Jay’s Educational, Cultural & Language Exchange Experience

Trip Update

A deposit of $2100 was made for the trip. We were advised today (06/12/2023) of an ongoing teacher industrial action in Quebec which has impacted the trip date. The new date is not yet finalized but will be after Christmas. When I receive the new booked date I will share. This is beyond our control and disappointing to us.

Thanks for your support to make this dream possible so far. We have not met our target, but this delay has provided the avenue to extend the time for the drive. So the delay may be a good thing.

We have seen the power of teamwork because of you and God's guidance. Please keep us in your prayers in the meantime. Thank you.

Campaign Update

Hi everyone. We are down to the wire and we have extended our campaign date since we haven't yet met our target but your effort is an example of the benefit of community. Thank you so much.

This is an update on the campaign. Here is a video link of me saying thanks for the support so far. View on youtube here:

View on google drive here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/16xS1SkKhNLJ3wMHAq...

Thank you so much for your support thus far. I have paid and submitted the application for the visa and biometrics with the rest of the group and purchased winter clothes.

The group have begun to book tickets and to get insurance coverage from November but I haven't booked yet as the trip cost is budgeted at $2100 for ticket and insurance combined plus pocket money so the trip is costly, but I believe we will all gain from the experience.

The group is scheduled to leave in early December (so the children can return for Christmas) and I am hoping that friends known and unknown would find it in their hearts to bless me with this wish to get this experience. I have therefore added an end date for the campaign since most students have already booked.

Please share with your friends, colleagues, business partners and charities to see if together you can help me with this dream.

Thank you.

MY CAMPAIGN STORY

Hello there, I need your help urgently to help sponsor my dream to participate on a December 2023 school trip.

My name is Jayden, but some people call me Jay. I am sixteen (16) years old, and I am from the country of Jamaica. I am writing this story to get your support to help me finance an educational opportunity presented to me which will aid my scholastic achievement, prepare me for college, teach me to handle social issues and to socialize and function in new environments more effectively.

I have been offered the opportunity by my school to participate in a French Student Language and Cultural Exchange program in Quebec to widen my knowledge, occupational opportunities and to bring cultural awareness and diversity.

I am very excited about the class trip, however, to be able to participate in the programme I will need your support as it is very expensive. The trip is budgeted to cost over US$2000 to cover travel cost, insurance and other related travel expenses from Jamaica to Quebec.

Staying indoors during Covid-19 really impacted me and my whole world got turned upside down. I was diagnosed with Autism during this very traumatic period (at the age of thirteen), and my family life was adjusted to accommodate our new family dynamics. It was a rough period however that was where the developmental issues were identified as although I do well academically, I struggled with social awareness, friendships and in understanding some things I should understand for my age.

It is hard to understand other people's experiences due to how I process information. On a positive note though, my memory with languages and numbers are quite good. Because of this I am doing Add Math in Grade 11 and I am studying both Spanish and French.

There isn't much support available in my country for children on the autistic spectrum. Despite this and missing many classes, I still managed to do well in my educational pursuits and have passed two CSEC external exams so far- Mathematics in grade 9, and Physics in grade 10.

Despite my situation I was awarded the top performing boy for the grade 10 cohort at my school. I am now in the eleventh grade at one of the top high schools in St. Andrew Jamaica.

My French teacher is really encouraging me to join the language exchange program and I would really like to get out of the house, to travel, gain friends, share in the one-week cultural exchange and make my school proud.

Travel cost however is an issue for me thanks to the contributions so far I have applied and paid for my visa and biometrics, and will now be focusing on getting the additional support so I can book my seat with the group. The trip cost has increased over the weeks and as we get closer to the time the airfare cost increases.

I love representing my school and so far have done so at the Math Olympiad held by the University of the West Indies in 2019, and most recently as a bass player on my school's steel pan band.

Please share in my vision in whichever way you can. No amount is too small as it all adds up. Thank you for your support.

Paying by Zelle is preferred if you are overseas as there is no charge for the deposit. The Zelle account is [email protected] . For bank transfer deposit to a US bank account or a local Jamaican bank account please email [email protected] or WhatsApp 876-845-2696 as I know many persons may not use PayPal to do business. PayPal also deducts transaction fees for every donation so what is showed here on the platform is not the total funds that we will get. Eg . if someone donated $100 we get $90.30

Thank you for your support.