I would like to start off with introducing myself. My name is Karyssa Stearns. I am currently a sophomore at Sunset High School.
I do well in school and I have even excelled in the Japanese language, which I had no knowledge of prior to my freshman year. Also, I have applied myself in local clubs and organizations that help people around the community, as well as other academic and service opportunities. My first scholarship received has been the Global Leaders Scholarship from AFS (American Field Service), a non-profit organization that gives students the opportunity to make a difference in the world by traveling and living in other parts of the world; thus, to help create a bridge of understanding around the globe. With this scholarship, and the help of friends and family, I hope to live in Japan or Germany for 6 months. I will have the opportunity to experience the culture and language of the country by living with a host family.
The program that I am applying for is a semester-program during my junior year to live in Japan comes to over $10,000; that leaves $5,000 remaining for me to contribute to my cause. Thus, I am going around the community asking for help.
Though, especially now that $5,000 dollars is great amount money, every little donation can help me come closer to my dream of studying, learning, and living in a Japanese or German community. Whether you are able to make a contribution towards my cause, or simply can’t which is completely understandable, I am thankful for your interest in my future. For those who do have the means to help, I thank you for your generosity. And I assure you that these funds donated go the costs of my experience.
Upon my arrival I will send you a “thank you” note with a picture of me in my host country!
Want more information?
Thank you again for taking time to read this letter. If you would like more information, please contact my AFS Advisor, Victoria Geyer at (800) 237-4636 ext. 1556 or my mom at 503-869-6872. Or send me an email at mocha_panda568@yahoo.com
There are several ways you can contribute to my experience:
1) Via Internet Blog – As part of my participation in the AFS program, I had to create a Blog in which I will share stories of my experience, can post pictures and comments, as well as post a list of the contributors of my program. My personal Blog is at http://karyssastearns.blogspot.com/
THIS IS HOW…
1. Go to http://karyssastearns.blogspot.com/ and become a Follower (press “follow”) of my Blog. That way you can also see my stories and pictures of me during my trip abroad.
2. When you see my Blog, scroll down to the lower part. There you will see an orange “Chipin” button, press it
3. This will take you to a Billing page, in which you can contribute by making a payment online
• this is done via a PayPal account that AFS has for me; this is a very secure way to place your donation
• It goes straight to AFS, which means that as soon as you place your contribution you can see the “Chipin” Bar in my Blog go up the certain number of dollars you donated
• this also means that I myself do not see the money since it goes straight and automatically to pay for part of my experience
• then after you have paid you’ll have a Billing receipt that you can keep for your own records; another one is also emailed to you
• at the same time you should email me at mocha_panda568@yahoo.com
and let me know when you have contributed.
Let me know if you have a business and I would gladly advertise it on my Blog, and talk briefly about you and your business’ generosity to the AFS cause of helping to create a more peaceful world by sending individuals to learn about and help people in other cultures around the world.
2) Via Check or Cash Donation- In this way one can contribute by making a check to my name, Karyssa Stearns. This way all one has to do is send their contribution and I will then deposit the funds into my savings account. The savings account I have will be for my expenses while I am abroad such as school uniforms and such. I will also then post in my Blog about your generosity.
3) I have a fundraiser account set up at www.designatea.com This company has generously offered to donate 20% of all sales referred by me to my cause. All you do is go online and place your order. At check out you can enter the code word “japan”. That tells the owner to apply the purchase to my account. The beauty of this fundraiser is that it is a healthy choice and you can customize your teas with the flavors or herbs that you prefer. My mom and I tried the teas; some are from Japan, some China or South Africa. They offer organic and fair-trade products, and the quality is good.
4) Participate in ongoing fundraising events. Whether you make a donation by purchasing items or help me with spreading the word, either way your help is appreciated! Just email me to see what the current fundraiser is!
Frequently asked questions…
What is AFS?
AFS (formerly the American Field Service) is a leader in intercultural learning and offers international exchange programs in more than 40 countries around the world through independent, nonprofit AFS Organizations, each with a network of volunteers, a professionally staffed office, and headed up by a volunteer board.
What is AFS’s mission?
AFS-USA works toward a more just and peaceful world by providing international and intercultural learning experiences to individuals, families, schools, and communities through a global volunteer partnership.
Why donate?
When you contribute to my cause, your not just helping me, as an individual, rather you are helping create bridges of cultural understanding amongst the many people and nations of the world. The funds that one donates to my program do not go to enrich AFS. As AFS is not a company, but rather a non-profit organization made up by volunteers that goes ahead and turns those funds around to help the world become a better more understanding place by giving individuals a life-changing intercultural experiences.
How much should I donate?
There is no set price for a donation; it is set as much as you want and can contribute to my cause. No donation is too small, as every dollar is truly appreciated and welcomed to help come closer to my dream of living and volunteering abroad.
How does my PAYPAL donation go to your program payment?
Once you go to my Blog at http://karyssastearns.blogspot.com/ and scroll down to the Widget and the press the “Chipin” button. It will then redirect you to a secure payment page. Here you can place a donation, where you can donate as much, or as little, as you want to contribute. You may do so in a safe and secure manner. After you submit your contribution you will automatically get a billing report via email that will provide you with records of the donation. Also if you refresh my Blog page you will see the Bar of donations rise. For example; if the bar was set at $400 dollars before your contribution and you go ahead and generously donate $20 dollars then once the page is refreshed you will see the bar go up to $420.
What happens after I donate?
Very simple, since my program is set for Japan, with Germany as my second choice, I won’t leave until around August 2010. During this time you can see the Blogs I will post before my departure, as well as become part of my contributors list, which I will update. In this list I will write about your generous donation to my cause. After my arrival I will send you an E-card thank you note with a picture of me in my host country.
Have any questions still?
Please do not hesitate to call me on my mom’s cell at 503-869-6872.
Also if you have more specific questions about AFS and the program,
please contact my AFS Advisor, Victoria Geyer at (800) 237-4636 ext. 1556
or go to www.afsusa.org/usa_en/home and learn more about the wonders of this organization.
Thanks again for your time.
Sincerely,
Karyssa Stearns
