Sponsorship??

[alextt]

Was curious if anyone knows how in the hell I can have this much needed cathartic experience of backpacking from Oct. - Dec. 2006 by getting sponsored to come from the caribbean to visit 15 of 18 countries...

[Eagle]

alextt, it would help if you provide some additional information. I'm not familiar with the concept of "getting sponsored", so not quite sure what you're referring to? Which 15 countries are you intending to visit?

Cheers!!!

[LHR02]

You are going to 15 of 18 'countries' in the Caribbean? Do you have a big boat, or a lot of money for airfare? Travel between the islands is normally pretty expensive. I have no idea what 'sponsorship' you are talking about.

as Eagle said...more info would help....although this is a European travel board, someone may be able to help out.

[jennifer]

I think he meant he comes from theCarribean, and wants to visit 15-18 countries in Europe, but for that, he needs to be sponsored to get visa...

[LHR02]

Re-read his post Jen...believe you are right. Again, I read it too quickly so confused myself.

Hopefully he will return. I can't imagine what sponsorship he needs. It will be interesting to see what island he is from. Several of them are Dutch or French anyway.....and I'd assume the citizens of them would hold passports from the 'ruling' country.

[MuvverRussia]

Yeah, if you're from a Dutch or French island then you should be ok. One of my friends is from St Maarten and he has a Dutch passport.

Otherwise I wouldn't like your chances. There are strict immigration rules for certain countries for a reason (e.g. Jamaica, with the associated drugs issues etc) and there's no way any sane person would sponsor someone they didn't know.

[alextt]

I reply with a smile. I really thought I would have gotten some not so kind responses. To clarify: 1. I am FROM the Caribbean (Trinidad & Tobago), 2. Sponsorship as in 'are there companies or individuals who sponsor things like visa or plane ticket costs in return for research info' so that we both benefit (I can afford to purchase my Youth Flexi pass...) 3. the countries I want to visit are listed on as the countries you can visit on the youth pass.

T & T is not a ward anymore of any of the 'old colonials' as we call them. Independent republic.

So ANY information you have would be GREAT. Someone wrote me about work camps but I wasn't sure hopw that worked or where to look or if it would help in getting me across to London (where I have to start out from) etc etc.

I'm young, desperately want this as a cathartic exerience and as the website says 'Maybe you're young, have finished school and want to find yourself....'

Again, thanks guys for your warm responses. You're beautiful indeed!

[LHR02]

T & T?

Hey Alex...would you like to sponsor me?

Have visited your beautiful island, would love to return.

So, why are you needing a 'sponsor'? I'm still confused over this. Will your passport not allow entry or are you looking for some sort of 'financial' help?

ging

and BTW...this is a very friendly board...you won't often find 'less than kind' replies hereabouts!

[alextt]

Sorry 'T & T' is our abbreviation for the name Trinidad & Tobago, sometimes we say 'TnT' anyway...

Yes! Not outright sponsorship as in cash, but a ticket (plane) so I can get from T&T to London where I start my trip.

As I said, I can afford to purchase my Rail pass, just not anything else... *grin* So that's why I asked if you know of companies that sponsor things like that as research projects or whatever so we both benefit- I get the ticket/trip, they get the info.

Otherwise, hey! If someone's willing to sponsor a plane ticket to London, by all means, I'm game baby!

[alextt]

and no by the way, I will have no passport problems.

[jennifer]

Haha, i bet you are game! hhehehe

I think this subject has been covered over the years, but first hand, i couldnt refer you to the other posts. It is really rare that people would actually pay you to travel, although very sad, cause we'd all be travelling right now heheh

I, personnally, really have never heard of this, but maybe someone else has some good ideas for you

Good luck and let us know!
Jen

[WillTravel]

Alex, do you qualify for the Commonwealth country programs where you can live and work in the UK for two years? Maybe your best bet would be to apply for that program, get the money for a ticket somehow (I know it's tough), and then focus on working in the UK and saving up before going backpacking.

[Jules80]

i have friends that have gotten their travles financed but once was a year in africa for school but they managed to get enough money to spend the summer rock climbing and travellign africa. the other time was this past year when they biked 8000 km across asia to make a documentary film. sot hey got sponsorship for that too.

[alextt]

Hmm... I do qualify for the commonwealth programme... Let me explain further: I'm the type of person that once I set my mind to do something in a certain timeframe, 'By hook or by crook' I do it. So I had set my mind to doing the trip in October this year for 3 months, nad I plan to do it. I won't do the work/study programme because I hold two jobs that I won't leave just yet for that sort of thing... I'd take 'no pay leave' to backpack, I wouldn't resign for the two year programme. ANyway, THANK YOU for your responses, support, and keep me posted on your travels. I'll keep you posted on mine when it's ready. I'll be there! I always think positively!

[alextt]

P.S. ICQ is still around? I didn't even know that... No offense to ICQ users... *grin*