Dreamer Seeks to Reconnect With His Roots
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Hello,
I am Carlos Rene Castro, a junior at California State University, Fresno, majoring in Digital Journalism. I was born in El Progreso, Yoro, Honduras, and migrated to the United States with my parents when I was five years old. I grew up in Salinas, an agricultural town in Central California. During my upbringing, I was highly aware that I was different from the rest of my classmates due to my immigration status. As a young undocumented immigrant, I was frightened and embarrassed about sharing my story. Fast forward to today, as a young adult, being undocumented is the backbone of my story, and I take full pride in that. As a storyteller, I can connect and empathize with sources to tell their stories in a raw, honest matter.
That said, I have been granted an opportunity of a lifetime to return to my native country of Honduras after 20 years through the California-Mexico Study Center study abroad program. The program will allow me to travel to Honduras through an advanced role and reconnect with my roots. Upon returning to U.S. soil, I am required to write a 10-page ethnographic research paper about my experiences. In addition, sharing my experiences can door up future job opportunities and help me get accepted to a Master’s program. While in Honduras, my main goal is to reconnect with family members and understand my culture and the region of Honduras. For most of my life, the American way of life is all I know. Returning to Honduras after 20 years will provide a sense of identity I have lacked my whole life. Lastly, I am committed to telling the stories of the people of Honduras, which is often controlled by mainstream media. Through countless conversations with people, I am confident I will create a project through writing and visuals that will bring much-needed change in Honduras after endless years of suffering due to corruption.
The total trip cost is $5,000 and must be fully paid by April 30th. Unfortunately, paying such hefty dues is outside my reach. The first of two payments is $3,000, due three days after acceptance, and the $2,000 remaining balance by two weeks after 1st payment. Included in the total amount is:
- DSAP program acceptance fees, Advance Parole application preparation, attorney consultation (as needed on a case-by-case basis), and USCIS filing assistance.
- Housing in double-occupancy hotel rooms, meals, field trips, and local transportation during the academic program.
- Lawful CBP re-entry into the U.S. at LAX airport as a group, arranged by the CMSC.
- Psychological counseling and group therapy sessions before, during, and 1 day before the end of each program session.
Therefore, I am asking for donations to make the dream of returning to Honduras a dream come true and reconnect with my ancestors and roots. Your contributions will be appreciated more than you can imagine, whether big or small. In advance, thank you so much for your donation!
Sincerly,
Carlos Rene Castro
Organizer
Carlos Rene Castro
Organizer
Fresno, CA