Engaging students in diverse quality alternative breaks so they become active and educated members of society.
The University of Tennessee has held VOLbreaks community service trips for students since 1993. The VOLbreaks program gives students the opportunity to engage in direct service in collaboration with communities around the world. Students who participate spend their fall, winter, or spring breaks learning about critical challenges facing communities, interacting with local leaders, and performing short-term projects with community agencies.
“One of my goals has always been to leave our UT community better than I found it. Going on a VOLbreak has not only allowed me to make connections with awesome students/faculty on campus, but has also expanded my perspective to leave the global community better than I found it.”
Apply to lead a Fall 2023 VOLbreak! VOLbreaks FAQs
The Community Collaborator Continuum is the driving force behind what we do with VOLbreaks and is also why we utilize the 9 Components of Quality Community Engagement in our VOLbreak planning and execution. As illustrated with the model below, VOLbreaks can become much more than just memorable volunteer trips. These experiences can be a powerful catalyst for a transformed worldview where a volunteer’s perspective of their place in society changes to one of life-long social action.
