Spring break is just around the corner, and university students all around the world will welcome spring with a well-deserved break from studying. Most will take off for a sun-soaked vacation on the beach or spend their free time partying.
There’s a growing contingent of young people, however, who take an alternative spring break. That just means that they approach the time off as an opportunity to make an impact on the world around them. Whether you’ve always dreamed of volunteering in a different country or want to make your mark closer to home, we look at the top fun, creative ways you can make spring break count.
Why take an alternative spring break?
An alternative spring break (ASB) is a pretty unusual thing for a college-aged population to do. When your friends are all clamoring for you to join them on the beach, why bother saying no?
Turns out, there are plenty of solid reasons for not following the herd this spring:
- Polishing your resume. Whether you’re working with local communities or volunteering in far-flung locations, ASBs give you the opportunity to learn and develop new skills. You’ll expand your professional knowledge with language and leadership training, along with more hands-on experience, like building homes or teaching children.
- Meeting people. Sure, you can meet people at a party. When you’re part of a volunteer team, however, the connections you make are more impactful and professional. Networking during an ASB can lead to future career, travel, and educational opportunities that your casual friend group might not offer.
- Making a difference. The number one reason to take an ASB is the positive impact your contribution makes to others’ lives. As you help people, animals, or the planet, you see clearly that the world is that much better because you’re in it.
- Self-discovery. When you work for a meaningful cause that you truly believe in, you learn a lot about yourself and the social, political, and natural world around you. The best in you gets a chance to shine. Even one week can be transformative.
Taking an Alternative Spring Break Abroad
Just because you’re taking an alternative spring break, doesn’t mean you can’t travel! If you have the resources, there are plenty of incredible options across the globe for you to dig in and contribute to the local community.
Maybe you want to build, renovate, and repair homes or hospitals. Maybe you feel passionate about human rights issues. Whatever your commitments are, there’s an organization out there that supports them.
As you prep for your trip abroad, there are two critical things to keep in mind:
Avoid voluntourism
Unfortunately, not everyone who volunteers abroad is truly dedicated to a good cause. Some travelers are just hoping to get approval from others, or photos for their social media channels. That’s what voluntourism is all about. Little more than a niche sector of the booming travel industry, voluntourism invites people with zero skills or ethical commitment to waste time and resources without actually benefiting local communities. Nobody wants that. If you’re passionate about making a difference in the world, be mindful of the organizations you sign up to work with!
Work with legit organizations
There are plenty of unethical organizations that will gladly take your money in exchange for making you feel like you’re making a difference. Sadly, fake orphanages and animal sanctuaries do exist. At best, you’ll overestimate your impact. At worst, your sincere efforts to help will cause more harm than good to the local population and environment.
It’s critical to stick to organizations that have a proven track record of working with universities and student groups and engaging directly with the communities they serve.
Here are our picks for ethical volunteering organizations that could use your help this spring:
- YourStory International. Founded by a group of Haitians and Americans, YourStory International is a nonprofit based in Pont Morel, Haiti. The group focuses on primary and maternal healthcare, education, and disaster relief and allows local people to design and implement all development initiatives.
- Global Volunteers. An organization that works across more than a dozen countries, including China, Portugal, and Ecuador, Global Volunteers offers one-to-three-week programs based on your interests. From teaching English in Poland to working in community gardens in Cuba, students can learn about local cultures while developing their unique skill-set.
- Medical Global Brigades. If you’re pre-med or dedicated to improving global health, Medical Brigades enables you to work in rural clinics in Honduras, Ghana, Panama, Greece, or Guatemala for 7-9 days. You’ll help deliver basic healthcare to remote communities by performing simple tasks, like taking vital signs, filling prescriptions in pharmacies, and shadowing doctors.
Domestic Alternative Spring Break Ideas
Even if you can’t go overseas, there are still domestic opportunities for improving living conditions in local neighborhoods, working with children, or conserving natural habitats.
