Dear Family and Friends,

As many of you know, I just started my senior year at Model Secondary School For The Deaf in Washington DC.

Last winter, I applied to the Cultural Exchange Program and I am thrilled to announce that I have been accepted! The trip this spring (April) will be to Portugal and will be coordinated by Hands on Travel, who provide unique deaf tours around the world for people using sign language.

We’ll start and end our trip in Lisbon and have the amazing opportunity to meet deaf leaders and youth and learn about the Portuguese deaf association history and advocacy efforts.

We’ll also spend time exploring the Algarves and Porto, seeing historical sites like Óbidos Castle and Village.

I feel so extremely fortunate for this chance to learn more about other cultures and to share our culture with them.

A trip like this is once in a lifetime and comes with its share of costs for which I’m saving. To help me reach my goal of $4,000, I also decided to start this GoFundMe. I would be so

grateful for any contributions, big or small, that help me to realize this trip.

Thank you so much in advance/Obrigada!

Mirella Frijmersum Di Pietro