If you enjoy volunteering your time to help others, consider lending a hand to nations in need across the globe. Keeping with Valparaiso University’s mission to prepare students to “lead and serve in both church and society,” a number of international service programs exist on campus that aim to provide assistance to our global neighbors. Many Valpo students take advantage of their two-week spring break to travel to countries such as Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Kenya, among others, to volunteer their time and efforts.
Several service learning trips are sponsored by various divisions of the University each year. These trips allow students to gain hands-on experience in their field while providing services such as medical assistance, education, and other humanitarian efforts for nations in need. A sampling of these trips include:
As part of the Spirit-led social justice ministry of the Chapel of the Resurrection, SALT students seek to embody the Christian call to action to be the “salt of the earth.” (Matt. 5:13). SALT students develop and practice a Christian theology of social action, raise awareness, and encourage a Christian response to social justice issues.
Every year for the past two decades, SALT has selected a specific project in need of funding and organized a fund-raising campaign around it known as the World Relief Campaign (WRC). These projects may vary greatly in location and type but consistently offer a sustainable asset to the selected community. SALT works to educate and organize the campus to increase awareness of the need within the selected location and raise funds. Begun and completed during each spring semester, the World Relief Campaign is a fast-paced and large-scale fundraising drive.