NDBridge is an eight-week Institute for Social Concerns summer program for freshmen during which students are sent in groups of four to both national and international sites to do community service with partnering organizations.
“Thousands of students have participated in this signature experience. In fact, many of the recent participants have parents who took part in the same program,” said Emily Garvey, assistant director at the Institute for Social Concerns.
Garvey explained that during their time in the program, students explore ethics in various contexts and their responsibility to drive social change.
“NDBridge gave me an experience I will never forget and will cherish forever,” sophomore Joe Robuck said.
He explained that from June through July last summer, he served as a live-in caregiver, helping him grow in the healthcare field and gain a deeper understanding of how he can support marginalized populations.
“While the diversity of NDBridge sites renders it difficult to assign a single definition to the program, it can best be described as a means by which students cognizant of social issues are able to partake in an immersive learning and service experience to form them into better world citizens,” Robuck said.
Sophomore Sydney Park was placed at The Alliance for Positive Change in New York, a community nonprofit that provides care to people living with HIV and other chronic illnesses. Park shared that this project was an eye-opening experience for her.
“NDBridge made me realize even more that the traditional healthcare system is not built for underrepresented communities,” Park said. “Even when we tried to connect people to free insurance, they were still ineligible because they didn’t have a home address or a phone number.”
Rita Barhouche, another sophomore, worked at Claver House, a site that focuses on building educational and community engagement in The Ville neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri. She helped to run a STEM summer camp during her time there, leading the kids through hands-on and engaging experiences. They explored STEM-related topics by practicing the coding language Python and launching model rocket kits, while also working on creative crafts and going on fishing trips.
Barhouche noted that the environment promoted a close-knit community, and she still keeps in contact with the Notre Dame students she lived and worked with through the program.
Many practices have been implemented to promote the safety of those going on the trips, Garvey explained. Students attend training before leaving for their sites to ensure they are prepared for various situations they may encounter, covering topics including Title IX, CPR and country briefings.
“Wherever students go, they have a web of support that includes their site contacts, faculty mentors and of course, a team of Institute for Social Concerns staff,” Garvey said.
Students serve in dozens of sites across five continents.
“NDBridge changed my life, and I wouldn’t give up the experience for anything,” Robuck said.
