They’ll travel to Ireland, Wales and Scotland as student ambassadors for People to People, but in order to do it, three students from St. Joseph School will have to raise $4,000 each.
To kick off their fundraising efforts, sixth-grader Alexandria LaBarge, fifth-grader Ashlee Krystek and fifth-grader Adam Cole will be wrapping gifts at the Office Max on Baldwin Road, Dec. 23-24.
‘People to People is like a once in a lifetime opportunity,? said Krystek.
‘It would be a good privilege to go,? agreed Cole. ‘How many other people get to go? You’ll meet new friends.?
People to People Student Ambassdor Programs have been sending students abroad for nearly 50 years, offering an educational journey that involves ‘bridging borders, cultures and political systems together, while fostering an increased understanding which unites people.?
The students will study and travel in the British Isles in the summer of 2005. As a student ambassador, LaBarge, Krystek and Cole will have the opportunity to exercise leadership skills, goal setting, problem solving, and planning teamwork while representing their country.
Krystek and Cole are both in Mrs. Boogs class at St. Joe’s, but are in different People to People delegations. The delegations include other children from Michigan, and meet once a month to prepare for the trip.
‘They do workshops once a month,? said Dawn Krystek, Ashlee’s mom. ‘Every month they have to find an article or something on one of the countries they’ll be visiting.?
Krystek said one of her People to People assignments was to wash her clothes in the bathtub.
‘So we know how to do it, because they don’t have washers and dryers in some parts,? she explained.
Krystek also had to complete a presentation on food from Wales. Cole’s group has only met once so far, and will begin working on projects next month.
Krystek is looking forward to visiting Ireland the most.
‘In Ireland they have 3-D virtual models that they create in the sky,? she said. ‘They probably have all these different traditions.?
Cole is looking forward to Wales.
‘I don’t really know what it’s like,? he said. ‘But in Wales they have the biggest ferris wheel and the oldest university, Oxford.?
Both are excited to travel for the first time without their parents.
‘I’m kind of nervous because I haven’t been away from my parents,? Krystek said.
The students will doing free gift wrapping at the Office Max in the Baldwin Commons shopping center on Baldwin Road on Dec. 23, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; and on Dec. 24, 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
Donations are greatly appreciated. All proceeds go to the student ambassadors? trip to Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Other fundraisers are being planned, but donations can be made anytime by calling St. Joseph School at 693-6215.