Making new friends while helping to change lives is an inspiring
experience—one that sets ours apart from other study abroad
programs. Service-learning is a distinctive part of St. John’s and
it is rooted in our Vincentian Catholic heritage of serving
others. Service- learning was inspired by St. Vincent de
Paul, the 17th- century priest who founded the Vincentian
order.
You’ll make a real difference through activities like serving
food in soup kitchens, mentoring school children and teaching
English. Spending time in volunteer environments, you’ll actively
engage with the people around you. Service activities are scheduled
regularly, so you can sign up for as many as you like.
Alex Shalan, Junior, College of Professional Studies says,
“Studying in three international cities was amazing. Rome is rich
with history and the classroom is literally the city. You can walk
down the street and actually witness history preserved. Paris is
very sophisticated and cosmopolitan. It’s very beautiful and
relaxed—no wonder Picasso, Chagall, Van Gogh and countless other
artists were inspired by the city. And Salamanca is just as
pleasing as the other two cities. It’s a university city and you
can witness how international college students live. A typical day
includes going to the Plaza Mayor to get tapas. I definitely got
used to this lifestyle.”