Alternative Spring Break Recruitment and Planning Underway for Spring 2023

ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK RECRUITMENT AND PLANNING UNDERWAY FOR MAY 2023

Alternative Spring Break (ASB) Is back! Led by Department of History Professor Arne Kislenko, he and his student organizers are excited to announce that they are planning their first international volunteer trip in three years following Covid’s restrictions.

TMU students – whether new or fourth-year – once again have the opportunity to join incredible, like-minded individuals on campus, travel internationally, and volunteer sustainably. 

Founded by Dr. Kislenko 15 years ago as a student-led, cross-faculty volunteer organization, Alternative Spring Break seeks to respect and understand other cultures to foster positive change at home and abroad. ASB forms partnerships with small, grassroots organizations on sustainable development initiatives, primarily on construction and educational projects.

The student team typically forms in October via an interview process, and the project takes place over four weeks in the month of May. During the academic year, team members participate in weekly informative meetings and fundraising events to pay for local labour wages, locally sourced tools and materials, and NGO administration fees.

Past projects included partnerships with organizations in 12 different countries, including India, Nepal, Laos, Uganda, Kenya, Colombia, Peru, and Guatemala. The Spring 2023 adventure will take ASB back to Kerala, India. There, participants will work on a specially designed project with YearoutIndia.

Alternative Spring Break now would like to recruit both leadership and team members. If cultural enrichment, sustainable volunteering, international travel – and hard work – appeal to you and your desires to contribute meaningfully, contact ASB @asbtmu on Instagram with any questions; or visit the website asbtmu.ca (external link)  for more information.