Naomi's Adventure to Teach in Cuzco, Peru!
Hola a todos! (Hello
everyone!) Friends, family and sponsors: welcome to my fundraising
page!
This upcoming January
2013, I am embarking on a journey to Cuzco, Peru to obtain my TEFL
(Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification to teach English in a
school for a year in the highlands of South America. My father initially
attracted me to Peru, with its ancient Incan cities, most notably Machu Picchu.
After that, I did my own research on the country and found myself incredibly
intrigued by the geography, history, music, food and cultures of the region.
I have registered with
Máximo Nivel (http://www.maximonivel.com/ ), a language institute and philanthropic organization founded in Cusco in
2003. They offer a breadth of volunteer and language programs, including an
internationally accredited TEFL course. The TEFL course completion certifies
people to teach English in almost any country in the world! I have chosen this program
because it offers the cheapest program fee (most cost up to $2000 for Cusco),
while still offering support and many tools for a successful teaching abroad experience. After
completing this month-long course, I would begin the job search process, with Máximo
Nivel's recommendation and help. The average time it takes to obtain a position
is less than 30 days. Peru's school year begins at the end of January, so my
timing is ideal for getting a position as quickly as possible.
Now you might be
asking, what is the point of teaching English? It is currently the world's lingua franca and therefore, English is
in high demand all over the world. Fluency in English improves both career
prospects and educational opportunities. Conferences, business, technology and
communication is largely done in English "“ for almost any field that a student
might enter, knowing English is a huge benefit for them.
Your next question
probably is, why do I need to fundraise money? The answer is simple: because
going abroad is EXPENSIVE! Although I will acquire a paid teaching position,
the most I am likely to make per month is $800. This is plenty for living
expenses in Peru, but not enough to save up. This also does not account for any
of the expenses that I must pay before
my arrival.
Here is a breakdown of
my expenses:
Item |
Cost |
Máximo Nivel Program
Fee |
$1400 |
Spanish Classes |
$100 - $135 |
Textbooks |
$120 |
Living accommodations
during TEFL course |
$515 |
Flight to Peru |
$1400 - $1600 |
Savings* |
$2000 - $2500 |
Laptop* |
Obtained |
Total |
$5735 - $6770 |
* I need to have enough savings in my bank account to pay for my plane ticket home at the end of my position, as well as have savings in case anything were to happen. In the event that I do not get a job in the second month, I will still need to pay rent and a girl's got to eat! Additionally, other expenses (for example, visa expenses) are likely to come up and I do not want to be struggling with money during my time there.
* My laptop broke
shortly after graduation. In order to study for my course in the first month
and compile my lesson plans once I get a job, I will need to work from a
laptop. Update 9.25: My aunt and uncle have given me a laptop - one of the best, most generous gifts I've ever received. This will help me so much with everything I'm working on and my future year in Peru.
* These costs are what I am trying to cover myself, I mainly need help to cover the first five costs!
Why I Need Your Help:
Since graduating from
the University of Maryland in May, I have not stopped working to make this
dream come true. I am currently serving at Ruby Tuesday's and am working as an academic mentor for UMD's football team - I'm working about 40 hours and 6 days a week. I have crunched my
numbers, and even working this amount every week for the rest of the year will
still leave me short for the amount that I need to go to Cuzco.
Additionally, I am
taking my GRE (graduate record examination) this November so that I can apply
to graduate schools upon my return from Cuzco. I am also studying Spanish until
my move to Cuzco to make the transition into a new culture that much more
fluid. With ten "“ twelve hours of studying each week along with work, I have a very full
plate!
I have set my fundraising goal high because in the next year and
a half, expenses will add up very quickly. It is most beneficial to have as much of the trip paid for as
possible so that I do not have to tap into my savings account when I come back from Peru.
Any amount helps! $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 "“ anything and everything adds
up! You may donate multiple times if you want or need to. I am also looking for people interesting in donating frequent flier miles; I would need less than 7000 miles to fly to Cuzco. Ideally, I would like
to save over $1250 per month until the end of December, combining what I am making from my jobs and the
contributions from you. I believe this trip would be wholly beneficial in a
number of ways: I would be able to truly immerse myself in a culture by living
there for a year, I would acquire a number of skills including fluency in
Spanish, leadership and communication skills for my future career, and would be able to have a
completely unique experience, helping both the students in that community and
myself. I am also planning on volunteering long-term with a women's rights organization once I have settled into the city. I want to learn as much as I am planning to teach!
I am determined to make this trip
happen, but I cannot do it without your help! Please consider contributing to
my trip with any amount that you can give. Please do not hesitate to ask me any
questions about the trip! My e-mail address is [email redacted].
I offer my sincerest gratitude for
any contributions made to my trip "“ it would truly mean the world to me to be
able to make this dream come true. Muchas
gracias!