While most college students take advantage of spring break to unwind or let loose, groups from University of California San Diego, University of Central Florida and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville decided to take part in a powerful, active alternative to the typical spring break instead.

 

Alternative Service Breaks (ASB) allow students to spend full week bonding with fellow students and impacting their extended community. The students from these three universities decided to use their ASB to not just imagine a world without hunger, but actively work toward one. The groups fully immersed in the issues surrounding food insecurity – a situation defined by the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods.

 

The group from University of California San Diego traveled to Boston to focus on food justice issues as they impact the development of individuals and communities both domestic and abroad. During their time in New England, the 12 students worked at Heifer International’s Heifer Farm learning about gardening, farming and live-stock and the need for enhanced efforts in sustainable agriculture.

 

To sharpen their global perspective, the group also got involved fighting world hunger and studying the justice of eating with Stop Hunger Now New England. Over the course of their break, students learned the detrimental effects global hunger has on our world and how even students hold the power to impact hunger in both their local and global communities.

 

From prepping for meal packaging events ingredients to engaging in meaningful conversation about the future of hunger relief, the students departed Boston with the knowledge and support to grow the hunger movement back home. The students are now excited to not only start raising awareness of global hunger, but by translating their newfound advocacy skills into real action by hosting their very own meal packaging event on campus in April.