Clemson students to take service trips over winter break

Published: December 16, 2011

CLEMSON — Dozens of Clemson University students will use their winter breaks to help others on service trips to the Dominican Republic and around the Southeast.

Fifteen fraternity and sorority members will travel to the Dominican Republic Dec. 17-23 to help build homes in a remote village. It is the second year that fraternity and sorority members from Clemson have made the trip.

“I want to spend part of my break on this trip because the ultimate holiday gift would be the peace of mind that comes from taking an active role in helping build someone a future,” said Dominique Jordan, a senior political science major from Columbia. “A house is much more then a physical structure that protects people from the outside elements. A house is a symbol of growth and prosperity. It provides a solid foundation for families to raise their children and live peacefully among their neighbors. It is the ultimate gift that someone can give and I would love to partake in giving this to a deserving family.”

Antwan Eady, a senior psychology major from Garnett, said he doesn’t see the trip as sacrificing part of his break.

“It didn’t dawn on me until just now that I was ‘giving up’ a piece of my break because that’s not how I see it. I’m about to do something that makes me happy and makes me feel at peace. Sounds like a break to me,” Eady said.

Clemson’s Alternative Break Program student organization will send 24 students on three trips. One group will travel to Birmingham, Ala., to help with tornado relief efforts; one group will go to New Orleans to work with Belle Reve, an organization that provides housing for people living with HIV and AIDS; and a third group will work in Maryville, Tenn., to work on various projects with members of the Snowbird Cherokee Community and to volunteer in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

“I think it is extremely important to give back when we are young and have the time and resources to serve others. Why not start the new year off by making a difference?” said Amy Smedberg, a junior secondary education major from Burlington, N.C., who is leading the trip to Tennessee.

Elizabeth Williams, a senior genetics major from Williamston who is leading the New Orleans trip, said the Alternative Break Program (ABP) trips not only benefit the communities they serve but also the students who participate in the trips.

“In order to change the world, we must start one student at a time,” said Williams. “I believe in the mission of ABP and the power that the pre-trip and post-trip educational emphasis can have on changing a student's perspective on the world. Our hope and end goal for every trip is that students return passionate and eager to put the lessons learned from trip experience to work and let their everyday choices reflect that newly-developed sense of social responsibility.”

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