College of Charleston students will be leaving on May 10, 2010 for the College’s first Maymester Alternative Break service trip. They will be working in Rome, Italy for three weeks with La Città dell’Utopia on sustainability practices.

“Students were looking for a longer, more intense and culturally-focused experience, than they get during spring break,” said Stephanie Visser, interim director of the Center for Civic Engagement. “We chose a sustainability project because the students realize it is a quality of life issue – not just for us, but for future generations around the world.”

Specifically, the nine students and Visser, will work with La Citta dell Utopia on urban gardening, creating and hosting a sustainability fair and meeting with local sustainability focused organizations like the Degrowth Association. One day, they will even have a local ingredient bread and pizza making workshop.

When the service projects conclude, they will travel to Siena where they will stay on a farm and then they will head to Cinque Terre to do some hiking. They will be back in Rome for two days and spend one day in Naples and Pompeii, before returning to Charleston.

For more information, contact Stephanie Visser at 843.953.5854.