YMCA helps students get off the couch this spring break

As reported in the...

By Kara Kusunoki

Ka Leo Staff Reporter

Spring Break is right around the corner and a group of nine students have been planning all year for this break to arrive. The Atherton YMCA (located next to Volcano Joe's) started an Alternative Spring Break program in 2006 for interested O'ahu college students to participate in service projects during their spring break.

Last spring break, the ASB team went to Hong Kong and constructed a peace garden. This year, they will volunteer at an inner-city orphanage in Bangkok and then travel to Chiang-Mai where they will help participate in a Hilltribe community's renovation of a local school and library. The team members will homestay with members of the Hilltribe village.

The team managed to fundraise for their volunteer vacation through a car wash, yard sale, Thai clothing sale, dinner fundraiser and College Night dance parties at Lulu's in Waik?k?. The ASB team made $500 per person on the team, which covered a third of the entire cost for all team members.

Dominic Ippolito, a Kapi'olani Community College pre-business major, said that being a part of the ASB team helped him to realize that when being a member of a team, you have to work together to reach your common goal.

Leila Lagundino, a sophomore psychology major, traveled to Hong Kong with ASB last Spring Break and will travel to Thailand this spring.

"I have learned so much about myself," Lagundino said, "as well as gained valuable leadership skills. Participating in the program has taught me to take on many responsibilities and to work with the rest of the team."

The service project itself is the focal point of the program and creates a unique experience for the team members.

"I was able to get to know my team members and build trust with all of them," said sophomore Marinette Tadena. "This is important especially when they are the ones I will be asking for help when we are in Thailand."

The team hopes to make a difference in the world and help out another community in need. As for plans next spring break, they hope to either continue to build relationships with the YMCAs that they have already established service projects with and/or travel to South America to participate in a new service project.

According to Kathy Tran, director of the Atherton YMCA, next year's program will be more student-led, with student interests forming the program. Anyone who is interested in participating in next year's program can contact Atherton YMCA director Kathy Tran at 946-0289 or e-mail her at ktran@ymcahonolulu.org.