Siena's Costa Rica Exchange Program

Thank you so much for visiting my fundraising page. I hope that you will consider donating.

My name is Siena and I am a 16 year old high school student from Portland, Oregon. I have officially been accepted to participate in a six month AFS study abroad experience to Costa Rica. I am scheduled to leave in July of this year. For those of you who don’t know AFS stands for American Field Service and is a program that helps high school students find host families around the world and supports while they live and go to school in that country.

For years it has been my dream to travel and words cannot express my excitement at being accepted and actually having a departure date. I know that the people and adventures that await me, will forever influence my life choices. It is hard to believe that in a few months I will be on a plane on the way to changing the way that I see the world.

However, while it is going to be incredible and so worthwhile, the total cost of the program is $12,500 and I need support in funding the trip. I have also applied to scholarships and grants offered by AFS and am waiting to hear back.  I have been working hard to earn money in different ways. Last holiday season I doubled the number of craft fairs I usually do, I have some of my products in a local store that has given me space in support of my trip, and I have been babysitting a few times a week.  I also have an Etsy shop where I sell some of my handmade products: www.etsy.com/shop/NaturallyFun 

This experience will not be possible without donations from my loving family, relatives, friends, and anyone else who is so gracious to contribute to my passion for and belief in travel and cultural exchange as a life changing experience. Every little bit helps!

If you are curious to know more about the AFS program explore their website:  www.afsusa.org/

Thank you for all your support, financial and otherwise. I can't wait to see what this program has in store for me!