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International Alternative Service Break

March 6 - 13, 2010
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El Salvador Trip Overview

10 USF Polytechnic students and 1 advisor will travel together to El Salvador to live and learn about current social issues facing the local communities there. Through direct service, intentional community interaction, tourism, cultural and recreational activities students will learn about Central American culture and poverty issues affecting El Salvador and other countries in Latin America.

Community Partner

We will be partnering with Un Techo Para Mi Pais (A Roof for My Country), a non-profit organization run by university students in Latin America that through the construction of transitional houses, work with families in extreme poverty in a social inclusion process that allow them to develop as a sustainable community.

Organization Mission

Improve the quality of life of millions of families who currently live in poverty by engaging thousands of volunteers and families in the building of transitional housing and the implementation of social inclusion programs. Denounce the reality of millions of Latin Americans who live in slums and involve society as a whole in the task of building a continent with more solidarity and without the injustice of poverty.

Community Projects

Nearly 2 million people live in poverty in El Salvador and USFP students will work with college students from Central America to address the issue of poverty by building transitional housing for families in need over a 3 day period. YouTube video

Tourism, Cultural & Recreational Activities

In addition to their direct service and home-stay experiences, students will have the opportunity to participate in a number of cultural and recreational activities that are built into the trip. Tourism activities include a tour of the archaeological site of Joyas del Ceren, a visit to the crater of the San Salvador Volcano, one day at El Zonte surfing beach, and a Canopying rainforest tour in Apaneca, along with visits to cultural places and universities in the capital city of San Salvador.

Timeline
March 6 Travel to El Salvador
March 7 Un Techo Para Mi Pais construction day
March 8 Un Techo Para Mi Pais construction day
March 9 Un Techo Para Mi Pais construction day
March 10 Archaelogical site, Volcano visit, & night at beach at Pensicola house
March 11 Day at El Zonte surfing Beach
March 12 Cultural conference & Canopying tour at Apaneca
March 13 Travel to USFP

Trip Costs

$440 per student. Includes: most meals, accommodations, in-country transportation, cultural/recreational tourism activities and program fee for construction costs for community partner.

Price does not include airfare, passport, visa or medical insurance charges.
Estimated airfare is $635 total

Schedule of Payments for Trip

Final Applications Due Nov 5
Payment 1 $100 Nov 6
Payment 2 $140 Dec 18
Payment 3 $200 Jan 25


Payments are non-refundable unless trip gets canceled by USFP.
Scholarship assistance may be available.