People to People Student Ambassador program

Top 79. Sep 18, 2005 10:44 AM

» random85 - Cost

So the cost of the trip is about 5,000 right?

Well I'm fifteen and was invited to travel and study in China for 2006. I'm in a unique situation where I'm not poor but I can't really ask for money. My parents bought a apartment to rent to others (thinking of their own financial future) and with the help of my brother are payin off the mortgage fine but they still owe others money and don't have alot of money. I live with my sister, (long story) her husband, their 7-month old son, the husband's parents, and the husband's nephew (so my nephew-in-law). My sister and her husband (my brother-in-law) help out both of their families alot. My sister in taking me in, and my brother-on-law by helping with his family's mortgage.

With helping out family and then all the regular bills, they're not saving alot right now. Asking then to pay would mean then not saving any money for the whole year but they told me that they're not willing to anyway (which is totally understandable). I could ask my parents but...5,000 is alot of money. I have 1500 in my now non-existent bank (my mother took out the money) that I could ask my parents back for but that was meant for college (I'm relying on loans and some sort of scholarship).

When I opened the letter yesterday and found out I was honored and estatic. I've been to China before but I was so young I couldn't remember anything. I'm an ABC (American born Chinese) and I really don't know much about my heritage. My parent's wasn't really informative about anything. I want to see how people in China live and just be able to connect with Chinese people(there's not many here in Webster where I live). I love being American but I hate this shame I feel because I'm not connected to my culture (This feeling of being lost is incredibly hard to describe). This may even give me incentive to pick up Mandarin again (I moved around too much and fell behind in Chinese school). It's ironic becuse while many Chinese Americans often have trouble assimilating to American culture, I'm tring to assimilarte to Chinese culture and become more Chinese.

So is there anyway for me to get money to go? So I can scrounge up 1500 dollars from my parents (that was in my bank). If I save up my current savings, my allowance and really try to find baby sitting jobs I'd only save up to 700 or so. My sister and my brother will be willing to help me out so maybe there's 1000 there (maybe...). But there's still 1800 dollar gap. I don't have anytime to work (and still can't find any at 15) since I still do a sport and take advance classese. If this opportuninty was in 2007, I might have been able to save up money this summer while working. I don't understand how I could set up fundraising. The money would be for me to go to China but that isn't that great of a cause for people to donate to. And if I was to set up a sarwarshing fundraiser, I really wouldn't come up with that much money.

So has anyone here gone where they don't really have sufficient funds to pay from? I'm not impatient and wouldn't mind to do this in 2008 or even in college but I don't know if this opportunity will come up again. I don't know if I'll be invited again. Sure I can apply for a chance to go, but do those people ever get picked? apposed to the ones that are recommended? I guess the most practical choice is just not to go but...I guess I just want to see if there is a chance I could.

I have already reserved my seat so if I can't go, I'd like to send a message explaining why (so thethe impression wasn't that I was too irresponsible to show up) so who do I contact? If my problem is money, and there isn't a way to come up with it on my own, should I even attend the meeting?

Thanks for anyone who'll answer me.

-- posted by random85

Top 80. Sep 18, 2005 6:44 PM

» StudentAC55 - Re: Cost

In response to Cost posted by random85:

random85,
I'm in the exact same boat you are. My parents are willing to pay 1,500, but I have to come up with the rest from family and fundraising. It seems like an amazing opportunity to go someplace and travel and it sounds like you're really doing it for the right reasons. I already have gone to the meeting in my area about People to People (although I'd be going to Australia/New Zealand, and not China) and there are lots of ways to fundraise. I definitely am feeling confident that I can come up with the money now that I've read over all of the things they send you. If you have any questions or want to talk about this, email me at ximlovingyoux@msn.com. If you don't have questions, good luck with raising the money and good luck with the interview. They have to interview everyone who goes to the meeting to see if you're right for the program and that you're mature enough to go. Good Luch

-- posted by StudentAC55

Top 81. Sep 20, 2005 1:10 PM

» butrfly25 - Re: people to people sacramento

In response to people to people sacramento posted by spddevo:

Warning: This company is a for profit and profiting well on the backs of students,parents and teachers.

Look at each board memebers profits under EPAX and AMIE at marketwatch.com.

People to People is actually Ambassadors group inc. and is working with Ambassadors international inc. a company that is a travel agency.

According Ambassadors own proxy statement and report to the compensation committee. People to people aka: Ambassadors International inc. board members receive 15,000 per board meeting and a bonus of 1,000 as an incentive to show up to the meeting.Stocks are awarded to the board members as well.
Incentive bonus for executive officers range from 20% to 200%
According to Salary.com
Jeffery D. Thomas, Chief Director of this company
base pay for 2004 was 278,358.00
his bonus 730,675.00
cash compensations 4,113
options 50,752.00
value of options 871,990
restricted stock awards 1,314,902
The profits from the other officers in this company are impressive as well.

