West Side HS students head East!
Donation protected
My name is Amit Khatkhate, and I'm a high school teacher on the West side of Chicago. I'm raising money for some of my students to go on a cultural immersion trip to China during Spring Break this April.
I have taught for nearly four years at DRW College Prep, where two students are confirmed attendees, assuming we can reach our fundraising goal, which I KNOW we can! The cost is about $2930 per student, and I committed to paying the $95 enrollment fee for each student, so the total trip balance due to EF Tours is $5,670. The remaining $830 will go towards GoFundMe's fees, as well as passport and visa fees. The two students have been saving up their own money for clothing and personal spending. We are hoping to get some luggage loaned out to them, in order to save some costs there.
The video spotlights Gabi Williams and Jerome Sanders, two students that have demonstrated great resilience, overcoming personal adversity and remaining committed to their education, despite obstacles that might try to convince them to do otherwise. A year ago, the idea of going on this trip was laughable to one and a quickly forgotten pipe dream to the other. I didn't promise them I'd raise the $5670 needed to send at least these two, but I promised I'd put my old-man video editing skills to work if they'd record a few clips! I think I did a decent job? :)
If you've ever been abroad, you know that the experience is one that provides far more than unique photos and sick (err...lit?) Facebook status updates. Rather, it opens up one's mind to entirely new perspectives and possibilities. For a young person, especially one that has barely traveled outside the city of their birth, the impact of a trip like this is undoubtedly life-changing.
I can go on and on about how amazing our kids are (and if you're interested, please e-mail me, hah), but I've blabbed on long enough. Honestly, any contribution you can make would be greatly appreciated by the students, their families, and myself.
Thanks for reading, and if you haven't already, check out the video!
- Mr. Khatkhate
I have taught for nearly four years at DRW College Prep, where two students are confirmed attendees, assuming we can reach our fundraising goal, which I KNOW we can! The cost is about $2930 per student, and I committed to paying the $95 enrollment fee for each student, so the total trip balance due to EF Tours is $5,670. The remaining $830 will go towards GoFundMe's fees, as well as passport and visa fees. The two students have been saving up their own money for clothing and personal spending. We are hoping to get some luggage loaned out to them, in order to save some costs there.
The video spotlights Gabi Williams and Jerome Sanders, two students that have demonstrated great resilience, overcoming personal adversity and remaining committed to their education, despite obstacles that might try to convince them to do otherwise. A year ago, the idea of going on this trip was laughable to one and a quickly forgotten pipe dream to the other. I didn't promise them I'd raise the $5670 needed to send at least these two, but I promised I'd put my old-man video editing skills to work if they'd record a few clips! I think I did a decent job? :)
If you've ever been abroad, you know that the experience is one that provides far more than unique photos and sick (err...lit?) Facebook status updates. Rather, it opens up one's mind to entirely new perspectives and possibilities. For a young person, especially one that has barely traveled outside the city of their birth, the impact of a trip like this is undoubtedly life-changing.
I can go on and on about how amazing our kids are (and if you're interested, please e-mail me, hah), but I've blabbed on long enough. Honestly, any contribution you can make would be greatly appreciated by the students, their families, and myself.
Thanks for reading, and if you haven't already, check out the video!
- Mr. Khatkhate
Organizer
Amit Khatkhate
Organizer
Chicago, IL
