April Giveaway

Hello Everyone,
This month is "Fundraising Month" for AFSers (people who are trying to be foreign exchange students through AFS). For this years fundraising month AFS is matching dollar-for-dollar any non-parental donation that I get up to $500 This means that if I collect $500 AFS will donate $500, so all together I will have $1,000. This will help me get closer to being able to take my dream trip to France. I know times are tough but any amount would help me get closer to my dream trip to France.

Thank You for all of your help and support!

Naila Brown

Journey to France

       Hello, my name is Naila Brown.  I am a sophomore at Berkeley High School.  Recently, I applied to study abroad next spring semester (January 2012) in France.  I will be going through the American Field Service (AFS) Intercultural Exchange Program (http://www.afsusa.org).

   In France I will be immersed in their culture and in their schooling. I am a dancer.  I've studied ballet for ten years and through ballet I have been interested in where it started.  From this experience I hope to better understand the role that ballet plays in people's lives.  I want to teach a ballet class for young girls who wouldn't have the chance to have the experience of doing ballet. But before I can do that, I hope to better understand the cultural part of it to be able to give them the best opportunity possible.

    As a sophomore I have kept busy with school, leadership and social life. I am a big sister to a nine year old brother. I am also in BIHS (Berkeley International High School), which is one of the small schools at Berkeley High.  It is very rigorous and gives me a great challenge.  My family, friends, dance, and taking every challenge with open arms are what make my life.

    My family is unable to pay for the whole tuition as everyone knows times are hard.  I have been babysitting and saving every penny that comes my way. I am also knitting scarves and planning some fundraisers to help with the tuition.  My fundraising goal is $5,000 by August 19, 2011.  I know times are hard but anything you can contribute is appreciated.

All donations will be collected in an American Field Service (AFS) Intercultural Exchange Program account that I’ve setup through PayPal.  I am using ChipIn, a service that works with PayPal, to collect all donations.  I also want you to know that should I not be able to reach my goal of $5,000, all money donated will be refunded by PayPal to whoever donated money.

So you can be sure your money will be used for my AFS Intercultural Exchange Program and nothing else!  Please read below to understand how the donation (and refund) process will work:

1)     Click on the ChipIn link on the upper right corner

2)     All donations are managed with ChipIn by way of PayPal.  You can pay with your PayPal account or a major credit card.

3)     On August 19, 2011 if I have not raised $5,000 you will receive a refund.  But if I DO raise the money (which is the plan) then all my fees are paid and I’ll be on my way to France!  Check back on my blog (http://nailasbonvoyage.blogspot.com/) from time to time to see my progress towards my goal!

For more information on PayPal as a reliable service to use your credit card click here: https://www.paypal.com

For more information on ChipIn, click here: http://www.chipin.com/overview.

Thank you and I really appreciate your help in making my dream to go to France a reality!

Sincerely,

Naila Brown