Extraordinary Opportunity

I am truly blessed and honored to have the opportunities that I have had in my life.  

This summer I am participating in a one-month long program in Bethlehem.  I will be staying with a family in Jerusalem while volunteering in Bethlehem and talking a colloquial Arabic class.

In TWELVE days I will be leaving New York City to fly into Tel Aviv, Israel.  From there I will be picked up at the airport and brought to Jerusalem where I will spend Wednesday night (May 18th) in a hostel.  Then on May 19th I will meet up with other participants in the Palestine Summer Encounter Program and be introduced to my host family, whom I will be staying with for the remainder of my time in the West Bank.

Below is a copy of a letter that I sent to friends and family to fundraise for my upcoming trip.  I am so grateful to you all for helping me raise $1,500 so far.

Dear Friends and Family,

I hope all is well.  I am writing to you today because a wonderful opportunity has presented itself to me.   I have been accepted to be a part of The Palestine Summer Encounter program.  From May 19^th – June 15^th I will be living with a Palestinian family in Jerusalem while volunteering in Bethlehem.  I haven’t been assigned a volunteer position yet, but I hope to work at a children’s day camp at the Dheisheh Refugee Camp.  I encourage you to check out the website to look at some of the possible things I might be doing www.palestinesummer.org. 

Of the two organizations that sponsor this program, Holy Land Trust is one of the leading advocates of non-violence in the West Bank.  This is not something that I am being paid to do. The program itself costs $2,060 excluding airfare which is about $1,500 round trip.  No gift is too small, however, I am asking that you sponsor me with a donation of $25.  If you find yourself unable to sponsor me financially, please keep me in your thoughts and prayers while I am away.

There are two methods that you can utilize to help sponsor me:

1)    Send a check payable to Middle East Fellowship. In the memo line please write: PSE- Olivia Chopra.  I ask that you mail it to me at the address below.

2)   Make a payment with your credit card via paypal on my behalf at the following website (note that this is different from a donation to Middle East Fellowship) http://www.palestinesummer.org/payments

Even if it is unrealistic for you to help finance my trip, please feel free to get in contact with me before May 19^th for more details about my trip.  I am looking forward to sharing my experience with you in mid-June!"