How should I best frame this EC?

Applying to College
1

Throughout high school, I participated in certain programs(through school), where for about 2-3 weeks a year, I would go to certain locations within my country and work with local groups and organizations to study, analyze, and help with certain problems specific to the area(examples include water scarcity, poverty,human rights, minimum wage, etc.).

What does this come under as an extracurricular activity, and how would you propose I frame it for applications. I truly feel the program was rather meaningful for me and “out of the box”.

Some claim such service trips are privileged, but I’d like to point out out that: It was for helping my own community, not an international trip, the trips were next not bought(they were voluntary opportunities offered by the organizations), and the only intention of the trips were learning and service.

2

Also, does this contribute well to my application as a whole?

3

My D did similar things while in HS in our community. Most of it was organized by her school or church. By junior year, she was a group leader for the school program. She classified it on her common app as volunteer work but incorporated aspects into some essays.

4

Of course it contributes to your app. You spent three years doing this for several weeks. It was important to you and it would harm your app not to mention it.

“XYZ organization, organize poverty relief, monitor scarcity of food, aid in distribution, record statistics, etc…” could be a way to frame it. Try to specify the roles you played while on these trips.