Some reliable, gold-standard programs in the United States include:
- Habitat for Humanity. Relying primarily on younger volunteers, Habitat for Humanity partners with high schools and universities to benefit the local population by improving and repairing homes and neighborhoods. Student volunteers help to build houses, participate in landscaping projects, and support local services.
- United Way. Offering ASB opportunities across the United States, United Way connects university students with week-long service projects, like cleaning up beaches, reading books to children in education centers, and assisting homeless populations.
- American Hiking Society. If you love the great outdoors, then you know how critical it is to care for our natural environment. The American Hiking Society enables student groups and young professionals to partake in trail stewardship projects across the country’s beautiful parks and forests.
Alternative Spring Break Ideas Right Here at Home
If you can’t travel and there aren’t any organizations in your area, take matters into your own hands and plan your own alternative spring break. Not only will you make an important contribution to your community, but you’ll learn some transferable leadership skills while you’re at it.
Idea #1: Reach out to your university
Check if your uni hosts any volunteer programs during spring break. Does your campus have a community service center? Read the bulletin board. Does your uni library, theater, or computer lab need volunteers? Is there a student group that could use your support? There’s always somebody on campus that would be glad to team up with you during spring break!
Idea #2: Community service
An excellent way to boost your skill set while meeting like-minded people, engaging in community service helps shine up your resume. From helping to register voters to installing benches at the local park, there are lots of ways to get involved.
Idea #3: Volunteer
If there’s a senior living center, food bank, or animal shelter nearby, why not spend your spring break helping them out? Not only will you interact with interesting new people, but you’re sure to learn something new.
Idea #4: Share your skills
Are you an excellent French speaker, bass player, or origami master? Do you know exactly what a cover letter and resume should look like? Volunteer to share those skills! Coordinate with your university admin office to take advantage of your quiet campus this spring break by leading your own week-long course. You might even consider livestreaming the whole thing so that everyone can join in no matter where they are!
Idea #5: Head a Global Brigades chapter
If there aren’t any nonprofit organizations in your area, you can start a Global Brigades chapter right in your neighborhood. Depending on your community development needs, you can work with Global Brigades to select a specific program—medical, water, legal empowerment, etc.—to ensure that your efforts bring about a positive change. Your neighbors will be thrilled! Plus, being the student leader of a nonprofit chapter is an impressive addition to your resume.
Idea #6: Organize a neighborhood clean-up
Round up some students on your campus to organize a community clean-up. Rivers, beaches, and parks are always good candidates for trash removal. Not only do you get to spend the spring day outside, but the local residents will thank you. Don’t forget to add ‘Community Organizer’ to your resume afterwards!
Idea #7: Read a book
Encourage reading and discussion of important issues by getting students together to read a socially conscious book this spring break. You can even collaborate with your university’s philosophy club, English and political science departments, or library to include more students and make your reading really count. If you want something edgy or just to stir up a healthy debate, opt for a book from the banned book list, and discuss why it was banned.
Idea #8: Start a club
There’s nothing quite like a committed group of students teaming up to change the world, and spring break offers the perfect time to begin something new. Maybe you want to address conservation issues, circulate a petition to open an on-campus recycling center, or invite a human rights speaker to your campus. Whatever it is, pick a subject you’re passionate about and encourage other students to join with flyers, social media posts, and an ad in the school paper. Bonus points for adding it to your CV!
So Not Mainstream: Plan an Unforgettable Alternative Spring Break
Whether you decide to volunteer at a clinic in Honduras, help build homes in the United States, or clean up your local park, RallyUp is here to help you make spring break count. From crowdfunding to peer-to-peer fundraising solutions that are perfect for university students, our easy-to-use fundraising platform can kickstart your brilliant idea.
With free tools and round-the-clock support let you plan a fundraising event, sell tickets, or get creative with customizable donation pages that can help launch your volunteer trip overseas—or just across campus.
