DATES:   Monday, May 12, 2008  to  Wednesday, May 21, 2008  (Ten days)
                 (Starts the day after Graduation)

Recruitment for next year's May 2009 program will begin in November 2008.

Purpose of Ignacio Volunteers:  

•          TO LEARN:  To provide an international volunteer service opportunity for students of Loyola University New Orleans.    The program is designed to give participants an exposure to the Jamaican culture and the political, sociological, economic and spiritual issues of the Caribbean and developing world.   

•          TO HELP:  To provide support and assistance to the people of Kingston, Jamaica.    Participants will work with those of the greatest need, which include the impoverished & challenged, and the disadvantaged young and the elderly.  

EXPLANATION OF PROGRAM:                 

• Ten to twelve Loyola students will be invited to participate.  There will also be two staff (Team Leader and graduate student / recent alum) selected from previous Ignacio Volunteer trips who will assist in leadership.  

• Participants will work at several social service sites working with the elderly or the young in Kingston, Jamaica. 

• The volunteer work sites can vary, but past sites include: 

• a home for the elderly and homeless run by Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity;  
• St. Margaret's, a community center with a school for at-risk children, health clinic, meals for elderly, and sewing shop for young girls;
• Riverton City Catholic Early Education Centre, a school for young (age 2-6) children, located at a shanty town settlement built on the old Kingston garbage dump;  
• Bustamante Children's Hospital, where volunteers tutor children.

 

The type of work will vary at each site, and include helping serve meals, washing/shaving, entertaining or writing letters, tutoring or sports & games, painting/ cleaning/ fixing up.

To see photos of previous Jamaica Experience trips CLICK HERE

COST:

 

• The cost of the trip is $1,200 which covers air transportation (New Orleans /Kingston) local transportation, housing and meals for the entire week.    Volunteers fundraise as a group and individually.  There are 'Magis' Grants available for those who may fall somewhat short in fundraising.  

• $100 nonrefundable deposit is required upon acceptance.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Participants will meet weekly after the required retreat, at a convenient time for all.   Meetings will range from discussions of history/culture/economics of Jamaica to community building activities, and fundraising strategy sessions.   There will be a reflection at each meeting.   There will also be a required service day in the NO area.

• There will be a required Orientation overnight retreat, held early in the spring semester.  If you cannot attend this retreat, then please do not apply to the program.

• Participants will need a Hepatitis A vaccine immunization( if you do not have one.)  Optional immunization is to start the Hepatitis B vaccine. 

• U.S. Passport required or the appropriate visa if the participant is not a U.S. citizen.

RECRUITMENT for the May 2009 program will begin in November 2008.

For further information on this or other programs, contact Fr Ted Dziak, S.J.

at the Jesuit Center (x2304) or email: Jesuit@loyno.com

Updated May 31, 2008