UofL students head to Belize for service-oriented spring break trip

This year’s spring break will consist of more than just fun in the sun for students in UofL's International Service Learning Program.

Last week, more than 30 ISLP students departed for a service trip to Belize.

While ISLP has visited several countries throughout the years, Belize is the original and the longest-running service trip. ISLP is an interdisciplinary program includes an intense focus on community service.

“ISLP exposes students to the world by immersing them into the local community through service learning and engaging experiences,” said ISLP program coordinator Nicole Rosskopf, who is also a participant on the trip. “This new perspective gives our students a better understanding of people and cultures around the world.”

While in Belize, 32 students will staff a dental clinic and will teach students in local schools. The students and faculty are from a variety of disciplines including nursing, law, dental, communication and criminal justice. Lesson plans will cover crime prevention, personal safety, dental hygiene, setting and achieving goals and STD and pregnancy prevention.

A few dental students will be working in the school, while the majority will be working in the dental clinic providing services for the community. Non-dental students will also be working in the clinic providing office assistance.

However, the trip won’t be all work. While in Belize, the students will visit the Lamanai Mayan Cultural Site and the Belize Zoo, as well as explore South Water Caye on an island expedition.

The students are blogging about their experiences. Follow their stories online.