Why didn`t you find a sponsor for it? Even in a poor country like mine I`ve found a sponsor to attend a 600$ worth conference on medical informatics. There are foundations who give money and they don`t care that much whom they pay. My qualification was only that I finished the university. I`ve heard even university students get money (With good marks of course. I`ve won 3x a trip to Lomonosov University Moscow, but never went since it was always in exam time.). Richer countries have more opportunities. Just ask and search for foundations. Know the people who are involved with them. Sometimes they`re hard to find, just know the guys who know about them. Ask your teachers, friends, parents. It`s really not that hard to find, but they don`t come to ring at your doorbell.