What is RUIBAL Challenge?

The RUIBAL Challenge (Reaching Urban Individuals By Action and Love) is an All-Freshman service program that allows a group of first-year Villanova students the opportunity build community by volunteering one day a week (3-6p) to serve and support children in inner-city Philadelphia schools and community centers.  

Purpose of RUIBAL Challenge:

The RUIBAL Challenge hopes to build strong partnerships and relationships between Villanova students and the students and communities they serve with. During RUIBAL, freshmen serve as tutors, mentors, and activity coordinators, include opportunities for sports, drama, the arts, dance... just about any interest a Villanova freshmen could bring to the grammar school children, including homework help. There are four main goals of the program: to engage first-year students in building community both with their peers and with the students at the schools in which they serve; to invite freshmen in Villanova’s tradition of service and to contextualize an understanding of service which is grounded in partnership; to help freshmen discover their own “God-given gifts and talents” which will help them become life-long agents of social change, and to create long-term partnerships which forward the mission and ministry of the school communities who work with the program.    

Who will be selected to serve?

We will accept applications on a first come, first serve basis. The online application registration for the Fall 2011 semester will be open from Thursday, August 25^th to Wednesday, September 7^th. Service begins the week of September 19^th.

How can I learn more?

For further information see your Hall's Campus Ministry Intern or contact the RUIBAL Program Coordinator, Jenna Cucco, St. Rita's Hall Room 112, jenna.cucco@villanova.edu, 610-519-5178.