International Travel Studies (ITS) trips are a highlight of the Calgary Academy experience, as many students choose to travel across the globe, including past visits to Ecuador, Morocco, Nepal and Vietnam. These trips aren’t just vacations to beautiful locations—this altruistic program helps students learn what it means to be a global citizen and serve their greater community.  

The next destination for Calgary Academy is a return to Tanzania, the first location the ITS program ever visited.  

While not everyone goes on ITS trips, the entire CA community can support this altruistic program by purchasing a gift card (or several) to help with the future journey the ITS students will take this spring.  

ITS Gift Card Fundraiser Details 

From now until November 25 at noon, you can purchase gift cards for any Sobeys-associated stores across Canada, including Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland or FreshCo. These gift cards have no expiry date, meaning you can use them whenever you see fit.  

You can purchase gift cards in $10, $25, $50, $100 or $250 increments. A portion of these sales will go directly toward the ITS program, helping fund supplies for projects and travel costs for the students.  

These gift cards can be used for whatever you need, whether for a birthday, event, or supporting Calgary Academy’s upcoming Adopt–a–Family fundraising initiative. Your donation helps support altruism in the local and global community. 

Whether it is extra paint and brushes, food or school supplies, the funds raised for the ITS program benefit the community the students and teachers visit. Kim Petersen, Calgary Academy teacher and long-time contributor to the ITS program, understands the impact of these donations. 

“Part of being in the ITS program is getting a full understanding of what the community needs when we first arrive in the country. It allows us to help in two ways, including the in-person volunteer work but also contributing to the local economy when making purchases at local shops for supplies. The money that students raise through various initiatives beforehand, including gift card fundraisers, goes directly to purchasing these supplies to help in the best way we can. – Kim Petersen

How Can You Purchase a Gift Card?  

If you’re looking to help the ITS program raise funds for Tanzania, it begins on Rycor. Fill out the form with the required information and select the number of gift cards you want for each dollar amount. After making your purchase, you will receive instructions on where to pick up your order. You can expect your gift card[s] the week of December 12, 2022.   

The impact the ITS program has on Calgary Academy students cannot be understated—these trips aren’t possible without your help.

What seems like a simple fundraising project contributes in a much bigger way, which is why it’s such an important facet to this program and what makes it so impactful year after year.” – Kim Petersen

Contact its@calgaryacademy.com if you have questions or want more information about the gift card fundraiser.