A trip to Paris would be the experience of a lifetime for many people, and a local bookstore is helping make that possible for a group of Philadelphia students.
Ten scholars from YESPhilly Accelerated High School prepare to jet set to France, where they will be immersed in cultural experiences. Instructor Barbara Eubanks, who co-leads Going Global with Barbara, worked with the students to prepare them for their journeys.
“Anything to do with Paris. Anything to do with travel skills, the dark history of Paris, the importance of studying abroad and preparing for our trip in November,” Eubanks said.
To go on the trip, Kareem Blair and his colleagues must raise $5,000 each by November 1, a task he says is complicated.
“A lot of people don’t want to donate to random kids they don’t know,” Blair said.
“Society tends to say we don’t really want to deal with them. They’re the other. They’re the bad kids,” said Jeannine Cook, owner of Harriett’s Bookshop in Fishtown. Instead, she sees these teens as warriors, fighting the stigma of supposed stereotypes.
Cook, who has traveled to more than 15 countries to educate inner-city youth.
“Young people learn about racism, colonialism and imperialism, but most importantly about liberation,” Cook said.
She is now leading a travel fundraising campaign to help YESPhilly students raise $50,000 dollars so they can spend the Thanksgiving holiday in France, something Nymir Foster is looking forward to.
“The night flight on the plane, I’m also looking forward to the Eiffel Tower,” Foster said.
These students are halfway to their goal. This journey can be life-changing.
Wakisha Bailey