Also:
They say state in their agreements that should a medical problem come up within a certain number of days they will refund your money,however; after almost a year they have refused to refund. WARNING:If a family member becomes terminally ill or injured as in our case, they have refused to refund the money despite the written agreement and reassurance from the delagate leaders.

all information was found on line though the seattle times, Market watch.com and the posted proxy statement at www.sec.gov/archives/edgar/data

-- posted by butrfly25

Top 82. Sep 20, 2005 4:02 PM

» samwomack - France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy

France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy

Hey I was wondering if anyone else got a letter for this trip in the LA area and is going to this meeting? how much does this trip generally cost? thanks a lot I'm 14 years old and am a freshman in high school. thanks a lot

Sam Womack

France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy

Date: Saturday, September 24, 2005
Registration Time: 3:15 p.m.
Meeting Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: Mt. St. Mary's College Doheny Campus
Lecture Hall

10 Chester Place
Los Angeles, CA 90007

-- posted by samwomack

Top 83. Sep 21, 2005 3:36 PM

» wizkid122690 - I have no idea

hi im in the same position as samwomack. im 14 and in 9th grade. i really want to go but i dont know the cost or anything and my meeting isnt until october 30. contact me and tell me the cost. im going to france italy and greece. email me at wizkid122690@yahoo.com if u have any info thanx bye

-- posted by wizkid122690

Top 84. Sep 22, 2005 2:27 PM

» Clinkerbell - Re: I have no idea

In response to I have no idea posted by wizkid122690:

Well, the cost is about $5,000. I know a 'wealthier' kid from my school who's going to Australia this summer, and he's real excited, so I didn't really have the heart to tell him that People To People actually didn't get his name from a teacher for 'outstanding academic preformance' or whatever other BS they say on that invitation. People To People, as I was reading earlier today, isn't a scam, exactly, because they do go on the trips and many of the responses are good ones. But it's also a high-profit organization, and when I got MY invitation for the Australia trip and did some research, I found it odd that they didn't list the cost. But I did find out the estimate, as I listed earlier.
The bottom line is that People to People buys mailing lists from other companies, even simple magazines that you subscribe to, and that's how they get your name. So when I found all this out, I was annoyed, but glad I hadn't actually wasted my time on the meeting.
If this sounds terribly discouraging, don't fret too much, because I am one researching girl, and from a friend who got ANOTHER invitation, I found another organization called 'Broadreach.' Broadreach isn't perfect and it isn't cheap, but it is about $3500 to $5500, depending on the trip you take. You do community service and go to places like the Carribean, Australia, Baja, ect. Very tropical places. You learn to sail, you go snorkeling, you go hiking in the rainforest, you know. And while People to People is more of a tour group kind of thing, Broadreach takes a small group of about 12 teenagers between 13-18 and takes them on these trips where they spend about 20 days among professional scientists, real animals, and real natives. It offers tons of activities, from camel-trekking to learning to surf on the Carribean Sea. And it also lists the costs, which is a plus.
If you want to check it out, go to www.gobroadreach.com. It's no miracle, but if you want to choose between Broadreach and People To People, I'd choose Broadreach. Just check it out.

-- posted by Clinkerbell

Top 85. Sep 22, 2005 7:17 PM

» StudentAC55 - Re: Re: I have no idea

In response to Re: I have no idea posted by Clinkerbell:

People to People is a nonprofit organization, Student Ambassadors Spokane, however, is not. That is the one that is often confused with People to People. They are affiliated with Student Ambassadors Spokane, having their offices in the same area and having contractual agreements with them, but are a legitimate organization.

-- posted by StudentAC55

Top 86. Sep 23, 2005 4:26 PM

» random85 - Re: Re: Cost

In response to Re: Cost posted by StudentAC55:

If there are actually ways to help fundraise, that be awesome. I feel bad that I can't really work to pay for it myself because my schedule is just to cramp to even to part-time. But I'll still go to the meeting just to check it out. It's a great opportunity but with my current lifestyle, I'm pretty content and appreciative of everything. I can always travel to China later on, when I'm out of college or something. But hey, if you can come up with money, maybe I can too. Thanks.

-- posted by random85

Top 87. Sep 24, 2005 7:25 PM

» thirth - People to People

Hi everyone - I am a People to People Delegation Leader. I have been a teacher for fifteen years, and am in my fifth year as a Primary Delegation Leader. I have traveled on the Australia, Mediterranean Discovery, South Pacific, and British and Irish Heritage trips. Next summer I will travel on the European Odyssey trip. This organization is incredible. I have had hundreds of positive interactions with this company over the past four years. Yes, the price is pricey, but the fact that its total cost pays for EVERYTHING on the trip - food, transportation, hotel, etc - it's worth the money. I have NEVER felt unsafe or nervous about having 40 students in mine and People to People's care. Even this summer when I was two blocks away from the London bombings, we were always informed and safe. PTP handled this beautifully - we were taken out of the city and our travel plans were adjusted immediately. Parents were kept informed by personal phone calls and web site updates. Like I tell my parents and students at the monthly meeting; if I didn't have faith in the organization, why would I even take the job of traveling overseas with 40 middle schoolers? As far as the interview process: I and the other leaders conduct in-depth interviews to make sure of the quality of students. We require three recommendations - two from teachers that have known them for more than one year, and one from another adult. We do check the recommendations. That is not to say that once in a while a student causes some trouble. But we as leaders have a specific protocol that we follow if there is a behavior problem. We take a lot of time to prepare students and parents for travel. We have monthly meetings that cover everything from what to wear, travel etiquette, country information, money, and tons more. We do service projects in our local areas to promote goodwill and to give opportunities for the students to get to know each other before travel. We have a 1:10 ratio of teachers to students, and I have always had stellar teachers traveling with me. Students are never allowed to go anywhere alone on the trip; they must be in small groups, and the leaders are always there. I have personally met many of the powers-that-be of the People to People organization, and they truly care about the students and teachers involved in the program. You can't find a safer program out there for students to travel on. I would love to answer any other questions you have about the program.

-- posted by thirth