Hi! My name is Mckenzie, I’m 13 years old, and I live in Denver, Colorado. My school is offering an incredible opportunity for students to travel to Japan, and I’ve been dreaming about going ever since I first heard about it.

I’ve always wanted to see the world beyond where I live—to walk through the bright streets of Tokyo, learn about Japan’s beautiful traditions, and experience what life is like for kids my age across the world. This trip isn’t just about sightseeing—it’s about learning independence, understanding another culture, and seeing how big and amazing the world really is.

The total cost of this trip is $5,500, which is a lot for me and my family. I’m doing everything I can to help make it happen—I’ve started babysitting and am looking for a job to earn as much as possible on my own. But even with all my effort, I still need some help reaching my goal.

On this trip, I’ll fly from Denver to Tokyo and spend the first few days exploring the city—visiting ancient temples, seeing famous neighborhoods like Harajuku and Akihabara, and singing karaoke in Japan itself! From there, I’ll take an excursion to Hakone, where I’ll see the hot springs valley, ride the Hakone Ropeway, and cruise across Lake Ashi. Then I’ll ride the bullet train to Kyoto and visit beautiful shrines, bamboo forests, and the Golden Pavilion before heading to Osaka to explore the markets, try local food, and see the city from the Umeda Sky Building. After an unforgettable week, I’ll fly home filled with memories and new perspectives that I’ll never forget.

Every single donation, no matter how small, brings me one step closer to experiencing this once-in-a-lifetime trip. I’m so excited to explore, learn, and share everything I discover when I return home.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and support me—it truly means the world! ❤️

—Mckenzie