Akemi's Costa Rica Class Trip
Donation protected
Hello all, my name is Akemi and I am a 14 year old honors student graduating from KIPP Bridge Middle School in West Oakland, California. I was selected as one of thirty honor students to travel to Costa Rica to do humanitarian aid work as well as to enhance my learning experience, in the summer of 2016 (June 19-28th). I am very excited about this opportunity; however, I need assistance raising $3,500 by May of 2016, to pay for travel expenses for my trip.
As part of this trip, I am being given a unique opportunity to engage in humanitarian aid work. Several schools in the small impoverished towns surrounding San Jose, Arenal, and Monteverde are in disrepair. Many schools in these areas are in need of new roofing, paint, windows, lighting and more. I learned in Science that Costa Rica’s rainy season lasts for almost seven (7) months, so I can only imagine how hard it is to learn in schools where the roofs are leaking. Education is so important to me and in my school we have the advantage of learning in modern classrooms and buildings. I believe every child should have the opportunity to pursue a quality education in an environment beneficial to learning. Being able to help other children have the ability to learn in safe, bright, and child-friendly classrooms and schools is my way of giving back to the world and being the change and leader I hope to one day be!
My travel experience will undoubtable change my perspectives and enhance my education as a whole. While I am excited about helping to repair schools, I am also looking forward to seeing so many sights I have only had an opportunity to read about in text books. Specifically, I am interested to see the Afro-Costa Rican culture we learned about in Social Studies, which derived from the slave trade and the Spanish bringing Africans to Costa Rica prior to the abolition of slavery in Costa Rica in 1823. Additionally, I am curious to see the golden frog that we discussed in Science Class, a species of frog common to Monteverde and found at the Cloud Forest Reserve. I am especially excited about touring the Costa Rican Rainforests and seeing the dozens of micro-climates and species of animals living within. Last but definitely not least, I am truly looking forward to our visit to the Arenal Volcano, a volcano we learned about in Science Class, which is a stratovolcano and its last eruption was in 1968 after nearly 400 years of in activity.
I am working to raise funds for this trip and will be helping to pay a portion of the trip myself. As you know, I am a 14 year old student and raising funds of this scale is a challenge – which I embrace wholeheartedly but with which I could use a lot of assistance. Therefore, I am looking for donors, such as you, to sponsor a portion of my experience. My goal is to raise $3,500 by May of 2016. This money will cover my airfare, lodging, food, and ground expenses for the duration of my trip. Please note, any money’s raised over my goal will be used to assist other students in my school who were selected, but may not be able to afford the trip. I greatly appreciate any donation you are willing to contribute. Supporters like you are the reason this once in a lifetime trip is possible for me.
Again, thank you for supporting my trip and the enhancement of my educational experience. I cannot wait to share my experiences with all of you after my trip!
Akemi
As part of this trip, I am being given a unique opportunity to engage in humanitarian aid work. Several schools in the small impoverished towns surrounding San Jose, Arenal, and Monteverde are in disrepair. Many schools in these areas are in need of new roofing, paint, windows, lighting and more. I learned in Science that Costa Rica’s rainy season lasts for almost seven (7) months, so I can only imagine how hard it is to learn in schools where the roofs are leaking. Education is so important to me and in my school we have the advantage of learning in modern classrooms and buildings. I believe every child should have the opportunity to pursue a quality education in an environment beneficial to learning. Being able to help other children have the ability to learn in safe, bright, and child-friendly classrooms and schools is my way of giving back to the world and being the change and leader I hope to one day be!
My travel experience will undoubtable change my perspectives and enhance my education as a whole. While I am excited about helping to repair schools, I am also looking forward to seeing so many sights I have only had an opportunity to read about in text books. Specifically, I am interested to see the Afro-Costa Rican culture we learned about in Social Studies, which derived from the slave trade and the Spanish bringing Africans to Costa Rica prior to the abolition of slavery in Costa Rica in 1823. Additionally, I am curious to see the golden frog that we discussed in Science Class, a species of frog common to Monteverde and found at the Cloud Forest Reserve. I am especially excited about touring the Costa Rican Rainforests and seeing the dozens of micro-climates and species of animals living within. Last but definitely not least, I am truly looking forward to our visit to the Arenal Volcano, a volcano we learned about in Science Class, which is a stratovolcano and its last eruption was in 1968 after nearly 400 years of in activity.
I am working to raise funds for this trip and will be helping to pay a portion of the trip myself. As you know, I am a 14 year old student and raising funds of this scale is a challenge – which I embrace wholeheartedly but with which I could use a lot of assistance. Therefore, I am looking for donors, such as you, to sponsor a portion of my experience. My goal is to raise $3,500 by May of 2016. This money will cover my airfare, lodging, food, and ground expenses for the duration of my trip. Please note, any money’s raised over my goal will be used to assist other students in my school who were selected, but may not be able to afford the trip. I greatly appreciate any donation you are willing to contribute. Supporters like you are the reason this once in a lifetime trip is possible for me.
Again, thank you for supporting my trip and the enhancement of my educational experience. I cannot wait to share my experiences with all of you after my trip!
Akemi
Organizer and beneficiary
Amber Todd
Organizer
Oakland, CA
Akemi Marcelin
Beneficiary