Melissa McMillan of Carupano, Sucre, Venezuela Spent Spring Break Serving Others

2013 Mar 11

Melissa McMillan of Carupano, Sucre spent spring break serving others as part of James Madison University's Alternative Spring Break program. McMillan, a senior sociology major, traveled to San Martin, El Salvador to volunteer at ASISAM.

Co-sponsored by JMU’s Department of Social Work, the students worked at ACISAM, a community mental health program. While in El Salvador the students visited several mental health facilities and worked with social work students from the National University of El Salvador. Additionally, the students traveled to San Martin and participated in service work to develop an understanding of the poverty and context of the challenges in the country.

The student-led ASB trips, scheduled for March 2-9, are each based on a social issue such as homelessness, environmentalism or community wellness. Over 300 students embarked on 30 spring break trips around the country and world. The students spend the week living simply, focused on service in their destination community but also on teamwork and reflection within their group.

For information about JMU's Alternative Break Program, including an interactive map showcasing past service trips and Community Service-Learning, check out http://www.jmu.edu/service/.