Students defy Spring Break stereotype with volunteerism

While some students headed for a beach or home during Spring Break, others spent their vacation time doing community and religious service.

The Student Volunteers Council led two trips, including one to rural Bacon County, Ga., to work on a community center in Alma. Eight University students participated.

"The town was very startling for us," said Lauren Jones '03, SVC board member and trip coordinator.

In Alma — a small town in Bacon County — the adult literacy rate is less than 50 percent, and the town's average income is $11,000 per person.

To improve conditions in the town, the volunteers helped paint and refurbish an old house that is to become a center for adult literacy programs, counseling and addiction treatment.

Jones said the people the volunteers interacted with expressed appreciation for students' work.

"They were so touched that students from Princeton gave up their break to go hang out with them," Jones said. "They were really pleased that we were there."

Volunteers stayed in senior housing while painting, caulking and buffing the floors of the new community center — a project that was spearheaded by Floyd Thompkins, a former assistant dean of religious life.

SVC also coordinated a trip to North Carolina to work with Habitat for Humanity.

For students in EEB 398/HLS 398: Humans and the Environment, Spring Break meant making a trip to the island nation of Cyprus, a country occupied by both Greek and Turkish troops.

Thirteen students traveled there to study unique archeological, historical and ecological conditions.

The trip was an opportunity to integrate those disciplines, said Vanessa Wong '03. Participants hiked, climbed mountains and visited wetlands and ancient Greek ruins.

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A Cypriot professor met with the group to discuss Cyprus' attempts to reunify and join the European common market.

The group also was able to cross the border into Turkish-held land in northern Cyprus, which is a rare occurrence in the deeply divided country, Wong said.

Across the globe in South America, the Princeton Evangelical Foundation led a group of nine students to Chile to perform missionary work in the predominantly Catholic country.

While trip members were allowed one day of sightseeing in Santiago, most of the time was spent visiting three neighborhoods in Iquique, a village in northern Chile.

Joined by Chilean missionaries, PEF members discussed the Gospel with residents and held Bible study sessions.

The trip succeeded in converting Chileans to the growing Protestant sect in South America, said Evan Baehr '05, who went on the trip.

In all, 220 people professed their faith.

Looking back on their experiences, the University students who traveled to Georgia, North Carolina, Cyprus and Chile said their Spring Breaks were especially meaningful and more enjoyable than a stereotypical week at the beach.

"It was really, really worthwhile," she said.