Loreauville sophomore Ainsley Kaiser is raising funds to participate in the CIEE Global Navigator High School Study Abroad program.

One Loreauville native is getting by with the help of her friends (and community).

Ainsley Kaiser is a standout sophomore at Loreauville High School, who recently was accepted into the CIEE Global Navigator High School Study Abroad program where she will spend four weeks in Rome, Italy learning about their language and culture this summer.

She will take traditional classes there, too.

Through the program, Ainsley will have the opportunity to earn four college credits, which are sponsored by Tulane University to go towards her major of International Relations, which she plans on pursuing after she graduates from high school.

After receiving a scholarship, easily done for Ainsley, thanks to her 4.0 GPA, she will still need help to cover the remaining tuition and airfare. Her mom, Heather, started a GoFundMe with the goal of raising $5,000. They have raised over $1,000 already.

The program will broaden Ainsley’s communication skills and help her build connections with a different variety of people. Living in a small town her whole life, this adventure will allow her to see a different culture, opening her eyes to something new.

Heather said that Loreauville is a small community but everyone wants to help each other when they can.

“I put a GoFundMe out just to see if anybody would help, and if they could, they would, and if not, we just appreciate people being supportive,” Heather said. “It’s not often you see a kid going abroad to study.”

Heather said she is beyond proud of her daughter, going half-way across the world to pursue her education and broaden her mind. For her to have that mindset now, Heather said, it’s a testament to her hardwork and dedication.

The support that Loreauville showed Ainsley brought tears to Hether’s eyes.

“When people I don’t even know, but they know my family, and they just send $10 or $5, that makes me almost as proud as someone that sends $100,” Heather said. “It really touches my heart that a community this small, they give what they can.”

For the community of Loreauville to help a child they don’t even know, it was an amazing gesture, Heather said. And she continues to be in awe of everything that is happening.

“I still think it’s amazing,” Heather said. “If $1,000 is all she raises, I am super-happy about that. Because I am shocked that so many people helped with something like this.”

Ainsley’s tuition is due on April 15, so Heather plans to keep the GoFundMe up for a few more weeks.

If you would like to help support Ainsley and her studies, you can contact her mother, Heather, on her Facebook page. Or you can donate directly to Ainsley Kaiser’s GoFundMe.