Cross-Cultural Mission Experiences

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Dominican Republic

Children's Camp at a Spiritan Mission

San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic (August)

The cross-cultural experience to the Dominican Republic involves running a camp for small children at a Spiritan Mission in San Juan de La Maguana. At the Spiritan Mission students work with the teenagers of the community as well as learning about the Dominican culture. The students work with the teens by providing a day camp that includes craft projects, music, stories, and outdoor games and sports. In the evenings the group spends time with the teens and their families experiencing the culture through food, dance, and story sharing. Preference for this experience will be given to Spanish speakers

New Orleans

Hurricane Relief Work

March 3 to 10

In 2006, Hurricane Katrina devastated much of New Orleans. Recovery and reconstruction efforts are still in great demand. Students are encouraged to join an SCM team over Spring break to help New Orleans residents take one step further in rebuilding their homes and their lives. Students spend the week building homes, learning about the conditions of many of the areas in and around New Orleans before and after Katrina, and discussing the root causes of the issues that allow these conditions to persist.

More information on the recovery effort:

Office of Disaster Response for the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana www.edola.org
Catholic Charities New Orleans www.catholiccharities-no.org
News outlet www.nola.com

Immokalee, Florida

March 3 to 10

This cross-cultural experience involves an immersion into the lives of migrant farmworkers in the agricultural hub of Immokalee, Florida. Participants learn and serve in local social service agencies (e.g. tutoring in day care centers, working with Habitat for Humanity). Students will listen to the stories of farmworkers and organizations like the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) that assist them with advocacy in immigration, housing, material assistance, education and healthcare

Appalachian Experience

Baileysville, WV (March 1 - 5)

This annual trip to the southern coal fields region of West Virginia occurs during the first part of Spring break. Participants spend a few days working to improve housing conditions in and around the Appalachian community of Baileysville, W.V. and learn more about the people, the local economy and environmental conditions. Examples of work include home repair (no construction experience needed!) and work in a local food pantry. There will also be many opportunities to listen to the stories of local residents, an integral part of the experience. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to see another culture that's nearly in our backyard.

Pittsburgh Plunge

Pittsburgh, PA (March 1 - 5)

The Pittsburgh Urban Plunge is an immersion experience in which students see sights and sounds of Pittsburgh with which they may be unfamiliar, including the challenges of urban poverty, its impact on the local community, and the signs of hope that exist in the city. Students will serve at transitional homes for teens, food pantries, and homeless shelters among other social services as well as meet and reflect with people affected by poverty as well as those working for change. This is your chance to build bridges of understanding between Duquesne and our local neighborhoods!