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Serve Beyond Cincinnati is a University of Cincinnati student group that strives to do more than watch the world turn. We are completely organized by and comprised of college students who want to see real change. SBC engages UC students in multicultural world service experiences through participation in construction projects that increase quality of life.

Our first focus is being involved in projects that improve living conditions, education, health, and introduce appropriate technology to communities. This is usually accomplished through the construction of housing, school buildings, community and sanitation structures, and water management systems. Through interacting and working alongside locals, we encourage the continuation of local improvement projects.As a student organization, our second focus is to inspire and empower students to positively impact the communities of the world throughout their lives. SBC members are immersed in real world situations and cultures. SBC encourages participants to apply their experiences to the skills they are developing in college and use them throughout their lives. We are a generation of change and we have the power to mold the international image of American students. SBC is designed to graduate a community of leaders and global citizens who will go out into the world with a will to generate change.

As a student organization, our second focus is to inspire and empower students to positively impact the communities of the world throughout their lives. SBC members are immersed in real world situations and cultures. SBC encourages participants to apply their experiences to the skills they are developing in college and use them throughout their lives. We are a generation of change and we have the power to mold the international image of American students. SBC is designed to graduate a community of leaders and global citizens who will go out into the world with a will to generate change.

We currently have sent groups to El Salvador, Guatemala, Louisiana, Alabama, Cameroon, Texas, and Mexico.  The teams are usually comprised of 10-15 students with two students as "trip leaders."  The trip leaders are chosen early in the year and are responsible for much of the "predeparture planning" and fundraising. 

Besides the alternative breaks, we also do a lot of local service around the Cincinnati area.  In the past, we have done weekend trips to Kentucky where we did small scale construction projects.  We also have weekly trips to local soup kitchens.  One major event that we do is the Peanut Butter and Jelly Marathon.  For this event, we talk to local vendors and get supplies (peanut butter, bread, etc.) donated.  We then set up tables along our "Main Street" and get people to stop and make a sandwich for the local food pantry.  The idea is that it only takes 30 seconds to help someone.  We are trying to promote awareness about hunger by getting students to stop on their way to and from class to make a PB and J.

To really explain who we are, our journal reflections from trips would probably explain us the best.  Here are a few:

"So today I realized that this is the single greatest thing I have ever been apart of."  This is stil the beginning of this journey and I have already been moved to chills and some teary eyes.  The fon told us that we were the link to America that he has been hoping for all of his life.  Just think about that, 8 students in their early 20's, the link to a tiny village in Africa.  It is crazy to think we have the capability of being that link ... the capability of changing so many lives."

"I have learned a lot on this trip. More than in previous years. Two years ago in Carboneras, the poverty was surreal to me. It definitely didn’t hit me as hard, because it seemed just like a movie. This year, even though I knew this before, I realized that their life of poverty doesn’t end when we leave. They live with 8 people in a house the size of my living room at home, not very many people seem to have any kind of plumbing and very few have running water. It is there way of life."

"Our being here has incited so many positive changes for the town. I had no idea we were going to make such an incredible impact on so many people. I feel like I could burst from all the love I've experienced on this trip. These people are my family. I'm so glad I've found them and I want to thank everyone I've come in contact with."

"Not only was her generosity inspiring to me, but her passion for her community encouraged me even more, to consider the impact of our presence in Omega. Despite her feeble body, she eagerly walked me to the houses of her friends and neighbors, and told me about how excited she was that we have come to the community. Her face was glowing as she told me about the progress that she had seen on both her house, and the others as well. As Willie had conveyed earlier, I can now see that our work in Saltillo involves much more than just giving people homes. In reality, we are giving a community a sense of hope."

Related Links:

• Serve Beyond Cincinnati Homepage
• SBC on The Fuller Center Website
• SBC Article on UC Website

* YouTube video views since this project was published at TrueHero.com