Jamaica ABE provides blend of service, community engagement

three people stand in front of a fence with two holding coconuts and one holding a machete
Emely Cruz-Ramirez, right, poses with fellow honors student Raghav Yelamanchili, left, and Dr. Katie Ford, Honors College associate dean, during one of the ABE trips to Jamaica.

East Carolina University students will take part in the third annual alternative break experience this May in Montego Bay, Jamaica, through a collaboration with the ECU Honors College, Amizade, and the ECU Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement.

On this trip, students will have the opportunity to experience Jamaican culture while giving back through service projects in the local cities. These projects are implemented, developed, and made possible by Amizade’s partner organization in Jamaica, the Petersfield Galloway Benevolent Society.

Emely Cruz-Ramirez, a current second-year honors student and computer science major, was looking to grow her global perspective through service and community engagement. She believed that the Jamaica trip would be a perfect combination of the two.

“The biggest motivation to participate in this trip for me was knowing that I would be experiencing Jamaican culture firsthand,” she said. “Not only would I be gaining an incredible experience, but I would also be giving back to their community through service, which I thought made this trip extra special.”

Growing up in a small town, Cruz-Ramirez admired Petersfield and Galloway’s commitment to unity, mutual support, and warmth. The kindness of the people in these communities is what continued to stand out to her throughout this experience. She emphasized that there is something truly special about these people and this place.

“This experience showed me that community engagement is not just about giving but also about learning and growing through shared experiences,” she said.

Cruz-Ramirez reflected on memories of Café trips watching the sunset with the people she had grown close with throughout the trip. She encouraged others to take the leap that she did and sign up in order to make their own amazing memories.

The signups are available until this Friday, February 7th through GivePulse.

She said, “This trip will challenge you, inspire you, and leave you with memories that will last a lifetime.