KINGSTON, R.I. — Feb. 5, 2024 — If you’re a student at the University of Rhode Island looking for an opportunity to make a positive impact on your community while getting the opportunity to travel, you are in luck with URI’s Alternative Break program.

The “Alternative Spring Break” program began in 2009, spurred by students who wanted to make an impact on places all over the world. The program, recently renamed “Alternative Break,” opens doors to opportunities to serve anytime students are on a break—summer, winter, and long weekends, in addition to the traditional March break.

This spring break, students can work locally with South County Habitat for Humanity between March 10 and 15. Those who are interested can apply online through the URI Abroad site. The trip offers three building days where students get the opportunity to build new homes in their community, and a “community day” where students will interact with other organizations to build awareness of housing insecurity and advocate on behalf of Habitat for Humanity. The application for the trip closes Feb. 9. 

The program’s goals are to “curate accessible and sustainable trips that promote service, culture, civics, leadership, and relationship building by highlighting issues that transcend our local and global communities,” says Alicia Vignali Henry, coordinator of community engagement, who is a resident of Narragansett. 

“I feel like everybody has the ability to serve in some capacity, and through service we build genuine and reciprocal relationships with people and communities that really put us on a path to true global citizenship,” she says.

“We are looking for students who are dedicated to improving their local, statewide, and international communities and who can commit to preservice and post service meetings to build value into the experience and help students learn more.”

The program seeks students who are passionate about building community and enhancing their leadership skills. Alternative Break trips provide students with opportunities to bring out the best in themselves while making a difference in the communities to which they travel.

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Benjamin Smith, a senior sports media and public relations major at the University of Rhode Island and an intern in the Department of Communications and Marketing, wrote this press release.