I am the mother of six. It has always been most important to me to stress to my children the great importance of education and understanding, as an impact on the world. Recently, my two youngest (14 and 17), received letters from People to People offering a great opportunity to see the world and make a difference through understanding.
We called their older siblings with the news of this great opportunity. They were proud and excited, of course. Checking out the program, no prices are given. Since it is a STUDENT program I contacted the high school my children attend. The only information I could get there was that they were PROBABLY invited because of their excellent grades in HONORS HISTORY classes.
We were all thrilled, until we found out that the cost of the trip would be more than half my annual income. So my two children and myself were brokenhearted that day. If the program is touted as an opportunity for the best and the brightest of our children to represent us to the rest of the world. Why is the program only affordable to upper income families. Having wealthy parents doesn't make a person better or brighter.
There should be a pre-screening for income before these letters go out. The cost of the trip should be included with the information sent for the trip itinerary. Not at the introductory meeting, after you get parents and children excited over the great opportunities and dream possibilities that they immediately find are impossible as soon as they see the price.
As I write this I become angered over the mask that my son's face became as he saw the tears well up in his sister's eyes, as soon as she saw the cost she knew that they could not go on this WONDERFUL ADVENTURE that we had sat for almost two hours hearing about. Ripoff!!!
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