Introduction

Hello! Thank you for viewing my campaign!

I am Leong Kui Onn, a 16 year old boy from the wonderful country of Malaysia.

I have been shortlisted for a student exchange program to Argentina, thanks to AFS. Unfortunately it costs a lot of funds and i can barely afford all of this.

I am asking for your sincere assistance to help me achieve this student exchange program!

Update: Just recently, my father has been diagnosed with stage 4 nose cancer. He is seeking treatment but it does not seem to be in such a good condition. The cancer has already spread to the brain.

My father has already resigned to take on lengthy chemotherapy and radiotherapy. My family no longer has any income and we are living on our past savings.

For more information, scroll down.

Purpose

AFS' slogan is "Connecting Lives, Sharing Cultures".

According to my understandings, the purpose of this program is to connect students from around the world to create mutual understandings. Beyond that, it's primary goal is to share culture.

Going to Argentina will be a tough challenge that i would like to take. It will be a new environment that i have no experience of. While on the program, i will be responsible for volunteering in many fields while sharing knowledge among peers and fellow citizens.

Through this program, i can make a change. I can BE the change. I am eager to meet new people in a new environment and create a positive atmosphere. Other than that, it'll be a great time to share many things to people from across the globe.

You can be that change too, by helping me fund my journey!

PS: It is an 11 month program, hence the reason why the cost is 10,000 US Dollars.

To any of you who are interested in AFS programs, scroll down below!

My Father

Leong Nyuk Min. A great father, who is facing difficulties.

My father was recently diagnosed with stage 4 nose cancer. It has already spread to the brain. While chemotherapy and radiotherapy is already scheduled, there does not seem to be any miracles. Like all cancers, it doesn't have to look bad in the outside, but may kill a person sooner or later.

Due to lengthy chemotherapy and radiotherapy, he has resigned from working and has came back home. It will take him months to be treated, and it does not guarantee full recovery. At the same time, due to his resignation, my family has no more income. We are living by our savings.

I feel that not just i would have to ask for donations for my studies, but i feel that i would have to ask for donations for my father and family too. These are tough times.

If any of you know any medical treatments, such as ancient herbs to legal prototype drugs, do contact me. Send me a message by clicking 'send a message' next to my picture on the right side. If anyone is willing to donate some for him, i would be happy to enlighten him.

Just like me, he is interested in cameras. To be specific, he has a Four Thirds (Not Micro Four Thirds) DSLR camera. If anyone would like to donate some camera equipment to make his life a tad more cheerful in these hard times, please do contact me.

Funding for my campaign will help my family overall by letting me study overseas. However any over-funding will be highly considered, and if everything goes well, will be used to further fund my father's treatment.

Why Donate

This is basically helping me change the lives of other people and fulfill a cultural gap. In the long term, you'd be doing something good, because technically for every deed that i will do in Argentina, you will get a fraction of it.

But to be honest, i have don't much to give you in exchange. I have some ideas though, check below.

Update: Due to my father's recent diagnosis of stage 4 cancer (Read above for more details), i and my family are in need of assistance more than ever. This campaign will help burden my family's burden by helping me study overseas. At the same time, any other available support will be highly appreciated.

By funding my campaign, you don't just help me study. You don't just help me change lives. But you help me save a life. Please, consider donating.

Rewards

I have some rewards that are already planned, and some more ideas.

First of all, if you donate 100 dollars and choose the option for the reward, i will plant a seed in your name. To be exact though, i have not planned what exact species will i plant and where will i plant it, let alone will i be able to plant it in Argentina. However i will try my best. A plaque will also be prepared for your name to be marked, or multiple names if you require. However don't expect too much! It'll just be a simple plaque. The 100 dollars goes to my studies, the plant and equipment alone will have to be sourced by myself!

Next, for 10 dollars, and if you wish to receive the reward, i will provide light painting services! What is light painting? This is light painting. While i currently don't have skills to draw as amazing as the sample images provided in Wikipedia, i have the skills to do simple, but yet artistic light painting. If you want me to write a message or draw something simple on my wall, with light, then go ahead and choose this reward! And if you want and if i am available, i would also be happy to teach you how to do light painting yourself!

