SupportShepherdGradstriptoNepal

From
JayGross
:
HeyThereShepherd
AnotherspecialpersonwithBlueJaybloodrunningthroughherveinsisoutthere
changingtheworld
ShepherdgradMalloryWaltonisgoingtoNepal!Sheisgoingtobeteachingthe
Englishlanguagetostudentsthere.Aplacewheretheirpeopleliveonabout$14a
monthor.50centsaday
Andsheisdoingthisvoluntarily.Allonherown.
Help?
YesyoucanthereisapageatHelpFundMewhereyoucandonateifyoufeelthe
need
Andeverydollarhelps$1,$5nothingistoosmall.
HelpchangetheworldthroughaBlueJaynamedMallory???
FromMallorys
GoFundMe
page:
Hello!MynameisMalloryWaltonandImasenioratCentralMichiganUniversity
doublemajoringinmusicandpoliticalsciencewithafocusoninternationalrelations
andcomparativepolitics.RightnowImwaitingonadmissiontoauniversityinNew
YorkCitywhereIwillpursueaMasterofArtsinInternationalAffairs,concentratingon
securityandconflictresolution.Ideally,IwouldlovetofindajobwiththeUnited
NationsortheStateDepartmentasaforeignserviceofficer,orevenanNGO
(nongovernmentalorganization)thatspecializesinhumanitarianreliefafterIreceive
mymastersdegree.

ImactivelyinvolvedinorganizationslikeAmnestyInternational,agroupdedicatedto
bringingattentiontoandendinghumanrightsviolationsaroundtheworld,andthe
MichiganFederationofCollegeDemocrats,whereIserveasvicepresidentand
membershipdirectorof,respectively.DuringmytimeatCentralMichiganUniversity,
IvebeensectionleaderintheChippewaMarchingBandfortwoyears,beena
memberofModelUnitedNations,servedasaproxymemberfortheStudent
GovernmentAssociation,andamcurrentlypartofaprogramcalledConversation
PartnerswhichpairsnativeEnglishspeakerswithinternationalstudentstohelpthem
learn,interact,andmakefriends.LastyearIwasaninternfortheMarkSchauerfor
Governorcampaign,thedemocraticcandidatewhoranagainstGovernorRickSnyder.
Iwasfortunateenoughtobeabletostudyabroadinthesummerof2014inRome,
Italy,andgotthechancetovisitsevenothercountriesinEuropeincludingGreece,the
UnitedKingdom,France,theNetherlands,andseveralmore.
SonowthatyouknowwhoIamtoday,Illsharewithyoualittlebitofmybackstory.I
wasraisedinShepherd,Michigan,asmallfarmingcommunityofabout1,500justfive
milessouthofMountPleasant.IthoroughlyenjoyedmytimeatschoolinShepherd
andwasactiveinmanysportsaswellasstudentcouncil,classofficewhereIserved
asclasspresidentforafewyears,quizbowl,band,NationalHonorSociety,andmany
otherorganizationsandclubs.WhenIwasaseniorIwasgiventheopportunitytogo
toGermanytostudy,whichiswhenthetravelbuginsideofmewasreallyignitedandI
wasexposedtoawholedifferentworld.
EvenduringmyyearsatShepherdIcouldnthelpbutwonderwhatelsewasoutthere
andhowI,justonein7billionpeople,couldmakeanimpact.SohereIam,preparing
tospendasummerteachingEnglishtoimpoverishedchildreninaveryruralregionof
Nepal,asmallcountrytuckedawayintheHimalayasbetweenChinaandIndia.Nepal
isadevelopingnationwithextremelyhighpovertylevels.Togiveyousome
perspective,manypeopleinNepalliveonjust$14perpersonpermonth,whichisless
than50centsperday.Educationlevelsarenothighandmuchofthepopulationis
illiterate.Infrastructurenecessaryforschoolsislackingandessentialresourcesare
nowheretobefound.Imconstantlylookingforwaystogivebacktohumanitybecause
Ibelieveitsmydutyasacapable,privilegedpersonandthisismyfirststepindoing
so.
Unfortunately,beingacollegestudentmeansIdonthaveanabundanceofmoney
andplaneticketsareratherexpensive.ThatswhyImaskingforyourhelpinraising
$1,500,orsomefractionofthattohelpoffsetthecostofmyplaneticketandthe
necessarytransportationwithinNepal.Iwillbedonatingmytime,energy,andskillsto
helpthechildrenofNepalandtheprogramIampartofprovidesmewithtwomeals
perdayandahomestaywithaNepalesefamily.Butbecausethecostofairfareisso
high,itsthevolunteersresponsibilitytocoverthecostsassociatedwithit.Icannot
begintoexpresshowgratefulIamtoanybodyandeverybodythatcontributes,and
eventothoseofyouwhohavemadeitthisfardownthepage!Iapologizeforthe
longwindedexplanationbutIwantedtogivepeoplewhodontknowmeachanceto
findoutwhothispersonaskingforyourmoneyis!
Again,thankyoutoeverybodyfortakingthetimetoreadthisstoryandforthoseof
youwhowillhelpmegettoNepalandmakeadifferenceinthelivesofchildren.An

educatedyouthhastheabilitytotransformsocietyandtheyareNepalsgreatest
chanceatovercomingmanyoftheobstaclesthecountryfacestodayandhasfaced
foryears.Themoneyyoucontributewillnotonlyhelpmecoverthecostsofmy
airfare,butitwillultimatelyhelpthechildrenofNepalwhowillbegivenachancetoget
educatedandbreakfreefromtheimpoverishedlifethatmanyofthemaretiedto.
ThankyouandnamasteastheysayinNepal!