New program offers volunteer experience
The original home of the Olympic Games will host a new University of Indianapolis Spring Term course.
A group of UIndy alumni and current students will serve as Special Olympics volunteers from June 24 to July 5.
Coined “Voluntourism” by the International Division and Alumni Relations, this group will volunteer at the Special Olympics World Games and explore and tour Athens, Greece and the island of Aegina.
The International Division and the Office of Alumni Relations worked together to create this program, and the trip meets the UIndy motto of “education for service,” according to Monica Woods, executive director of alumni relations.
By building relationships between alumni and current students, the Voluntourism trip provides a new experience for alumni and students. The trip also is unique in that the UIndy group may be the only volunteer group travelling to the games from the U.S.
Working with the Special Olympics World Games in Athens provides a new service opportunity for the group.
“If you volunteer, you’re going to take ten times more away than you’re going to put in,” said Michael Furnish, president and CEO of Special Olympics Indiana.
A long-time volunteer with Special Olympics, Furnish first started volunteering when the Special Olympics came to his college campus.
Similarly, Dave Breen, director of sports management for the Special Olympics, is drawn to this trip for its ability to create lifelong volunteers.
“It is a great experience to be with a bunch of people in one place for one cause” Breen said.
The group will include 25,000 volunteers and 40,000 family members from around the world, according to a promotional video for the World Games.
Four Hoosier athletes will represent the state by competing in golf, swimming, track and field and equestrian events.
Aside from the service aspect of this trip, students and alumni will have an opportunity to experience Greek culture and explore on their own. Following each eight-hour day of work at the various Greek sites, the group is able to explore historical sites such as the Acropolis, the Plaka area and Syntagma Square.
About 75 percent of the trip will consist of volunteering while the other 25 percent will be touring, according to Woods. On days eight to ten of the trip, volunteers will see the Temple of Poseidon, a sunset at Cape Sounion and have freedom to explore the sites of Aegina.
On their last full day in Greece, the UIndy group will join Athenians, athletes, family members and fellow volunteers for the World Games Closing Ceremony in Athens’ Kallimarmaron Panathinaikon soccer stadium.
The information meeting on Thursday, Jan. 27 drew a number of students. One of those students was Chrissy Stephens, a junior psychology pre-occupational therapy major. Having the chance to work with disabled childrren drew her to the meeting.
“It’ll definitely open up my eyes to different people, different cultures and different experiences,” Stephens said.
The Voluntourism trip allows students to travel internationally, earn academic credit and gain volunteer experience.
“It sounds really, absolutely amazing,” said Study Abroad Advisor Breezy Wente.
Director of the International Division Mimi Chase agrees.
“The whole idea of Spring Term is to get students out there to get a taste of the world.”
