UA Passports for a Purpose

The UA Office of Global Initiatives launched a new crowd funding campaign called “Passports for a Purpose” on Monday, August 29th that will allow 35 students to receive fully-funded passports to help support their study abroad experience in fall 2016.

Studying abroad has a positive impact on a student’s life. No matter the destination, it is a great opportunity for students to step outside of their comfort zone, learn and embrace a culture, and grow as a global citizen. Unfortunately, the cost of studying abroad deters many students from pursuing their dreams to travel.

Although financial aid can help make this dream possible with many merit, and need-based scholarships, there are also other costs associated with studying abroad that can be challenging, such as a U.S. passport.

Through Passports for a Purpose, many students at the UA who are struggling financially to study abroad will be given the opportunity to receive a passport that will bring them one step closer to travelling abroad!

“If you had a great time abroad and it was really life changing and you loved it, you now have the opportunity to be able to help other students have that same kind of experience,” said Lisa Turker, associate director of operations and student engagement for the UA Office of Global Initiatives.

UA students who have already studied abroad in the past agree that the experience in a different country or region is worth the effort, cost and life-changing moments that will last a lifetime.

“Because of study abroad, I have an entirely new perspective on the U.S. and where it stands in the world. Most of all, I feel that I learned to really appreciate diversity and value the ways in which people's experiences differ from mine,” Vicente Reyna, Arizona in Alcala de Henares, summer 2016.

If you want to donate to this program, there are a few different levels of giving that range from $10-$1,015, depending on how many students you are able to fund passports for; every little bit counts!

If you donate $10, you will provide a student with a passport photo, $25 will pay for one student's passport execution fees and a generous donation of $145 will provide a student with a passport and you will receive recognition on the UA Study Abroad website as a supporter of Passports for a Purpose.

If you want to donate more, $290 will provide two students with passports and you will receive recognition on the UA Study Abroad website and in the pre-departure materials as a supporter of Passports for a Purpose.

Lastly, if you donate $1,015 it will provide seven students with passports and you will also receive recognition on the UA Study Abroad website, in the pre-departure materials, and in GlobalReach, the annual magazine produced by the Office of Global Initiatives, as a supporter of Passports for a Purpose.

Funding will be distributed on the basis of need to students studying abroad in the fall of 2016.