People to People?

[Jerrysgirl]

My daughter has been getting invitations to become a People to People Student Ambassador. This is an organization started by President Eisenhower so I know it is legit. Anyone have any knowledge of these trips? Cost? Do the kids get anything out of it that they wouldn’t get on their own or with any other group?

 

[puzzleannie]

3 of my siblings participated in their teen and college years, got some great travel out of it, must not have been that expensive because they were able to pay their own way w/o help from our parents, but this is lot of years ago.

 

[Jerrysgirl]

Thanks! After doing a lot of research - it looks like it will be somewhere around $5K! I still plan on going to the information meeting but I am preparing my daughter to accept the fact that it might be just impossible for us at this time.

 

[ecp007]

My Sophomore year in highschool I was a Jr. People to People person. We went for a weekend to Disney World, and the experience was fantastic. That was 25 years ago though, but I still remember the convention, and the leadership seminar, and getting a lot out of it. It was no where near $5K.

An alternative is if she is being nominated by the school, maybe the National Honor Society or Student Council or Key Club could do a fund raiser for your daughter. She could ask for sponsorship from your church, the Woman’s Club, or a local Woman’s organization like Society of Women Engineers (if she is interested in Engineering, or something similar).

It was a great experience, I highly recommend it.

 

[BlestOne]

my dd got this too… I was wondering… thanks for asking!!!

 

[Jerrysgirl]

It was no where near $5K.

An alternative is if she is being nominated by the school, maybe the National Honor Society or Student Council or Key Club could do a fund raiser for your daughter. She could ask for sponsorship from your church, the Woman’s Club, or a local Woman’s organization like Society of Women Engineers (if she is interested in Engineering, or something similar).

It was a great experience, I highly recommend it.

This is a trip to Europe for 21 days so I think that is where the cost comes from.

Great idea about the fundraiser. I was also thinking that we could do a fundraising dinner or breakfast. Maybe it’s not out of the realm of possible yet.

 

[clskier]

I have a niece and a nephew who have both taken part in this. They traveled throughout Europe. The organization (peaple to peaple) helped them set up fund raisers, but the brunt of the expense fell upon the child (and in turn the parents). Great experiences for both, but also pricey.

In my opinion, they kind of guilted the parents…Your child was nominated, such a great honor, how can you deny this.

 

[Jerrysgirl]

In my opinion, they kind of guilted the parents…Your child was nominated, such a great honor, how can you deny this.

I had heard this also. That’s what I am looking for – both the good and the bad experiences. Seems like there is a “People to People” that is not associated with the not for profit and President Eisenhower and *that *organization is said to be kinda shoddy and questionable. It’s all kinda confusing …

 

[ChristinaM]

Does the $5000 include airfare or not? That seems like it would be a huge expense.

My hubby went to Europe with EF Tours when he was in high school, I don’t know how much it cost. His grandmother paid for his trip, but other friends I know got part-time jobs to help pay for it. I don’t know how old your daughter is but it might be better to wait till she is in high school so she can help pay for it easier. EF Tours is a good organization to go with, good prices and there is no nonsense about the trip being some big honor.

When I was in Jr. High and HS I got “nominated” for these supposed honors all the time. I remember the particular trip I was “nominated” for, it was a highly overpriced trip to DC. It seemed like more of a money-making scheme than anything else, even to my thirteen-year-old self. My parents had zero problem telling me no.

 

[ecp007]

This is a trip to Europe for 21 days so I think that is where the cost comes from.

Great idea about the fundraiser. I was also thinking that we could do a fundraising dinner or breakfast. Maybe it’s not out of the realm of possible yet.

I also went on a 21 day trip to Europe when I was 15 (my parents let me pick between the trip and a sweet sixteen birthday party). This was also a fantastic experience.

Can she get a job, to help pay for it? Or the fund raisers. It is an opportunity of a life time, and she will get to meet such great people from all over too.

 

[Seatuck]

Many of your local community organizations will give scholarships toward this type of trip. Your daughter will have to write them a letter.

 

[Jerrysgirl]

My daughter is in high school so we would insist that she is heavily involved with any fund raising. This is her trip after all. And I think that working hard and earning the trip would be as valuable as the trip itself.

She’s not yet 16 so a regular part time job is out for now but she could always do chores and baby sitting for family and neighbors.

Thanks again for everyone’s (name removed by moderator)ut – keep it coming!

 

[Catholic90]

All 3 of my kids got the same letter this week.

I am not so sure it is an “honor”. I think they mass mail everybody.

It is very expensive.

 

[Jerrysgirl]

All 3 of my kids got the same letter this week.

I am not so sure it is an “honor”. I think they mass mail everybody.

It is very expensive.

No, I agree. They say that they were nominated by a teacher but I really think they just get lists of school aged kids and mass mail the letters. That doesn’t really bother me if it were a worthwhile experience.

 

[Donna_Vecchia]

I am very skeptical of these “leadership” programs. My daughter (now a senior in high school) has gotten these mailings since she was in 6th grade–easily 5 such invitations a year, every year. It’s hard to take them seriously. And they all (especially those that go to Washington DC) have a string of big name past or current government officials on their advisory boards.

One of her high school teachers tells the kids that she nominates them for these programs. I suspect that the programs give a financial incentive to teachers or schools who provided names and addresses of the kids. (How else do they get a middle school kid’s name and address?)

Bottom line=they are all pretty much the same. They are no better or worse than a summer camp or a tour (of Washington DC or Europe) for kids. And they cost as much. The programs average $1000 to $1500 per week, not including transportation. So many parents think it will help their kid get into college. But colleges are not impressed.

I would not waste my money on such programs. If your kid needs leadership, get her involved with a local charity, her own church, Girl Scouts, the Red Cross, or other activity close to home where she can really have an impact over a longer period of time at a fraction of the cost. And take the family to Washington DC or even Europe on the money you would have spent for her to go on the program with a bunch of strangers and unknown adults. (And that’s another issue to consider: just who are the other kids that your kid will be staying with and who are the adults who are supervising? Call me over protective…) Just my :twocents: