We are currently on a mission to raise $20,000 and need your help!

Take a moment to reflect on your very first travel experience. How old were you? Where did you go? What did you experience? How did those experiences affect how you saw yourself and the world?

Now think about who supported you in making that travel experience possible. Who paid for your trip?

We at Matador believe that travel can be one of the most powerful experiences in a young person’s life. The cultural exchange that occurs during travel has the potential to shatter paradigms and empower young people to look at themselves, their communities, and the world, differently.

Our travel experiences would never have been possible without the support of family, friends, teachers and caring community members.

Now, it’s our turn to give the gift of travel. The more we can raise for the Brave New Travelers Scholarship Fund, the more opportunities we can provide young people to see the world. We hope you’ll join us!

About The Brave New Travelers Scholarship Fund

Because so many young people lack the resources to travel, Matador has created a travel scholarship for low-income, urban high school students.

The recipients of the scholarship are chosen from a group of high school juniors who have completed the Coro Exploring Leadership Program, an innovative youth leadership program that trains low-income, urban high school juniors to become changemakers in their school and neighborhood communities.

To supplement their scholarships, they are also required to raise at least $500 of their trip costs. Meet our recent Brave New Travelers below and click the links to read more about their life-changing travel experiences this past summer.

Brave New Travelers: Recent Recipients

Jennifer Lee | Balboa High School, San Francisco, CA

Why did you apply for the scholarship? “For my whole life, I have secluded myself from people of different races because I was worried about having difficulties connecting with them. I thought this trip would be an opportunity to open my eyes to the amazing cultural diversity that exists all over and push me out of the shell I usually hide in.” Read Jennifer’s Travel Reflection

Toke Adewale | Mt. Eden High School, Hayward, CA

Why did you apply for the scholarship? “I was born in Nigeria, but I don’t remember my time there and I felt ashamed. Traveling abroad would give me pride and joy. I wanted to get out of my comfort zone, see what it is like to be in other people’s shoes, and have the oportunity to share the experiences that they have.” Read Toke’s Travel Reflection

Sofia Gago | Balboa High School, San Francisco, CA

Why did you apply for the scholarship? “I read a quote, ‘Just as you cannot teach a person how to cook by reading a cookbook, you cannot prepare a youth for tomorrow out of a textbook.’ As much as I like school, I also agree with them. The experience is what shapes us, and I thought this experience could help really prepare me for my future.” Read Sophia’s Travel Reflection

Hernaci’ona Henry | Mandela High School, Oakland, CA

Why did you apply for the scholarship? “I’ve never had the option to travel outside of the United States. I wanted to get the experience of being introduced to a new culture and experience life outside of my own environment. I wanted to step outside of my comfort zone and learn to better the world as I become an adult.” Read Hernacio’ona’s Travel Reflection

Daniel Campos | St. Ignatius Prep, San Francisco, CA

Why did you apply for the scholarship? “Being a single mother, my mom does her best to support my brother and I, but my family doesn’t have the money to spend on traveling outside of the country. I don’t like having a narrow view of the world. I wanted to gain a new outlook on the world that will help me become a person for and with the people.” Read Daniel’s Travel Reflection

Marcus He | Gateway High School, San Francisco, CA

Why did you apply for the scholarship? “ Being someone who has never traveled outside of California, this was a new and exciting experience for me. I wanted to experience a new culture, other races of people and see how people live outside of the US. What are their daily lives composed of? Are they rich or poor? What are their dreams? Read Marcus’ Travel Reflection

Prescilla Ramirez | Lionel Wilson College Prep, Oakland, CA

Why did you apply for the scholarship? “I wanted to have an experience where judgment and stereotyping were not a factor in learning about cultures. I was so tremendously happy to go to any place in the world to experience customs, language, and history I had not seen before.” Read Prescilla’s Travel Reflection

Chen-Chen Huo | Lowell High School, San Francisco, CA

Why did you apply for the scholarship? “I am a firm believer that life is short and I need to make the most of it before I die. I would have hated to finish my life with a narrow-minded, typical American view of the world. I hoped to gain unbiased knowledge from traveling abroad, and meet unique people that have different viewpoints from me so I can see solutions to problems that I would not have seen.” Read Chen-Chen’s Travel Reflection

LaTasha Bankhead | Mandela High School, Oakland, CA

Why did you apply for the scholarship? “To see other people in a different part of the world and how they live is a fun and educational experience for me because I had never traveled outside of California. It really meant a lot to me to meet and learn about people who live totally different lives from me.” Read LaTasha’s Travel Reflection

Priscilla Yip | Lowell High School, San Francisco, CA

Why did you apply for the scholarship? “ I wanted to participate in a travel abroad program mostly because I wanted to build my confidence and become a more independent person. Growing up, I have always depended on my parents to help me. This trip challenged me and allowed me to step outside of my little nutshell and helped me realize what is really out there in the world.”
Read Priscilla’s Travel Reflection

Barbara Jaing | Thurgood Marshall High, San Francisco, CA

Why did you apply for the scholarship? “I hoped to gain new understandings of unfamiliar languages, customs, beliefs, and values. I wanted to expand my outlook on life and learn what more is offered than what I know now. I want to learn more about how people live their lives.” Read Barbara’s Travel Reflection

The Opportunity

Our goal is to raise at least $20,000 each year to provide scholarships for at least 10-15 students to go on life-changing summer trips with one of three incredible youth travel organizations: Where There Be Dragons, Global Glimpse and AFS. All three organizations provide 3-7 week experiential learning programs abroad, focused on cultural immersion and understanding, leadership development, teamwork, and positive risk-taking.

The Impact

By donating to Brave New Travelers, you are providing students who come from low-income neighborhoods and under-resourced schools with an opportunity to step outside of their day-to-day world and discover new potential, develop self-confidence, and gain new perspectives on their lives and the communities they live in.

This experience is essential to breaking through social barriers and in many cases literally changes the trajectory of these young people’s lives.

Although this is a one-time donation, the impact of your donation continues long after these students return from their trips as they incorporate what they’ve experienced into their daily lives, positively affecting their family, friends and communities.

The Party

Our fundraising campaigns always culminate with a blowout party.

The event features San Francisco’s best soul DJs, live painting, a live funk band, local art & photography, two full bars, free food, raffle prizes, a photo booth, leg shakin’ & much more.

Funk, soul, hip-hop, dancehall reggae & house music will be rockin’ all night.

Art and travel photography will be on display from local artists. Also, a special exhibit will feature essays from young travelers from around the world.

Check out photos from our last party (500+ guests)

Date and Time to be announced…. Stay tuned!

Your Donation

Every dollar counts. If it’s $1 or $1,000, we appreciate you taking the time to give. You will also receive updates next summer when the students embark on their trips so you can follow the impact of your giving.

How to Donate

Donating is as simple as purchasing something with a credit card. Once you click on the widget below you’ll be taken to a very simple and secure PayPal interface where you can either enter in a credit card or pay using a PayPal account if you already have one.

If you have any questions about this donation, please contact Ben Polansky at ben@matadornetwork.com

Thank you in advance for giving the gift of travel.

Sincerely,

Ben Polansky

Youth Programs Manager, Coro Center for Civic Leadership
Co-Founder, MatadorTravel.com