As travelers, we take a lot from the world- food, people, experience, but we rarely give back to the world we take so much from. Luckily, opportunities always present themselves. Last year, Pam Mandel from Nerds Eye View, Beth Whitman from Wanderlust and Lipstick, Debbie Dubrow from Delicious Baby, and Michelle Duffy from WanderMom created an organization that allows travelers to give back.
The site, called Passports with a Purpose, rounds up travelers to donate products that are then raffled off. Those proceeds then go to charity. This year, the proceeds go to building a school in Cambodia. I remember going to Cambodia when I first backpacked Southeast Asia. I loved the country, but was shocked at how little development there was. Gas stations were just bottles on the side of the road, and people zoomed by in motorcycles holding up IV bags to keep the pressure. The Khmer Rouge did a number on the country, and as part of their reign of terror, destroyed the education system. They demolished schools and killed anyone with half a brain.
This year, the Passports with Purpose fundraising effort is supporting American Assistance for Cambodia (AAfC) with the goal of building a school. We hope to raise $13,000 to build a school in rural Cambodia.
As part of that effort, I am donating a Kelty Coyote Backpack. It comes in red or blue and retails at $160 USD. Kelty makes good packs. I see them used all over the world and knock offs all over Asia. And you know, if they are making a knock off, it must be good!
For each $10 donation that you make to AAfC, you will will be entered in the giveaway(s) of your choice. The fundraiser closes on December 21 with all proceeds going right to AAfC. And remember, all proceeds are tax deductible.
Come and participate. Even if you don’t like all the other prizes being given away, (A LOT of people are involved), donating $10 dollars to the education of a nation is not that much to ask.
So again the site to go to and donate at is Passports with a Purpose. I hope you do. This is a great cause to be involved in!
Great gift Matt!
Hey Matt. Glad to see you and your site good involved in this worthy cause — very cool. Now inspired to contribute. As of today, they’ve collected ~US$8,000 of the ~US$13,000 required. Good stuff. I loved my time spent in Cambodia, too. I’ve also made a number of microloans (through KIVA) to people in the area. It’s a great country — both for its people and its natural beauty!
I would think they would need a teacher more than a school!
what a great raffle item, matt! i love pwp – such a fantastic cause.
I like that slogan, if there’s a knockoff in Asia it must be good. They should put that in their commercials.