Hi! My name is Charis Jeffries and I'm an 11th grader at Cass Technical High School in the city of Detroit! I decided to take a chance and apply to a study abroad program in Spain and guess what?! I got in! I was not only accepted in the program but also awarded a partial scholarship to attend. The key word here, is partial. I'm still in need of the funds to cover my remaining tuition, flight and personal expenses. I have worked hard throughout my young life, excelling academically, maintaining a job, keeping up with household responsibilities, being a youth leader at church and in school. I'm trying to be the best person I can be.

I want to go on this trip because it’s a once in a lifetime experience that not many young men, like me, get to achieve. I can witness so many things that will broaden my view on the way people live outside of my bubble in America, and I can gain a lot of insight. Having the chance to observe the culture of people different from me has always been something I wanted to do. I want to expand beyond just what I see on social media and immerse myself into the culture , while developing new relationships with people. I’ve never traveled outside the country before and only to limited places outside of my city. This is a chance I don't want to miss! I see great potential for growth and new perspectives. I also have no doubt that it will be a lot of fun and quite interesting.

I studied French in middle school, at the Foreign Language Immersion and Cultural Studies School (FLICS). I then switched over to Spanish in High School and will be enrolled in IB Spanish my senior year. My time in Spanish has enhanced my interest in the language and the culture, leading to deep interest in this summer abroad experience.

The cost of the program includes 4 weeks of housing, 3 meals each day, 24/7 support, international insurance, local transportation, and all scheduled activities and classes. The base trip cost is $7,050 USD, and the additional airfare will cost around $2,000 USD. My scholarship money covers $2,820 USD and I am picking up extra hours at work to put towards the trip as well.

I am hopeful that you would be willing to partner in with me and help fund this endeavor. Any amount would be appreciated. I'm grateful to God for this opportunity and to each and every one of you supporting me on this journey.