EDUCATION + REFLECTION + DIRECT ACTION --> LIFELONG ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP

Break Away programs teach participants to examine the root causes of social problems. While we cannot replicate the important pre-trip meetings that undergird our campus-based alternative break model for lifelong active citizenship during the ABCs, we do incorporate education on relevant issues. Since the training is experiential in nature, every ABCs week focuses on a particular social concern. Participants learn about the issues through reading, discussion, hands-on activities, and daily reflection sessions. Workshops train participants to replicate these quality components within their local alternative break programs.

WORKSHOPS

The ABCs address issues of site selection and development, diversity, recruitment, finances and fundraising, liability, alcohol use, group development, conflict resolution, leadership and facilitation skills, orientation, social issue education, skills training, reflection, reorientation, and more. However, the true strength of the ABCs lies in the flexibility and responsiveness of the trainers and facilitators. Workshops are tailored on-site, in order to meet the specific needs of the participants in attendance. Click on this link to read workshop objectives for a selection of the sessions that will be presented (this list does not include the experiential components of ABCs, such as reflection sessions, speaker panels, group-building, service projects, etc.).

SERVICE PROJECTS

Each ABCs focuses on a different issue. For example, at the 2006 ABCs in San Francisco, we worked with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation to explore HIV/AIDS issues. At one of the 2005 ABCs in Chicago, we worked with the Will Feed Community Organization and REST to address issues related to hunger and homelessness. ABCs participants generally volunteer for 15 hours during the training week, donating an average of 800 hours of service to each local community. Please see the sample schedule for more information.

LEARNING COMPONENTS

At each ABCs, participants have maximum interaction with the community-based organization/service project site. Education (issue specific learning), orientation (organization and community specific learning), and training (skills specific learning) materials/activities that help participants understand the social issues, agencies, and communities they will be working with will be distributed/conducted before and during the trip. These three learning components are part of Break Away's Eight Components of a quality alternative break, essential to any effective alternative break program.

REGISTRATION - Summer, 2009

Registration is limited to 48 participants per week-long session to maintain an intimate atmosphere conducive to idea sharing and team building. Participants are divided into four small groups, including two co-Site Leaders, to replicate the small group dynamic of a quality alternative break. A variety of activities are employed throughout the week to encourage as much interaction and hands-on learning as possible.

Registration includes all meals (17), lodging (6 nights), on-site transportation, and a comprehensive training binder with all workshop materials and sample documents for the entire week. Participants interested in arriving early or staying late should make their own arrangements to do so. Registration forms will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Payment must be received (or proof of payment, such as a purchase order) before registration forms can be processed.

Registration forms received by May 8th will receive early bird discounts. June 5th is the final registration deadline. Please fax all registrations to Break Away, our fax number is 404.348.4337.

* Online payments will automatically include the extra 2.9% that PayPal charges to process credit cards.