Sydni Gajewski Making a Difference Through Alternative Break Program

2014 Dec 22

Sydni Gajewski of Pottstown, Pa., is spending winter break working to help others in Reading, through an Alvernia University Alternative Break program. Gajewski is a Healthcare Science major at the university.

During the fall semester, Alvernia students participating in winter alternative break trips learned about the social justice issues they will likely experience this winter. These students are working to better understand the causes and effects of poverty, and to make a difference in society, as they travel to Cincinnati, Ohio, Philadelphia, Pa., Reading, Pa., and the Dominican Republic.

“Next door to the university and yet worlds away” is a phrase that encapsulates what students experience while ministering to people in the local Reading, Pa., area during winter break (Jan. 11-17). While assisting a variety of non-profit organizations, students are exposed to the vast social and economic inequalities that characterize the United States’ urban landscape, of which Reading is a poignant microcosm.

ALVERNIA is a fast growing Franciscan university, grounded in the Catholic and liberal arts traditions, that combines diverse academic opportunities with personal attention and an unmatched commitment to community service. Situated on a scenic 121-acre suburban campus in historic Berks County, Pa., the university supports a rigorous and caring learning community that is home to more than 3,000 students. For more information visit alvernia.edu.