Help Ren Access Japan with ASL Support

Help Ren Experience Japan with Accessibility Support!

Hi everyone,

I’m reaching out to ask for your support in helping an incredible person, Ren Peredo. Ren, a Seattle Culinary Academy alumni and current line cook in Seattle, is deaf. He has worked two jobs to pay for and secure his spot to embark on a culinary cultural tour to Japan—an experience that means so much to him both personally and professionally. However, to fully immerse himself in the journey and communicate effectively, he needs an ASL interpreter, which comes at a significant cost, a cost that no other traveler on the tour bears.

Why This Matters

Japan is a country rich in history, culture, and traditions, and this trip would be an unforgettable professional development experience for Ren. However, without an interpreter, most aspects of the journey and conversations, guided tours, culinary courses, and cultural exchanges would be difficult to access.

Words from Ren:

"To be understood is fundamental to human experiences as it develops a bridge to social connection to the people around you.

My name is Ren Peredo, he/him. I spent most of my life smiling awkwardly and nodding whenever I tried to talk to someone. I am a deaf individual who can understand less than 30% of what is being verbally said to me. At best, I might only understand what the topic was about, but not the depth of the conversation being had by those around me. Observing someone's lips and dissecting their pronunciation to determine what is being said is not an easy thing to do, especially if it is in a large group setting. And it is even more difficult to do it in a spoken language that I am not fluent in.

This GoFundMe campaign is established to raise funds for the essential ASL interpreter services that will be influential to this study abroad opportunity. Your contribution, regardless of size, will significantly impact my journey, allowing room for me to pursue my passions and to foster bonds and grow with my peers and make the world my classroom.

With deep gratitude, I thank you for your time and consideration to this matter. Your support is tremendously appreciated. Together, we can continue to break down barriers and set the epitome of what it means to be connected to the people close to us in our community and in our society. This starts with the power of understanding.

Thank you for being a crucial part of my journey and paving the way for enriching experiences."

That’s where we come in!

Our goal is to raise enough funds to cover the cost of a qualified interpreter so Ren can experience Japan without communication barriers and truly engage with the people and culture.

How You Can Help

Every donation, no matter how small, will go directly toward:

✅ Hiring an interpreter for the trip

✅ Ensuring full participation in cultural experiences

✅ Making this once-in-a-lifetime journey fully accessible

If you’re unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser would mean the world to us. Let’s come together and help make this dream a reality for Ren!

Thank you all for your kindness and generosity! ❤️