The S.O.U.L.S. Alternative Break Programs offer students the opportunity to engage in meaningful service during winter and spring break.

Alternative Spring Break

The Alternative Spring Break trip kicked off its first year in 1998 with 12 students and the program has continued to grow with nearly 40 students, faculty and staff participating this Spring Break!  Applications to participate are due in November to be eligible for the March trip.  Look for fliers in the halls and dates on our website.  If you have experience with this sort of trip, student leaders are recruited in April through the S.O.U.L.S. Community Service and Service Learning Center in D209. 

This years participants headed to work with Habitat for Humanities in El Paso, TX and Community Collaborations in Waveland, MS to volunteer in communities that were affected by poverty and natural disaster. The Suffolk volunteers participated in diverse reconstruction and volunteer support activities including; debris removal, tree removal, construction, sheetrock hanging, painting, building repairs, floor installation, window installation, organizing donated items, and preparing meals.

Local Alternative Spring Break

Suffolk also sponsors a Local Alternative Spring Break, for those who are unable to participate in a week long travelling program. This year’s Local ASB took place March 15-17 in East Boston at the Heritage Apartments, a housing development for low-income senior citizens and families.  Our team for Local ASB painted hallways, created a mural, served meals to the residents and hosted an art show of the resident’s work.  Applications are due in late February and can be picked up in the S.O.U.L.S. Center in D209. 

Alternative Winter Break

Our Alternative Winter Break offers a unique experience to travel to El Salvador and work on projects that are important to the residents of the villages who will host the group.  This past winter break, 13 students, and 5 faculty and staff members participated in the trip and had an amazing experience learning about the Salvadoran culture first hand.  Through their hard work and fundraising, they were able to build a wall for an outdoor stage where festivals in the village are held.  Look for applications for this trip in September, and if you have experience with traveling abroad to complete service and would like to be a student leader, contact S.O.U.L.S. in April. 
In conjunction with this program, twice a year we collect supplies for the communities in El Salvador.  Donations can be dropped off in S.O.U.L.S. in April and October.  Visit this website to learn more www.suffolk.edu/offices/supplydrive.html.

For more information on any of these programs, contact us at 617-305-6306 or souls@suffolk.edu.