Community Service: During and After College?

The days when college students were building houses for Habitat for Humanity have not been replaced. But, now there are options to build houses, or even schools halfway across the world in Kenya. An article in the New York Times reports that now students can receive funding for such projects. A new program at Duke University will offer students the opportunity, thanks in part to a $15 million gift from The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and matched by the Duke Foundation.

For students, this is an incredible opportunity to help make a difference on projects which they envision and carry out themselves. The President of Duke University, Richard H. Brodhead, told the NY Times that:

Such programs also recognize the importance of experience to complement what students learn in the classroom.

Once they complete their activities abroad or locally, the students will have gained an incredible experience which will shape their future. Will they continue with such efforts once they graduate? More importantly, ae their companies or graduate schools providing similar opportunities to engage in community service without having to worry about taking time off or funding challenges?