Alternative Reading Break

South Carolina

Participants on this trip will be travelling to Sumter, South Carolina, which is approximately one hour from the East Coast, to work with Habitat for Humanity.  Our team will be focusing on building houses for the week in an area where 109 Habitat homes have been completed over the past 20 years!  We will be taking a coach bus for the week and will also have the opportunity to see the area we are working/staying through a couple of social evenings out.

Participants:

• 30 Student Participants
• 3 Peer Team Leaders
• 2 Professional Staff Leaders

 Service Projects:

Our week will consist of beginning the construction of a brand new home!  This will primarily include framing (building the structure of the house including the main floor and walls), nailing, using power tools, etc.  No construction experience required!*  During our time building, we will most likely be working alongside the future homeowners, which adds a very personal touch to the experience.

 *Since no experience is required, these skills will be taught on-site and safety procedures outlined.

Community Partner:

Habitat for Humanity believes that every man, woman and child should have a decent, safe and affordable place to live.  They are a nonprofit ecumenical Christian ministry but build with people in need regardless of race or religion and welcome volunteers of all backgrounds.  Whenever possible, sustainable and energy-efficient houses are built.  Around the world nearly 2 million people live in slum housing and 100 million are homeless. 

Check out Habitat for Humanity on-line:  www.habitat.org

Cost:

This trip is $600 Canadian per person.  A down payment of $200 toward the cost of this trip is due by the application deadline in the form of a cheque or cash.  Please make all cheques payable to Brock University and note your name and student ID in the memo line.  With space on the trip being limited, all deposits will be returned to students who are not selected to participate this year.

Please note that steel-toed work boots are required while on the build site.  Participants must have these by the time of the trip.

Medical Precautions:

It is recommended that all participants have an up-to-date Tetanus vaccine.  Any medical related needs are the responsibility of the participant and not included in the cost of the South Carolina experience.

Accommodations & Meals:

Our team will be staying at a local church in Sumter, South Carolina where we will sleep and cook breakfast and dinner together (lunchs and some dinners are provided by our hosts and/or Habitat).  Showers will happen after our day of building at a new YMCA nearby our housing site.  We may also go out once during the week to experience local cuisine, which will be at the cost of each participant and not included in the cost of the South Carolina experience.

If you have any additional questions about the South Carolina experience, please feel free to contact Sandy Howe at showe@brocku.ca or at x4126.

Applications are now being accepted on a first come, first serve basis! Residence students are given priority if they apply before noon on Thursday, December 2nd. After that time, this trip will be open to all Brock students.

South Carolina Participant Expectations:

• Available to fully participate in all pre-departure meetings (dates coming soon - typically bi-weekly, Wednesdays at 10pm).
• Available to fully participate in the post-trip meeting (date coming soon - will be listed on the Important Dates section of the website).
• Available to fully participate for the duration of the South Carolina experience during Reading Week (Saturday, February 18 - Sunday, February 26, 2011).
• Submission of a $200 non-refundable down payment (cheque or cash only) with your application*. 

Please make all cheques payable to Brock University and include your name and student ID in the memo line.  The down payment can be dropped off to Sandy Howe in DeCew, Room 207 during business hours.

• Submission of all remaining fees by 4:00pm on Thursday, January 19, 2012.

Note: If a participant withdraws from the program and a waitlisted applicant is able to participate, the withdrawn participant will be refunded their fees less the $200 down payment.  After January 20, 2012, all fees are considered non-refundable.

• Responsible for ensuring valid travel insurance and health insurance is in place for the duration of the South Carolina experience. 
• Responsible for following all safety related guidelines outlined by the Team Leader(s) and partnering organizations.
• Responsible for arranging valid travel and health insurance.  I agree to check with my parent/guardian regarding valid international Health Insurance.
• Responsible for securing a valid passport and/or VISA.
• Understanding that this is a substance free experience (no drugs or alcohol may be consumed during the experience or purchased to bring back into Canada).
• Understanding that this program is facilitated through Brock University and as such, the Code of Conduct for  Brock students extends to cover all behaviour during the South Carolina experience.

Apply now to be a student participant!

Apply now to be a Peer Team Leader!