Serving and learning form the dual mission of a Religious Life Office Service-Learning Trip. Students work on projects that benefit communities suffering material or social disadvantages; building relationships with those they serve, students learn about the world's needs and gain vocational self-understanding. Through guided discussions and journal writing, students explore their values and social concerns, beliefs and commitments, gifts and limitations. Service teams may be hosted by churches or other faith communities; however all activities are led in ways appropriate for individuals from any faith or non-religious perspective.

Costs

Student costs listed for each trip include lodging, food, transportation, and cultural outings. The costs also include any construction fees to the service agency. Students will also be asked to pay for passport fees, visas, vaccinations and meals in the airport. Personal spending money will also be needed.

Passport

A copy of an updated passport is required at the time of application for trips outside the U.S. Applications for international trips without passport copy attached will not be considered, and the passport must be valid six months beyond travel dates.

If you are abroad or on leave in the fall semester, you will not be able to apply for the January trips. If you are abroad or on leave in the spring semester, you will be unable to apply for the summer trips.

You must be a degree-seeking student at Hendrix to apply.

Application

The 2019 Application is available HERE.

You can also pick up a hard copy in the Religious Life Suite (SLTC 133) or email burris@hendrix.edu. 

Important Dates

• August 1
  Applications available
• August 28
  Service-Learning Trip Exemplars (Info. Meeting; 11:10am)
• September 10
  Applications due by 4:00 pm
• September 24 - October 5
  Interviews
• October 10
  Notification of acceptance
• October 17
  Trip deposits due
• December 2
  Houston Orientation (6:00-9:00pm)
  
• April 14
  Rwanda & New York Orientation (6:00-9:00pm)

2019 Trips

Houston, TX

January 6-12, 2019

Cost: $150 per student

Group participants will assist in the Hurricane Harvey Restoration Project in collaboration with Chapelwood, St. Luke’s, and St. Paul’s United Methodist Churches of Houston. The team will lodge at Chapelwood UMC and spend the week installing insulation and dry wall to help neighbors in the rebuilding efforts. Another service project will include participation in the East End Mission committed to “prayer, hospitality, and justice” in Houston’s East End neighborhood with Hendrix alumni Rev. Karyn Richards-Kuan ‘13 and Rev. Paul Richards-Kuan ’12.   

New York, New York

May 12-18, 2019

Cost: $350 per student

Youth Service Opportunities Project (YSOP) hosts college students for “meaningful service experiences” in hands on work and reflection throughout New York City. As a Quaker organization, YSOP seeks to be grounded in the Quaker values of respect, simplicity, and service with students from any faith or belief system and those who do not ascribe to any faith. Service projects include working with local community agencies to provide food and housing for those experiencing homelessness. Opportunities to see the sights of NYC will happen in the evenings and at the end of the week. 

Gashora, Rwanda

May 10-21, 2019

Cost: $600 per student

Passport Required!

The group will spend one week in Gashora, a small village in rural, South Rwanda and lodge at Gashora Girls Academy of Science and Technology, a long-standing partner of Hendrix. In the afternoons and evenings, Hendrix students will interact with the girls through their clubs and sports activities, and share the US college experience. During the days, the group will volunteer at the two other schools in Gashora (the public primary/secondary school and a boarding school for Muslim girls) to conduct English-language lessons and activities with the students. Other service work will include cleaning/maintenance projects requested by the schools. At the end of the trip, the group will explore Akagera National Park by safari as well as engage in Rwanda’s genocide and reconciliation history.

Past Service-Learning Trips

• Chincha, Peru
  Summer 2001, 2002, 2003 & 2008
• Kansas City, Missouri
  Spring Break 2002
  
• Boston, Massachusetts
  Spring Break 2003 & 2006
• Arlington, Texas
  Spring Break 2003
  
• Tarpum Bay, Bahamas
  Summer 2003, 2004, Spring Break 2008 & Summer 2012
• Taize, France
  Summer 2003, 2005, 2009 & 2013
  
• Chicago, Illinois
  Spring Break 2004 & 2012
• Shiprock/Santa Fe, New Mexico
  Spring Break 2004 & 2009
  
• Quesada, Costa Rica
  Summer 2004 & Winter Break 2006
• Ekaterinburg, Russia
  Winter Break 2005
  
• San Diego, CA/Tijuana, Mexico
  Spring Break 2005 & 2010
  
• San Francisco, California
  Spring Break 2006, Winter Break 2009 & 2013
• La Paz, Bolivia
  Summer 2006 & 2010
• New York, New York
  Spring Break 2007
• Koinonia Farms, Georgia
  Summer 2007
• Bagamoyo, Tanzania
  Summer 2007
• Pascagoula, Mississippi
  Spring Break 2008
• Beverly, Kentucky
  Summer 2008, Summer 2016
• Mekong Delta, Vietnam
  Summer 2009
• Dumas, Arkansas
  Spring Break 2010
• Poland
  Summer 2010
• Cuba
  Winter Break 2011
• New Orleans, Louisiana
  Winter Break 2011
• South Africa
  Summer 2011
• Birmingham, Alabama
  Summer 2011, Summer 2017
• India
  Winter Break 2012
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  Summer 2012
• Epworth by the Sea
  Spring Break 2013
• Alaska
  Summer 2013
• Dominican Republic
  Winter Break 2014
• Seattle, Washington
  Spring Break 2014
• Kosovo
  Summer 2014
• Guatemala
  Winter Break 2015
• New Orleans
  Spring Break 2015
• Arkansas Delta
  Spring Break 2015
• Pine Ridge Reservation
  Summer 2015
• Camp CAMP (San Antonio, TX)
  Winter Break 2016
• DOOR (Hollywood CA)
  Winter Break 2016
• Miami, FL
  Summer 2016
• Bahamas
  Winter Break 2017
• Washington DC
  Summer 2017
• Ferguson, Missouri
  Winter Break, 2018
• Taizé, France
  Spring Break, 2018
• Belize City, Belize
  Summer, 2018