Bonner Leaders at the College of Charleston will be spending part of their winter break experiencing a new culture through service. The week of December 15, 2011, nine freshmen and sophomores will travel to Puerto Rico and the week of December 28, 2011, 11 juniors and seniors will travel to Peru for 11 days. Watch a video. The Bonner Leader Program is a four-year service and leadership development program that promotes a culture of service and civic engagement on campus and around the world.

While in Puerto Rico, Bonner Leaders will go to the only North American rainforest to help rehabilitate a trail damaged during Hurricane Irene. Students will also work in a substance abuse shelter for teenagers and make repairs and upgrades to a school for the deaf. This destination was chosen for the variety of service projects available and the opportunity to experience a new culture while in the United States.

While in Peru, students will help the residents of Pisco to construct new homes after the region was devastated by an 8.0 magnitude earthquake that destroyed 80% of the homes. The students will also have the opportunity to work with children in schools and assist with a biodiesel program. Bonner Leaders will get to spend a few days exploring ancient Incan civilization at Machu Picchu to learn more about the country’s history and culture.

“An Alternative Winter Break trip is more than just an opportunity for service,” says Stephanie Visser, director of the Center for Civic Engagement. “For many students, it is their first time traveling out of the country. They are able to explore issues that affect another community and get a global perspective that is so important in their education – and their ability to relate to others.”

The Bonner Leader Program offers students a scholarship in exchange for a four-year commitment that pairs real-life work experiences in area nonprofit organizations with powerful leadership development training and education that help students transition from volunteers to leaders in their community. At the College of Charleston, each Bonner Leader performs upwards of 300 hours of community service and leadership development training over the course of the school year.

This year, Bonner Leaders are working in many different nonprofit organizations and focusing on various social justice issues. They are assisting organizations like the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry, Darkness to Light, the Charleston Parks Conservancy and the American Cancer Center’s Hope Lodge. They are working with after-school program tutoring, designing lesson plans, teaching entire classrooms and serving as mentors to children in the Charleston area.

In April, the Bonner Leaders will present their annual Engage and Empower awareness week for the College of Charleston. During the week there will be a series of student-planned awareness events that focus on five different social justice issues. The campus community will not only learn about a variety of important issues, but also help Bonners as they develop into leaders.

For more information, contact Stephanie Visser at 843.953.5854.