Intercultural Trips: Spring and Winter Break

The CC/SEAS Office of Multicultural Affairs, Student Development and Activities, and the Columbia/Barnard Hillel have partnered to provide a unique opportunity for students from all identities, cultures, and backgrounds to participate in a service learning project during Spring/Winter Break with a special focus on the intersections of identities and coalition among communities. 

This intercultural service learning project is aimed at building community between these constituencies on campus and fostering an environment which promotes critical intellectual inquiry outside of the classroom.

Past Trips: Alternative Spring Break

Past projects have included two delegations of students, one from the Columbia/Barnard Hillel and one from the Office of Multicultural Affairs/Intercultural Resource Center, that participates in a semester long training program which culminated in a trip to New Orleans during Spring Break to assist with the Katrina Relief Effort.   During this semester long project, students examined the historical and contemporary significance of “social justice” within Jewish and People of Color communities, explored the legacy of the Civil Rights movement as it pertains to the relationship between these communities, and looked at the political and social implications of Hurricane Katrina within this context.

Winter 2010: Alternative Winter Break

This year will focus on a service learning project during Winter Break to South America with a special focus on Interculturalism and Women's communities.This leadership project is a unique opportunity for women from all walks of life to work collectively towards social change. It is a unique partnership between the CC/SEAS Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Barnard/Columbia Hillel, and the Office of Student Development and Activities Leadership Programs. It is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. This project consists of a 6-week training program which will culminate in a trip to South America to assist in hands-on service work with women and children. During the training program, participants will examine different models for women’s leadership, social constructs and identities that reveal or impede opportunities for women, and the historical and contemporary significance of social justice movements within the intercultural context of women’s leadership. A significant component of this program is the cross-cultural connections that serve to strengthen our communities and strategies for utilizing these networks for future success. Finally, we will explore political and social implications of the global environs that impact the perception of women leaders and their ability to succeed in a fast-paced, interconnected world. Each week, we will also have the opportunity to practice basic, conversational Spanish.