Help Me Pay for My English Course and Travel to the U.S.

Carlos Grefa Start Date: Nov 3, 2021 - End Date: Nov 2, 2022
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Study/Degree Abroad
  • Vacation/Personal Trip
  • United States of America

My Travel Story

by: Carlos Grefa Start Date: Nov 3, 2021 - End Date: Nov 2, 2022
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Study/Degree Abroad
  • Vacation/Personal Trip
Hello everyone!

My name is Carlos Grefa. I am of Kichwa ethnicity, an indigenous group of the Amazonian rainforest region of Ecuador. For years, I have worked in community development, eco-tourism, and have been studying English to further my career. My goal is to live in the U.S, study English to become fluent, and then return to my homeland and continue my work in eco-tourism and the preservation of Amazonian cultures. I am in my last effort to raise traveling and cost-of-living funds for an English course I am already enrolled in, and I need your help and support. Please take a moment to learn more about my journey and how you can be a part of it.

Throughout my life, I have had great opportunities to travel, study, and learn about other countries and cultures of the world. I completed my undergraduate studies in international relations at the People's Friendship University of Russia in Moscow. During my studies, I lived in Moscow, Russia for four years and learned about Slavic cultures. After my experience, I returned to my homeland of Ecuador and began working with international NGOs and community  development projects, specifically with children in Kichwa communities. I have worked with volunteers from all over the world as a tour guide, revealing the secrets and ancestral mysteries of my culture with foreigners. I continue to be very interested in working with tourists to help and guide them while they learn more about my culture and country.

In the past years, I started a career in eco-tourism and ancestral preservation of Amazonian communities. I began studying English to assist with my career, and now, I am looking to take the next step in my career and life. I am striving to become fluent in English, and I want to immerse myself in U.S. culture the same way so many of my foreign friends immersed themselves when they came to Ecuador. After completing my English course in the U.S. and learning more about the country's rich culture, language, and history, my goal is to return to Ecuador and start working on my sustainable ecotourism project with the Kichwa communities of the Ecuadorian Amazon.

This past year, I have worked extremely hard to raise my own funds to cover my travel and cost-of-living funds. However, COVID-19 has had devastated my country's economy. Jobs are scarce and do not pay well; there are few scholarships and almost no financial aid for language-learning programs like the one I have enrolled in. It's proving difficult to reach my goal and my dreams, so I am reaching out to friends and good-hearted people asking for help to make my dreams a reality. This is my last effort before my journey to acquire enough funds for my travel and living expenses. I guarantee you that all the funds you send will be used exclusively for my English-learning program in the U.S., and I promise I will dedicate myself to studying and learning the English and more about America's culture. Thank you for your time, generosity, and support!
  • United States of America