Japan: Let Erin Learn and Share World Culture

     My name is Erin, and I'm 13.

When I first got the letter from People to People, it was like a dream come true- me, going to Japan! People to People is a program that allows students with little money to go to foreign countries through fundraising. However, as I learned more about this amazing program, I realized that it was more than just my exciting trip. People to People was started by a war general, but that war general believed in peace. He thought the only way to have peace was to meet other people, share ideas, understand cultures, become connected and join hands as a human race, not different countries. That general was President Eisenhower, and wow, it has taken off from there. It isn't about me, it's about all the people I'll teach my culture to, and all the people who will teach me their culture in return. During my trip I'll be going all over Japan, including climbing Mt. Fuji, going to Tokyo, learning traditional arts like calligraphy and a tea ceremony, and creating anime. More important, though, is the two-day homestay. All the other ambassadors and I will have our own Japanese family for this time, will go to school with their children, and completely live with them. What better blending of culture is there than that? Going to Hiroshima, that's what. All of us will go to pay respects to lives lost, hand-folding paper cranes to extend our biggest hands in peace. I would love it if you donated to me, but it's really donating for world peace by re-integrating cultural awareness into every new generation.  

    I have matching dollars- meaning someone will give me half the money as long as the I raise the other- so every dollar you give is worth two dollars to me.