Emma Young's fundraiser for 99 Balloons: Nicaragua 2027

About this Fundraiser

Help Send Me to Nicaragua!

This January, I have the opportunity to travel to Jalapa, Nicaragua, as part of a service-learning experience through my physical therapy program! Our group will be traveling with 99 Balloons' Global Partner in Nicaragua, a community center that supports children and families experiencing disability.

While we are there, we will work alongside local staff and the community's physical therapist to provide care to children with disabilities, share therapy strategies and resources, and equip parents and caregivers with tools they can continue using at home. We will also provide education and use modifications that fit their environment, culture, and available resources.

Access to healthcare and disability resources in Nicaragua is very different from what many of us are accustomed to in the United States. Families may have limited access to therapy, equipment, and education that can support their child's development and independence.

I know we will only be there for one week, and one week cannot solve every challenge these families face. But I believe that even the small amount of time spent providing therapy, educating families, encouraging children, and showing them that they are seen and cared for can make a meaningful difference. I am also excited to learn from the families and community we serve and carry those experiences with me throughout my career as a physical therapist.

Where your support goes

My goal is to raise $2,500 to cover the cost of participating in this trip:

Airfare: $1300
Hotel: $200
Food: $200
Team Leader Fee: $200
Translators: $140
Administrative Fees: $130
Travel Insurance: $100
Emergency Fund: $100
Ground Transportation: $30

Any contribution, no matter the amount, helps me get one step closer to hitting my goal! If donating isn't possible, sharing this fundraiser link or keeping me, my group, and the children and families in Jalapa in your prayers means just as much!

I am so grateful for the opportunity to use what I have learned through PT school to serve others in a completely different environment. Thank you for helping make this experience possible! I cant wait to come home and share what I learned, the people I met, and of course tons of pictures from the trip!

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