Hi there! My name is Farrah.

Those of you who know me probably already know that I'm notoriously terrible at asking for help. Due to a recent chain of events, I have been urged to reevaluate this perspective, daresay fear of mine. I thought "What if I set aside my ego and lay to rest this glorified notion of being completely independent? If I allow myself to be vulnerable, I can finally share with other people something that I feel is so incredibly important that I am inspired by passion and hope alone to ask for help." I redefined my perception of what it takes to seek a helping hand, and I recognize now that it is possible to ask for support without shame.

I invite you to my Gofundme campaign page today with open virtual arms to confide in you my vision and my passion, to share with you the opportunity I've been offered, and ultimately, to ask for your help.

I have been awarded the chance to travel to a village right outside Panama City called Kalu Yala for a three-month unpaid internship in outdoor recreation. Kalu Yala is a sustainable community which means that those who live in the village have adapted to a environmentally conscious and consistent lifestyle while also maintaining a specific occupancy so as to live among other species without wiping them out or you know, flipping the eco-system entirely.

Kalu Yala is an excellent demonstration of An idea shared by scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, professors, artists, and other like-minded people including myself. I was first introduced to this idea while reading the following passage in a book called "Ishmael" by Daniel Quinn:

"There is no one right way to live."

That day, Ishmael challenged 15-year-old me to imagine a lifestyle outside of our society and ultimately, a way of life that allows humans to coexist and alongside other species and flourish without harming them or the planet. Since then I have longed for the chance to explore and adapt and learn from this way of life. Kalu Yala is an incredible demonstration of this very concept successfully put to action.

I've been accepted into this program in Kalu Yala that doesn't allow more than 10 interns per season, which certainly makes this the opportunity of a lifetime. But I can’t continue these studies without support. I’ve been working hard for several months to save money so I could take this amazing educational adventure after boldly and hastily deciding to move to the city by myself which has turned out to be more of a challenge than I anticipated. I need to raise about $5000 for tuition — I’ve already raised 20% of that on my own. I faced the hard reality that this is all I can manage to fund on my own. That being said, I need your help. If you would consider donating through this gofundme campaign, whether it’s three dollars or three figures, you’ll have my deepest gratitude — and you’ll help me achieve my dream of learning how to make significant change in this world, change that will last. I know what I want to help achieve in the world with all the years of my life I have left, and I know spending the summer in Kalu Yala is just the beginning.

I hope for a sustainable future. I have faith in people and what we are capable of achieving with new minds and new programs. I've chosen to dedicate my life to help heal the planet and all its inhabitants. Kalu Yala is where I am meant to begin my work. Won’t you please join me on this journey, and help me get there?

And a special thank you to the friends who push me outside of my comfort zone toward the things I believe in most.

Farrah "Nuff" Graesser