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Where there's a will, there's a way
By Denise Schoppe
Staff Writer
The Marlin Democrat
October 27, 2004
She's a leukemia survivor and has worked her way onto the A/B honor roll. She battles a thyroid disease and a heart problem, and she plays trombone in the band. She now has been offered the opportunity to do something few get to do - be a student ambassador for the United States and travel to Australia and New Zealand.
Sarah Trice-Childs, a sixth grader at Marlin Middle School, has been invited to participate in People-to-People Student Ambassadors program and travel to Australia next summer. On the 20-day trip, she will, among other things, visit the Sydney Opera House and the site of the 2000 Summer Olympics, get acquainted with koala bears and kangaroos, become immersed in the Aboriginal culture as hearing their stories and learning their dances, live with a host family, master the boomerang and be offered a chance to snorkel in the unique and colorful coral reefs off the shores of the islands.
People-to-People was created by President Dwight D. Eisenhower as he sought a way to international understanding. In a time when the world was divided and moving toward global armed conflict, his program represented hope that nuclear war would never occur.
According to the People-to-People website, "President Eisenhower believed that ordinary citizens of different nations, if able to communicate directly, would solve their differences and find a way to live in peace.
"He believed that if people could visit each others' homes, attend their schools, and see their places of worship, then the misunderstandings, misperceptions, and resulting suspicions - which were making war a viable option - would disappear. He wanted people to know and understand that while we are all very different, our values, goals, and day-to-day issues are very much the same."
President Eisenhower put his plan into action in 1956, when he called a special White House conference of American leaders and asked them all to join him in the creation of a new initiative to be known as People to People.
Soon after the program was established, it was decided that People to People would be best handled by private citizens rather than government entities. As a result, People to People's mission developed around personal exchanges and individual, firsthand experiences of other cultures.
People to People first built bridges between working citizens, President Eisenhower recognized the power of young people as future leaders. In 1963, Keith Tatham, already an active leader in the People to People effort, organized the first delegation of Student Ambassadors. From then on, the Student Ambassador Program has taken thousands of American youth across international boundaries.
Childs is one of a select few students chosen for the honor to participate in the program. Only 40 students will go on the trip to Australia and New Zealand.
She was nominated by a teacher, and her mother feels certain it was a Ms. Goodfellow, now in Colorado, who wrote the six-page essay required to nominate Childs.
Once Child's nomination was accepted, People-to-People invited her and her family to an informational meeting where she learned the details of the trip and her next steps in becoming a part of the Abassador's program.
"They said the students are on the go all day," Sarah Davidson, Child's grandmother said. "They travel with a nurse and CIA personnel for protection, and though Australia and New Zealand are allies they feel it best that all logos be removed from the student's shirts."
The trip will last 20-days, and in that time the group will experience many cultural events and meet students their age.
"The students in Australia treat the kids like rock stars," Davidson said. "They showed in the video how excited they get to meet the American students. They even ask for their autographs."
Davidson said it is important to see Childs get on the plane, but that they can't do it without help. The cost of the trip is $4995, and a downpayment of $400 for the flight is already being required.
"Sarah's goal is to take this honor and carry her Christianity on her chest," Davidson said. "It's about the people."
The family has begun working to raise the funds needed to send Childs on the trip. They're working on a mass mail-out that will reach all the way into the highest offices of government, but also are looking for help in the community.
"The fact that Sarah has succeeded in doing all she has is an example of what tremendous teachers we have here," Davidson said. "A lot of people say a lot of negative things about them, but they've done a remarkable job. Here we have a student going to represent the United States out of this school district and I can't be prouder."
Childs has had to gather recommendation letters from teachers and her pastor. She's filled out an application and will have an interview with a representative of People-to-People on Oct. 31.
The family is asking for the community's prayers as they raise the funds and prepare to send Childs on this trip.
"I have made a promise to myself that she will go," Davidson said. "She deserves it."
They have opened an account at Members Federal Credit Union, 212 Virginia, Marlin, TX. Anyone wishing to donate can do so there, attention Sarah Trice-Childs Fundraiser, Sarah Davidson. The money will never pass through the family's hands, and should she not go for any reason, anyone who donated will receive a full refund.
