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