During Cornell's spring break, while some students are at exotic vacations spots, one group of students headed in another direction as part of a project called Alternative Spring Break, sponsored by the Cornell Public Service Center.
A group of 13 participating students have traveled to the small mining town of Welch, W.Va., during the break, leaving this past Saturday and returning Sunday, March 28. The students are spending their visit working at the town's domestic abuse shelter, Stop Abusive Family Environments (SAFE).
The SAFE shelter works to combat the cycle of poverty and domestic violence in the community. The students' work at the shelter will include manual labor projects and providing child-care and career-related workshops for residents. At the end of their trip, the students will have provided more than 50 hours of service to the community.
Coordinated by senior Paul Hurh, the Alternative Spring Break project, in its first year as a pilot project, is modeled after programs established at other colleges and universities.
The Alternative Spring Break team worked diligently before the trip to ensure the successful development and implementation of the project. Members established a relationship with SAFE, applied for grants and held fund-raisers, including a "build-a-thon" at Cayuga Nature Center. Members of the group also participated in workshops dealing with domestic violence in preparation for their work on the project.
Organizers say they hope that, under the sponsorship and guidance of the Public Service Center, the program will expand into a yearly activity, perhaps offering more than one alternative break excursion in future academic years.
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