spend a day touring Lima, Peru.

The cost is about $1200 and is open to 18 people.

Flores, Guatemala

Volunteers will be working with the Maryknoll Fathers and lay missioners in Flores, Guatemala. The Maryknoll Lay Missioners is a Catholic organization that works with poor communities in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, responding to basic needs and helping to create a more just and compassionate world. Since 1911, Maryknoll has responded to the worldwide cry of people in need, such as the poor, the sick, the elderly, war-zone refugees, and orphans.

This is a Mayan cultural immersion experience. Volunteers will be working with the indigenous Mayan community in schools, churches and development programs. Volunteers will have the opportunity to learn more about the Mayan culture through interactions with the community and visits to historic Mayan ruins.

The cost is about $1125 and is open to 17 people.

Reynosa, Mexico:

Volunteers will be working the organization Faith Ministry along the Texas/Mexico border. Faith Ministry is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the poorest of the poor in the colonias of Reynosa and Miguel Aleman in Mexico with their housing, medical, spiritual, educational, and other immediate needs. One main goal is to construct a new home for a poor family living in the colonias. Members of the families receiving the home will participate in the construction. Volunteers will be staying in a secure, volunteer dormitory in Reynosa, Mexico.

The cost is about $1000 and is open to 15 people.

Website: www.faithministry.org

Hand in Hand Ministries, Belize:

Volunteers will be working with the organization Hand in Hand Ministries in Belize City. Hand in Hand Ministries is a faith-based international service organization that provides life’s essentials to the poorest of the poor, giving them dignity today and hope for tomorrow.
Volunteers will work with their “Building for Change” program to provide housing for the poorest of the poor. Hand in Hand Ministries has built over 60 houses with 12 more are being planned for 2007. Volunteers may also have the opportunity to work in Hand in Hand Ministries Outreach Center which provides medical care and hope for 15 children and 38 families affected by or infected with HIV/AIDS and the Feeding and Cafeteria Program at six elementary and high schools.

The cost is about $1200 and is open to 13 people.

Website: http://www.hhministries.com/

Jamaica Volunteers: Kingston, Jamaica:

Volunteers will have the opportunity to work with many different service programs offered through the organization Jamaica Volunteers. Volunteers work at several Catholic social service sites that provide services for the destitute, the sick, the disadvantaged and the economically displaced in Kingston.  Service projects include a home for the elderly and homeless run by Mother Theresa’s Missionaries of Charity, a community center with a school for at-risk children, a health clinic and a home for elderly and victims of Hanson’s disease.

The cost is about $1025 and is open to 15 people.

Website: http://www.jamaicavolunteers.com/

Cuirim House, Nogales Mexico:

Volunteers will service with Cuirim House which is located along the Arizona/Mexico border in the town of Nogales, Mexico. The Cuirim House is located about 15 minutes south of Nogales in Mexico. Volunteers will work with Cuirim House in a variety of projects that include construction projects, children’s activities and serving meals to the hungry and deported immigrants. Volunteers engage in Cuirim House’s mission of service, prayer and reflection.

The cost is about $950 and is open to 15 people.

Community Links, Mexico

Community Links is volunteer and international educational organization. Through cross-border, cross-cultural immersion experiences they provide volunteers the chance to learn about the interconnectedness of our local, national, and global communities. Volunteers will experience a combination of community service, presentation/documentaries, reflection time, family stays in indigenious communities and visits to local cultural sites. Work projects include a combination of hands-on labor as well as work/play with children’s and youth groups in the afternoons.

The cost is about $1080 and is open to 15 people.

Website: http://www.commlinks.org/

Orphanage Outreach, Dominican Republic:

Volunteers will be working with the organization Orphanage Outreach whose mission is to provide opportunities for the orphaned, abandoned and disadvantaged children of the northwest coast of the Dominican Republic. Much of your focus will be on teaching/tutoring the children and teaching English at the English Institute. You will live and work on-site at the orphanage in a safe and simple environment. In addition to the service, you will also have an opportunity to explore a part of the island for additional cultural experiences by visiting a farmer’s marker, some historical locations and a national park beach.

The cost is about $975 and is open to 15 people.

Website: http://www.orphanage-outreach.org/

Sao Paulo, Brazil:

Volunteers will be working with the Maryknoll Fathers and lay missioners in Sao Paulo and Ibiuna, Brazil. The Maryknoll Lay Missioners is a Catholic organization that works with poor communities in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, responding to basic needs and helping to create a more just and compassionate world. Since 1911, Maryknoll has responded to the worldwide cry of people in need, such as the poor, the sick, the elderly, war-zone refugees, and orphans.

Volunteers will work with many of Maryknoll’s service organizations working with the indigenous in Brazil. Volunteers will mainly work at an encampment site of the MST (Movement of rural workers without land) during their time in Sao Paulo. While in Ibiuna, volunteers will work at an orphanage for children and a reforestation project site.

The cost is about $1250 and is open to 12 people.