Help Me Teach in Belize
Donation protected
My name is Isaac Kimmel. I grew up in Robstown, TX, and attended high school at St John Paul II HS in Corpus Christi. This past May, I graduated from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.
My ultimate goal is to become a sociologist, traveling the world and conducting studies on the flaws in modern societies, the misunderstandings between them, and how we as persons can move forward and help each other become whole on a societal scale. If I'm going to be able to figure out how to help people on that grander scale, though, I need to get my hands dirty, meeting the less fortunate where they are and learning by immersion. To that end, I worked last summer at Our Lady of Refuge parish in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico (see picture), and I'm spending this upcoming year as a teacher at John Paul II Junior College in Benque Viejo del Carmen, Belize. In both Mexico and Belize, I'm working with the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, a missionary order founded in 1958 that dedicates itself to working in "areas of deepest apostolic need". Belize, with its high rates of violent crime and economic inequality and limited access to higher education, definitely qualifies. I'm both honored and humbled at the prospect of service there.
That's where you come in. I've crunched the numbers several times, and as it stands now, I have /just/ enough money to make the necessary payments on my student loans for the next year and get to Belize. Once I'm down there, I'll have room and board and a small stipend for toiletries, but I have basically zero financial flexibility, especially if I should need to fly home unexpectedly for some reason. If I were to reach my fundraising goal here on GoFundMe, it would make it possible for me to take advantage of untold opportunities in Belize. More than that, though, it would be a HUGE boost to my peace of mind, allowing me to focus on serving my students and the local community without worrying as much about my financial stability.
My plane ticket south is paid for; I leave on August 6. If I had another $1,200 on hand by September 1 or so, I would be able to plan out the rest of my year abroad with a great deal more confidence. Many thanks to all of you in advance, and know that you'll remain in my heart and in my prayers as I strive to help the people and nation of Belize through education, and hopefully allow them to teach me about Christ and humanity in return.
My ultimate goal is to become a sociologist, traveling the world and conducting studies on the flaws in modern societies, the misunderstandings between them, and how we as persons can move forward and help each other become whole on a societal scale. If I'm going to be able to figure out how to help people on that grander scale, though, I need to get my hands dirty, meeting the less fortunate where they are and learning by immersion. To that end, I worked last summer at Our Lady of Refuge parish in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico (see picture), and I'm spending this upcoming year as a teacher at John Paul II Junior College in Benque Viejo del Carmen, Belize. In both Mexico and Belize, I'm working with the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, a missionary order founded in 1958 that dedicates itself to working in "areas of deepest apostolic need". Belize, with its high rates of violent crime and economic inequality and limited access to higher education, definitely qualifies. I'm both honored and humbled at the prospect of service there.
That's where you come in. I've crunched the numbers several times, and as it stands now, I have /just/ enough money to make the necessary payments on my student loans for the next year and get to Belize. Once I'm down there, I'll have room and board and a small stipend for toiletries, but I have basically zero financial flexibility, especially if I should need to fly home unexpectedly for some reason. If I were to reach my fundraising goal here on GoFundMe, it would make it possible for me to take advantage of untold opportunities in Belize. More than that, though, it would be a HUGE boost to my peace of mind, allowing me to focus on serving my students and the local community without worrying as much about my financial stability.
My plane ticket south is paid for; I leave on August 6. If I had another $1,200 on hand by September 1 or so, I would be able to plan out the rest of my year abroad with a great deal more confidence. Many thanks to all of you in advance, and know that you'll remain in my heart and in my prayers as I strive to help the people and nation of Belize through education, and hopefully allow them to teach me about Christ and humanity in return.
Organizer
Isaac Kimmel
Organizer
Robstown, TX
