Students who choose to spend their spring breaks doing volunteer work may soon have more international options to choose from.

The directors of Manna Project, a service organization with which students travel to other countries to help communities become more sustainable, is currently reviewing evaluations of sites from this year's spring break to determine which sites may potentially become permanent.

Manna Project formerly offered only programs in Nicaragua and Ecuador, but may soon include sites in Argentina, Honduras, Belize, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic and Guatemala.

"The new sites, when established, will allow us to serve more groups of people and more diverse populations," said sophomore Jessie Bullock, director of sites for the program and a two-time program participant.

Manna Project is a volunteer activity that people can continue for any length of time, unlimited to semesters or the school year. To get more involved, volunteers can apply to be a program director at a site after they graduate.
Bullock said involvement in the program is a valuable experience.

"We go on spring break trips to do group service projects and do fundraisers and awareness campaigns on campus," Bullock said. "You can see firsthand all the works you're doing at home and every personal connection with the kids you're helping. (You can see you're) doing it for a reason."

Manna Project was started at Vanderbilt and has now expanded, starting chapters at eight other U.S. universities.