By Denise Schoppe
Staff Writer
The Marlin Democrat
October 27, 2004
She's a leukemia survivor and has worked her way onto the A/B honor roll. She battles a thyroid disease and a heart problem, and she plays trombone in the band. She now has been offered the opportunity to do something few get to do - be a student ambassador for the United States and travel to Australia and New Zealand.
Sarah Trice-Childs, a sixth grader at Marlin Middle School, has been invited to participate in People-to-People Student Ambassadors program and travel to Australia next summer. On the 20-day trip, she will, among other things, visit the Sydney Opera House and the site of the 2000 Summer Olympics, get acquainted with koala bears and kangaroos, become immersed in the Aboriginal culture as hearing their stories and learning their dances, live with a host family, master the boomerang and be offered a chance to snorkel in the unique and colorful coral reefs off the shores of the islands.
People-to-People was created by President Dwight D. Eisenhower as he sought a way to international understanding. In a time when the world was divided and moving toward global armed conflict, his program represented hope that nuclear war would never occur.
According to the People-to-People website, "President Eisenhower believed that ordinary citizens of different nations, if able to communicate directly, would solve their differences and find a way to live in peace.
"He believed that if people could visit each others' homes, attend their schools, and see their places of worship, then the misunderstandings, misperceptions, and resulting suspicions - which were making war a viable option - would disappear. He wanted people to know and understand that while we are all very different, our values, goals, and day-to-day issues are very much the same."
President Eisenhower put his plan into action in 1956, when he called a special White House conference of American leaders and asked them all to join him in the creation of a new initiative to be known as People to People.
Soon after the program was established, it was decided that People to People would be best handled by private citizens rather than government entities. As a result, People to People's mission developed around personal exchanges and individual, firsthand experiences of other cultures.
People to People first built bridges between working citizens, President Eisenhower recognized the power of young people as future leaders. In 1963, Keith Tatham, already an active leader in the People to People effort, organized the first delegation of Student Ambassadors. From then on, the Student Ambassador Program has taken thousands of American youth across international boundaries.
Childs is one of a select few students chosen for the honor to participate in the program. Only 40 students will go on the trip to Australia and New Zealand.
She was nominated by a teacher, and her mother feels certain it was a Ms. Goodfellow, now in Colorado, who wrote the six-page essay required to nominate Childs.
Once Child's nomination was accepted, People-to-People invited her and her family to an informational meeting where she learned the details of the trip and her next steps in becoming a part of the Abassador's program.
"They said the students are on the go all day," Sarah Davidson, Child's grandmother said. "They travel with a nurse and CIA personnel for protection, and though Australia and New Zealand are allies they feel it best that all logos be removed from the student's shirts."
The trip will last 20-days, and in that time the group will experience many cultural events and meet students their age.
"The students in Australia treat the kids like rock stars," Davidson said. "They showed in the video how excited they get to meet the American students. They even ask for their autographs."
Davidson said it is important to see Childs get on the plane, but that they can't do it without help. The cost of the trip is $4995, and a downpayment of $400 for the flight is already being required.
"Sarah's goal is to take this honor and carry her Christianity on her chest," Davidson said. "It's about the people."
The family has begun working to raise the funds needed to send Childs on the trip. They're working on a mass mail-out that will reach all the way into the highest offices of government, but also are looking for help in the community.
"The fact that Sarah has succeeded in doing all she has is an example of what tremendous teachers we have here," Davidson said. "A lot of people say a lot of negative things about them, but they've done a remarkable job. Here we have a student going to represent the United States out of this school district and I can't be prouder."
Childs has had to gather recommendation letters from teachers and her pastor. She's filled out an application and will have an interview with a representative of People-to-People on Oct. 31.
The family is asking for the community's prayers as they raise the funds and prepare to send Childs on this trip.
"I have made a promise to myself that she will go," Davidson said. "She deserves it."
They have opened an account at Members Federal Credit Union, 212 Virginia, Marlin, TX. Anyone wishing to donate can do so there, attention Sarah Trice-Childs Fundraiser, Sarah Davidson. The money will never pass through the family's hands, and should she not go for any reason, anyone who donated will receive a full refund.
