- Pray. The very first thing you should do is pray. Every year of your life is important, but those first few years out of high school can be monumental. Consider taking a year on Outtatown to dream about what God wants you to do and to discover more about your gifts, passions and calling in life. Ask God to guide you in this decision and to provide you with ways for raising the money you will need.
- 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? Your parents may have set money aside for your education in an RESP (Registered Education Savings Plan), and this program qualifies. In addition, you will be issued a T2202A Tuition and Education tax receipt for the tuition portion of your program fees which you or your parents can use to reduce the cost of the program.
- 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.
- Church support. Many church congregations offer financial support to students who are either studying at Christian educational institutes or are involved in missions and services projects. Contact your pastor or someone in leadership to find out if a program like this exists at your church. Ask your church to consider supporting you during your time on Outtatown, while letting them know that you will be involved with a wide variety of ministry and service organizations both in Canada and overseas. Click here for more information on support from your church.
- 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.
- 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.
- Apply for scholarships and bursaries. Each year the Outtatown program offers a number of leadership scholarships and also a few bursaries to students in need of financial support. In addition, 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. Employers also occasionally offer scholarship for the children of employees. For more information on leadership scholarships and bursaries available at CMU, click here.
- Get Creative. Hold a massive garage sale, organize a car wash, plan a special dessert night or a coffee house. Use your gifts and interests to find creative ways of raising a portion of your funds for the program. Tell people about the program and invite them to take part in your event and to consider supporting you financially.
- Live Simply! In the Outtatown program you will be meeting people who live with very few material possessions, especially compared to the average North American. Consider cutting back on some of the extras in your life. Leave your car at home and ride your bike wherever you can, host a potluck dinner with friends rather than going out to an expensive restaurant, or choose to shop at local thrift stores rather than overpaying for new clothes. This will help you prepare both financially and spiritually for your Outtatown experience.
- Apply for the Outtatown program and pray. Applying to the program may seem like a leap 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 God about your hopes and dreams. Work diligently to do your part. And then, if you are interested, apply for the Outtatown program. A great year of travel, adventure and growth awaits!
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