Are you thinking of going on Outtatown this year but don't know how you're going to afford it?

A year on Outtatown is incredible, maybe even life-changing. But it is expensive. The cost of the program is $12,800, plus the cost of airfare to either Guatemala or South Africa.  Even though this is an incredibly low price for such an amazing year, you may not be able to afford it. So what do you do?

First of all, break it down...

• Approximately one-third of the cost is room and board. You might be paying that much or more no matter where you are.
  
• Another third of the cost is for the missions/service component of your year. This is a chance to make a difference in the world, and believe me, after you have built someone a home or befriended an orphaned child, you will know that you have made a difference. We encourage students to fundraise this portion of their costs by partnering with their local church.
  
• The final third of the cost is for your university education. Many of our alumni claim that they learned more on Outtatown than they did in their three or four years of formal university education that followed. Outtatown students don't just learn about Christianity, the needs of the world and the dynamics of living in a faith community - they live it first hand. In addition, students can earn up to 18 university credits through CMU. Student loans and some scholarships and bursaries are available.
  
• The last portion is the international flight cost (the price of getting “out of town” – see the pun?).

As you can see, when broken down, the entire cost doesn't seem quite so daunting. In order to help make it even a bit easier, here are 10 suggestions of ways to pay for a year on Outtatown:

1. Pray. The very first thing you should do is pray about this.  Is this something that you feel called to do?  Every year is important in life, but those first few years out of high school can be monumental – imagine giving one year to God – one year to dream big about what God wants you to do; to discover your gifts, your passions, your calling in life.  Start by asking God to guide you about this decision and about the money you will need to accomplish this goal.
   
2. Talk to your parents. Sit down with your family to find out if they think this is a good idea. Are they able to help you with part of the cost?  They always wanted you to go to university, remember?  In fact some parents have set money aside for education in an RESP, and this program qualifies.  In addition, there will be a tax receipt for the educational and missions portions of this program which you or your parents can use to reduce the cost of the program.
   
3. Save up some cash. How much money can you personally earn & put together between now and the beginning of September? Create a budget for yourself and start putting some of the money you earn into a savings account. If your parents are willing to help you with part of the cost, you might suggest that they match whatever amount you earn yourself. This way you are partnering together to make this year happen.
   
4. Mission Trip Support. Most church congregations help students who are going out on short-term mission trips. While this is much more than a mission trip, it involves a lot of service opportunities and our job is to bring you back ready to serve and contribute to the ministry of the local church. So, we encourage and allow students to fundraise 1/3 of their total by partnering with their home church. Click here for more information on fundraising through your church.
   
5. Take out a Student Loan - The Outtatown program is a qualifying educational program and students may apply for funding from the Canada Student Loans Program, or through a local bank or educational agency. Click here for more information on Government Student Loans.
   
6. Talk to your relatives. You may find that your grandparents or some of your uncles and aunts are very supportive of this idea and would love to help you achieve your goals. We suggest that you talk to your parents about this first, but they may have good ideas of people who would be interested in helping as well.
   
7. Apply for scholarships and bursaries. Often employers will have some kind of scholarship for the children of employees. Many communities have leadership scholarships or grants that are designed to help young people achieve remarkable goals in life – the Outtatown program would qualify and you may be eligible. For more information on leadership scholarships and bursaries that you would qualify for through CMU, click here.
   
8. Hold a massive Garage Sale. Most of us have tons of stuff lying around the house that we don’t use anymore. Why not sell off some of your stuff to earn some money and clear out your room at the same time? You could even talk to friends and family to see if they would be willing to donate their old stuff to you to sell at your garage sale.
   
9. Put together a fundraising event. A car wash, a special dessert night, a concert; use your gifts and interests to create a party or a significant event. Tell people what the cause is and charge a small admission fee. Show the Outtatown DVD and provide information about what you are planning to do.  You’ll be surprised at how willing people are to support you.
   
10. Apply for the Outtatown program and pray. Yes, I know, it sounds a bit like the first thing on the list but it is that important. Applying to the program is a step of faith. Some students have found that God’s answer is “wait a year” and they have then taken a year to put together the money that was needed. Others have found that their prayers were answered more quickly. If this is something God has put upon your heart, then talk openly to him about your hopes and dreams. Work diligently to do your part. And then, if you are interested, apply for the Outtatown program as a step of faith that opens a door to a year of great adventure.

Bonus idea – Live Simply!  In the Outtatown program you will be visiting people who have almost nothing, especially compared to the average North American. A good way to prepare for this year is to examine the way we live - you and I as North Americans tend to buy things we don’t need and to live a life style that wastes a lot. We need to think about this and see if we can direct more of what we have towards a great purpose. A year with Outtatown could be part of that move toward a life of purpose, making a difference in this world.

You may also be interested in:

Scholarships
Student Loans
Raising Support Through Your Church