CMU's chapter of Engineers Without Borders is part of a nonprofit organization working to reduce poverty and improve global sustainability.
Alternative Break Trips
Alternative Break trips are short-term immersive experiences designed to help students wrestle with a complex social issue(s), build a connection to a specific community and its citizens, and provide opportunities to address specific needs the community has identified. Students prepare for their trips by learning about both the community in which they will be working as well as explore the social issue(s) they will addressing. Throughout the trip students will reflect on the experience and their role as agents of change.
CMU Alternative Break trips take place during fall and spring breaks, as well as over the summer. The vast majority of service trips are student-led, planned by student organizations who have long-term partnerships with a community organization. Many prior student organization Alternative Break trips supported communities across the globe in countries such as in the Dominican Republic, Panama, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Rwanda, Haiti and more. Domestic opportunities, including a hyper-local trip focused on Pittsburgh, are also available.
Alternative Break applications become available early in the fall semester from the student organizations facilitating the alternative break trips. Trips can fill up quickly. To connect with and learn more about these student organizations, attend the Community Engagement Fair and The FAIR, or check them out on TartanConnect.
Pittsburgh Alternative Break
Students staying in town over Spring Break can participate in Pittsburgh Alternative Break, a week-long program designed to give students a more in-depth examination of social issues impacting Pittsburgh through hands-on projects, reflective learning discussions and cultural experiences. By supporting community-identified initiatives, participants gain the tools to support positive impact and long-term change in the local community.
Pgh Alt Break, as it’s commonly referred to, is a neighborhood-focused program. By spending the full week in one neighborhood, we can become more deeply acquainted with the community’s assets, learn from community leaders and residents who are driving change, and support the missions of local organizations striving to meet the needs of their residents.
Past Pgh Alt Breaks have been centered in Hazelwood, Larimer and the Northside. Applications typically become available several weeks into the spring semester.
2025 Pittsburgh Alternative Break Partners
Each year, approximately five to seven service trips are planned by student organizations advised by the Office of Community Engagement and Leadership Development and the Office of International Education (OIE).
In 2025, Pittsburgh Alternative Break focused on Northside neighborhoods, exploring displacement, gentrification, homelessness and community development. Students learned about the neighborhood’s history, culture, and community needs, while reflecting on their role as members of the community and how they could contribute to solutions.
The CMU chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) is part of a national, nonprofit organization with a network of more than 1,000 professionals and students working to reduce poverty and improve global sustainability. The chapter works on local and international engineering and sustainability projects to provide communities with tailored solutions to issues such as water distribution, water purification, power, shelter, sanitation and infrastructure improvement.
Global Medical Brigades is part of the international non-profit, Global Brigades, whose mission is to work with under-resourced global communities to resolve health and economic disparities. Global Medical Brigades focuses on medical outreach and education and supports free medical clinics in rural communities abroad while completing projects to sustainably improve public health. The chapter helped pioneer the vision station in its clinics, where they use auto refractors to determine patients’ prescriptions and provide glasses.
Juntos is a CMU organization that partners with an Bridges to Community, a non-profit organization that develops poverty alleviation strategies with local communities in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Each year, Juntos members develop two to four initiatives to address the concerns of their partner community. Initiatives range from education, health, environmental sustainability and art.
Habitat for Humanity provides CMU students with opportunities to participate in a variety of hands-on volunteer projects and exciting community events that assist in building or renovating affordable housing. Students make tangible contributions through local builds as well as on Alternative Break trips to sites in Colorado, Washington, Arkansas, and more.
Please be aware that the Office of Community Engagement and Leadership Development does not monitor or endorse the external websites listed on this site.