For this part, it is just an idea, but rather a funny one. If circumstances allow me, i may even cook Malaysian or Argentinian food for you once in a while. Of course cooking is one thing, preserving food is another, and sending it across the ocean is a whole new thing! But as Malaysians say "Di mana ada kemahuan, di sana ada jalan", which is directly translated as "Where there is desire, there be a way".

These are just plain weird ideas, i know. But it's something rather than nothing!

Do comment if you would like to see them in fruition, or if you have any more bright ideas!

About Me

I am Leong Kui Onn.

I am a 16 year old (17 year old this year, but still 16 at time of writing) boy who is currently undergoing the final year of high school. Here in Malaysia, it is known as Form 5, which is equivalent to the 11th grade.

I am the top student for my batch for 4 years straight, and if i get it again this year, it will be the whole high school period. I am passionate about learning, always finding something to learn about, even if not related to my final exams.

I have rarely been outside of my country, only visiting 2 countries other than my homeland in total. I know there is a world beyond my high school, and i want to visit and experience it. I want to know something new, and if possible, share something that is new to someone else.

Something that interested me recently is photography. I would really like to buy a new camera and go to Argentina to take great pictures to solidify the moment. Moments cannot simply be shared, as it only happens once, but pictures however can exist for as long as the world allows it to.

If there is any more information about me that you would like to know, do make a comment.

Miscellaneous

Contact Me

If for any reason you would like to contact me, please go ahead and click 'send a message' next to my profile picture on the right. Timothy is a fellow friend who serves as my treasurer. You may ask him anything related to funds, but otherwise, most of the campaign is a part of me.

If you would like to send something to me, contact me via the same method too. Hopefully, we can sort something out.

AFS

AFS Intercultural Programs is a non-profit organization that wants to send students across the globe to enhance cultural relationships and understandings.

As a student, you can take part to go on a student exchange! It's bound to be an awesome experience!

As parents, you may sign up to volunteer as a host family! It's another great way to experience someone else' culture!

Other then that, you can always volunteer for AFS projects near your area. Volunteering is one of the most important things about AFS.

For more information, application, etc, click here to visit AFS' international website!

Other Donations

Food for thought; Money is only as valuable as you believe it is. Technically, it's just printed paper or stamped metal.

While money is valuable to the majority of developed human society, i also accept any other form of donations. For physical objects, do contact me first to sort something out.

I am particularly interested in camera gear. Both for me, and for my father (Please scroll up for more information). Used or new. For those who have old Four Thirds (Not Micro Four Thirds, but Olympus adapter would be great!) lenses lying around, i would really be interested in it!

Other than that, anything cultural would also be nice. I am particularly interested in Argentinian stuff. At the same time, it's also great to learn about other parts of the world from time to time.

All in all, if you have any other forms of contribution other than funding my campaign, please do contact me!

Time Limit

The time limit is subject to change. Once i have conformation, i will have to pay in 3 different installments.

I will update the time limit when needed to.

Extra Funds

Extra funds will be used to buy a gift, or to donate to my to-be assigned host family.

Other than that, i would really like extra funds to buy a great camera to capture great moments! To any of you who want to donate cameras, i would be happy with that too!

Beyond that, extra funds will be used to reward backers, such as, but not limited to, preparing plaque and seeds and preparing food reward for transport.

If the funds go way beyond that, there's a special purpose for the rest of the funds! The funds should be split equally to the people who were not short-listed for the AFS student exchange programs, so they could enjoy a little bit. Beyond that, i may even collect money if enough, to fund one, or even multiple, students next year! Or maybe the year after that, or, you know.

Update: Due to my father's condition (Read above for more information), i would highly appreciate extra funds to be used to reduce my family's burden. While i would also like to use the funds for the above said things, i believe that a human life is much more important. I will however, consider, and if people are willing, i can always have enough donations to put everything into action.

Other Support

To those who cannot donate, you don't necessarily have to directly fund me. You can always help by sharing my campaign among the people you know! Do inform the people who would like to fund a campaign like this, or just help spread the voice!

Thank you all!

Progress

While i may not be a very active person in posting updates (No joke intended), i could always start a blog if needed. Otherwise, i would update through this site when needed or deemed appropriate.

Other

If anyone requires proof that i am selected, i may do that later. For now, if no one demands it, i would like to keep my documents private.

I am also planning to set up more pictures, and maybe even a video soon if everything goes well.

Message

Thank you for your interest!