Welcome to… Branch Out International

Branch Out Vision: To create a community of active and educated individuals dedicated to the pursuit of social justice. Branch Out Mission: Branch Out will engage students in diverse quality alternative breaks so that they become active and educated members of society. Who are active citizens?

Branch Out Regional Day or Weekend Trips throughout Virginia & surrounding states Trips are offered year round Sign up is on a first come, first serve basis First Trip is coming soon! How to get involved: – Look out for the sign-up links on the Volunteer listserv and Student Happenings – Add Branch Out on Facebook – Give us your ! (sign up after meeting)

Offers you a chance to develop knowledge about key social issues, participate in meaningful direct service in diverse communities in the Eastern US, and explore possibilities for future engagement. 12 Students (2 SL, 10 Particpants) Issue diversity – Educational Inequality – Affordable Housing – Environmental Sustainability – Community Development – Workers Rights Location diversity – Urban – Rural Cost: $250 (possibility for financial aid) Branch Out National

General Timeline-BON Friday: Site Leader Applications Available – General issue areas for trips finalized by SL Application due date September 20: Site Leader Applications Due September 20-27: Site Leader Interviews – Specific trips finalized by interviews Fall Break (approx): Site Leaders Selected Lottery for Participants: Upon return from Winter Break Pre-trip educational and organizational meetings during February and Early March Spring Break!: Trips

Branch Out International! Alternative breaks that provide opportunities for students to learn through mutual service in collaboration with communities outside the United States. We’ll let each of the trips tell you what they do individually, but FIRST……

Application Process Find the application on-line at – – OR search “Branch Out International” on WM Search Bar ALL applications to no later than 8 pm on Sunday, September 11. Interviews will take place between Sept 12-21, and teams will be announced Sept 24 th. The subject line MUST include, in this order: Name of trip(s) you’re applying for (First Choice, Second Choice), Last Name, First Name.

What am I committing to? Team Meetings and Fundraisers Reorientation: (dates TBA!) Day of Service Dinner Substance Free Policy Completion of Liability and Health documents Must be completed within 48 hours of selection! BOI fundraising events: Auction: Nov 10 Letter Writing Party: Date TBA

Financial Aid Application due 10/3, application will be online at Limited funds are available. Awards are made based on need and application Decisions made 10/10, checks available in November

Students Helping Honduras Location: El Progreso, Honduras Issue being addressed: “We carry out multiple projects each year focusing on education as well as improving the quality of life of children in Honduras.” Total cost per participant before fundraising: $1200 Total cost per participant after fundraising: $ Trip dates: March 3 – March 11, 2012

William and Mary Medical Relief Trip Dates: January 1 st through January 15 th, 2012 Total Trip Cost before fundraising: $1900 Average Trip Cost after fundraising: about $1050 William and Mary Medical Relief recruits early each SPRING; applications for the 2013 team will be available next February We work with International Service Learning to provide medical aid and care to impoverished neighborhoods in Managua, Nicaragua We set up free clinics to help address some of the medical needs of the community and seek to educate William and Mary Students about the issues concerning global health care

william & mary [haiti compact] Port-au-Prince & Cap Haitian, Haiti January 2012 Issues: Advocacy, Public Health, Empowerment $2,000 per person (before), $1,000 per person (on average, after fundraising)

Jinotega, Nicaragua Our mission : to transform the lives of students, families, and communities within Nicaragua through the education of orphaned, abandoned, and disadvantaged children. Our main focus is to provide English education and a safe environment for these children to grow and learn. Dates : January 7 th -14 th, 2011 Cost per person : $800 plus airfare (approximately $500) Total cost per person after fundraising : $0 to $800 (very dependant on team and individual effort!) We hope to hear from you soon! Trip leaders Delaney and Danielle (contact Delaney at

Bridges to Community -Average cost: $1,295 plus airfare Airfare is roughly $500 depending on time of purchase Projected cost with fundraising is about 50% Deposit amount: $250 due October 1st All payments are tax-deductable Trip Date: January 2012 Improving the lives of Nicaraguans by constructing safe and stable homes and community spaces that provide many health, economic, and educational benefits. - Trip participants will live and work within the Nicaraguan community providing a cultural and personal experience

Student Partnership for International Medical Aid () Student Partnership for International Medical Aid (SPIMA) Issue: Public Health: This year we will be working with a community to build a public toilet as well as provide health education and other public health initiatives Where & When: Hohoe, Ghana Right after graduation 2-3 weeks Cost: $2,200 (w/ fundraising = $1,400)

Team Name: William & Mary Global Village Project Location: El Salvador or Guatemala (Not yet Confirmed) Issue Addressed: Affordable Housing Average Cost Per Participant, Pre-Fundraising: $1,800 Average Cost Per Participant, After Fundraising: $100 Trip Dates: Spring Break (March 3-11) Contact us at

AIDSTanzania Where: Arusha, Tanzania What: HIV/AIDS Education and Testing Dates: 2 weeks during January of Winter Break Cost: varies year to year Before fundraising: $2000 After fundraising: $1200 Apply in the spring!

Serving communities in Anse-a-pitre, Haiti and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic We will work to understand the causes of infectious disease in under-served communities while using health education along with clinical aid to combat illness. Cost of trip before fundraising: $1400+airfare Cost after fundraising: $900+airfare Dates: May 16-25, 2012 William and Mary Medical Relief: Haiti

Other Great Trips! Student Organization for Medical Outreach and Sustainability (SOMOS) – Public health, social equality – Winter break –  Freshmen only, Sept. 11 deadline Medical Aid Nicaragua: Outreach Scholarship (MANOS) – Water availibility, medical aid – Winter break –  Freshmen only, Sept. 11 deadline Catholic Campus Ministries, Baptist Collegiate Ministries, WM professors, etc.

Questions? Contact us! – – Blow Hall, 320 – – Contact info for all team leaders is available at