J-Term VISION Trips
In this two- to three-week trip abroad, you'll have the possibility to explore the world and see issues of social justice beyond our context. Serve more intentional time and immerse yourself in the culture and the situations of the place you're serving.
J-Term 2025 Program Timeline:
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Program Applications: August 14, 2024 to October 18, 2024.
- Applications are due Wednesday, October 23, by 4 pm.
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Application Decisions: Will be communicated to applicants, along with scholarship information, by November November 1, 2024. .
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Participant Commitment:
- A non-refundable $250 deposit is due by December 6, 2024.
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Final Confirmation of Program Commitment:
- Due by participants at the Large Group Orientation on Saturday, December 7, 2024.
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Final Payment:
- Charged to student account in J-Term.
- Participants will receive a program bill by December 1st. A $250 non-refundable deposit must be paid by December 6th, and/or the full program bill must be paid by January 3, 2025.
- All Flights need to be confirmed by December 2, 2024. Once flights are confirmed students students are responsible for the cost of VISION program if student cancellation is requested. All cancellations must be submitted in writing. The VISION program follows the Study Abroad Policy for Travel Risk Cancellations.
Contact Information
You can direct any questions you might have to vision@stthomas.edu
We will get back to you as quickly as possible!
If you'd like to chat in person, we are located in the Center for the Common Good in ASC 207.
You can walk in and ask the person at the front desk about VISION.
We'd love to connect!
How to Apply
J-Term 2025 applications are now live.
You will need a valid passport for all J-Term experiences for 2025.
The Center for Working Families, Quito Ecuador
The Center for Working Families, Quito Ecuador
Program Dates: January 2, 2025 to January 11, 2025.
VISION in Partnership with BUSN 200 will be in Quito, Ecuador, offers Tommies a transformative opportunity for volunteering and cultural exchange rooted in the VISION values. At The Center for Working Families, Tommies will support vulnerable families by assisting with education, healthcare, food distribution, and workshops that empower adults to find employment or start their own businesses. The Center, with a 60-year legacy of putting faith into action, provides holistic support to families through education, healthcare, and economic empowerment programs. It serves as a beacon of hope in Quito, helping families break the cycle of poverty while fostering a strong sense of ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½. This experience highlights the importance of the ministry of presence and the impact of ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ in breaking the cycle of generational poverty. Through reflection and active participation, Tommies will contribute to meaningful change while deepening their understanding of global justice and solidarity, making a lasting impact on both the local ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ and their own personal growth.
This VISION trip cost will be updated by end of September.
We encourage all interested students to apply for the VISION program scholarships as part of the program application. Consideration will be given to applicants who exhibit substantial financial need as determined by the St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ financial aid office.
![VISION at the Border](/_media-library/jter-2024-vision-us-border.jpg)
Kino Border Initiative: Sonora Mexico & U.S. Arizona.
U.S. Mexico Border-Sonora Arizona and Sonora Mexico.
Program Dates: January 12, 2025 to January 17, 2025.
VISION will partner with the Kino Border Initiative. This Immersion experience will allow Tommies to cross the U.S. Mexico border into Nogales, Sonora, Mexico to volunteer and meet migrants and asylum seekers, accompany the Kino team in providing humanitarian services, while learning about the immigration system.
This VISION trip cost will be updated by end of September.
We encourage all interested students to apply for the VISION program scholarships as part of the program application. Consideration will be given to applicants who exhibit substantial financial need as determined by the St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ financial aid office.
San Cristobal de Las Casa, Mexico
San Cristobal de Las Casa, Chiapas, Mexico.
Program Dates: January 20, 2025 to January 30, 2025.
VISION in San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico, offers Tommies a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn about and experience aspects of Mayan life and culture, including food, spirituality, and their centuries-long and courageous struggle for justice. VISION participants will be able to engage with Mayan and Mestizo people in their communities, with those knowledgeable about the history of this beautiful place and nature in its abundance in this beautiful mountain region. The VISION participants will have the opportunity to work with recent Migrants to Mexico, to observe and learn what the role of the Catholic Church has been in supporting migrants, and to accompany and engage with Mayan children who work to help support their families. The volunteer engagement, exploration, reflection, and learning this opportunity promises to be transformative for you in your life!
This VISION trip cost will be updated by end of September.
We encourage all interested students to apply for the VISION program scholarships as part of the program application. Consideration will be given to applicants who exhibit substantial financial need as determined by the St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ financial aid office.
Scholarships
We never want money to be an obstacle to participation in a program. There are scholarships available that can cover a percentage of the total trip cost.
We encourage all interested students to apply for the VISION program scholarships as part of the program application. Consideration may be given to applicants who exhibit substantial financial need as determined by the St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ financial aid office.