Hey, Roommates! Have any of you ever studied abroad? How did that change your perspective of the place you call home? What about those of us who desired so badly to study abroad, but couldn’t afford it –if you had an opportunity to go for free or at a low cast, would you? Of course you would!
That is why The Shade Room has partnered up with hip hop mogul, Russell Simmons, in order to raise funds for the International Youth Leadership Institute based in New York City. Since 1989, they have sent over 500 less-fortunate Black and Latino youth to study in 40 overseas programs in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe at zero or low-cost thanks to people like you!
Chynna S. is a resident of Brooklyn, NY and will be 1 of 8 students traveling to Mexico. The purpose of her travels is to understand how she can help women get access to healthcare. “I want to be an OB/GYN with the main goal of having many different clinics for women around the world,” she says. “I’ve always been concerned with the well-being of people, especially women; and I know a lot of women around the world are deprived of medical healthcare, so I want to help them get the care they deserve.”
Here are just some of the IYLI’s credentials from over the years:
• 92% of alumni have gone on to attend postsecondary institutions in more than 50 institutions in 14 states; including Columbia, Yale, Howard, NYU, Brown University.
• Recipients of numerous scholarships including Gates Millennium Scholarship, Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, Fulbright, and Thomas Watson Fellowship.
• Became funding model for a multi-million dollar initiative under the Dewitt-Wallace/Youth Travel Enrichment Fund to expand opportunities for students of color to experience international travel.
So, as you can see, these trips are so necessary for our people and culture to thrive! Whitney Houston said the children are our future, so let’s invest in them! You can view a detailed description of the trip and words form a few of the students on The Shade Room Go Fund Me page!
Thanks Roommates! Please share this with everyone you know!
TSR STAFF: Talia O. @theclosetratchet on Instagram & @tallyohhh on Twitter!
GoFund Me: https://www.gofundme.com/theshaderoom
