We believe in empowering each of our participants to play an active role in making their dream of A Fresh Chapter (AFC) Odyssey program a reality. All participants are given the tools and support to launch a fundraising campaign to cover a portion of the program fee. However, we know that in addition to the emotional scars, cancer can also leave people financially devastated and sometimes our participants have already launched fundraising campaigns to cover the costs of treatment.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donor community, we are able to provide financial assistance through both the Melissa Carroll Legacy Fund and the AFC Scholarship Fund.

2020 Scholarship For A Canadian Young Adult Impacted By Cancer

In 2019, we lost Jennifer Dornbush – an amazing woman from Winnepeg, Canada and alumni from our 2015 South Africa program. Her legacy will live on in the hearts of so many and the funds raised in her memory will be used to offer a 2020 Peru Odyssey scholarship for a fellow Canadian young adult impacted by cancer.

If you are a Canadian who was diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 19-39 and you are seeking financial support to participate in our Peru Odyssey program, learn more and apply for the program before February 29, 2020. Once you have applied and spoken to a member of our alumni team about our programs, you will have the opportunity to submit a scholarship application to the Jennifer Dornbush Memorial Scholarship.

Consideration For All Scholarships

In order to be considered for a scholarship, each applicant creates a Ripple Impact Action Plan outlining how he/she plans to “pay forward” the experience through volunteering in his or her community. Through this ongoing volunteering, an immersive 2-week onsite experience and a 6-month framework of tools, resources, and support, each of our recipients has the opportunity to heal the emotional scars of cancer, reframe adversity and redefine what is possible in their lives.

It is important to note that funds available for scholarships are limited and the application process is therefore competitive. Each participant is empowered to fundraise to his or her capacity and our scholarship funds will provide additional support to those who need it.

Selection Criteria

1. Demonstration of financial need
2. Inability to fundraise or pay the full amount of the Program Fee
3. Clear anticipated benefit for embarking on the program
4. Well-defined Ripple Impact Action Plan that includes detailed steps and milestones. This plan should be truly impactful, well-intentioned, and appropriate to the applicant’s capabilities.
5. The willingness of applicant to share his/her Odyssey Experience both on the AFC blog/website and personal social media platforms
6. Willingness to write a personal letter of thanks to donors.

Creating A Ripple Impact Action Plan

Here at AFC, we are inspired to make the world a better place both locally and globally. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you will need to develop a Ripple Impact Action Plan describing how you plan to make a positive impact on the world – outside of the actual Odyssey experience. In its simplest terms, think of this as a traditional ripple effect that occurs when a stone is dropped in water and the effect it has on the larger body of water, expanding outwards causing the ripple.

For your Ripple Impact Action Plan, your goal should be to make a change in a person, place, or community that will hopefully encourage others to do so as well. This could be anything from a plan to volunteer with a non-profit in your community for a set period of time, an idea you want to implement that would help AFC grow and impact more people, or a project designed to foster real humanitarian change that you would implement from start to finish. It’s not about the grandness of the gesture; it’s about finding a way to show gratitude for the Odyssey experience while making the world a better place. Feel free to be creative with your Ripple Impact Action Plan.

Important note: Your Ripple Impact Action Plan should be personally challenging and fulfilling to you, but also should be realistic and achievable. You don’t have to change the world but we do ask you to consider how you cake a meaningful contribution to an existing organization or to your community.