How fitting it is with our goals when Passports with Purpose shared their plans of raising $13,000 to help build a school in Cambodia.
Just yesterday, The Oprah Show hosted the Authors of Half the Sky (www.halftheskymovement.org), Nicholas Kristof and his wife, Sheryl WuDunn, who discussed ending modern day slavery of young girls in Cambodia. Read a personal account of participation in the program by the New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof and other efforts in Cambodia here.
During our 2009 Summer Sabbatical, we visited Cambodia for the very fist time. In Siem Reap, we came upon many school aged boys and girls selling arts and crafts, approaching all tourists trying to make a few bucks. This very determined 10 year old girl, in the picture immediately below this paragraph, followed us around barefooted for over 30 minutes. She helped us find the easiest way down from the top of the temple on very steep steps. Like an acrobat she managed her little body up and down the temple steps never too far of a distance from us. Finally, she was very excited when we bought 3 bracelets from her. Her efforts paid off.
We also visited the Cambodian Landmines Museum and Relief Center. The center had its own orphanage taking care of 70 children. Visiting this museum and meeting the children everywhere made us wondered. We wondered about the lives of these children we met: Do they have a roof over their head, are they fed, do they have books to read? do they go to school?
Though we wished we could have donated more to the Landmines Museum to support the orphanage, frankly, we didn’t have enough dollars to make a major contribution the way we would have liked (by then, we still had another month left in Thailand).
So here we are! Serendipity? We like to think so!
We are a proud Silver Sponsor and we invite YOU to join us.
Please don’t forget to tell a family member, a friend, a co-worker, a neighbor, a teacher or if you have kids, see if you can work with their school and other parents to do a group sponsor. You can help in sooo many ways.
(UPDATE: So happy to report we have reached 13K. Don’t stop giving, we can do so much for the children with extra $$. Find out how we can help together).
Click here to Donate
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Who is Passports with Purpose?
PwP was founded by four successful women travelbloggers Debbie Dubrow of DeliciousBaby, Pam Mandel of Nerd’s Eye View, Michelle Duffy of WanderMom and Beth Whitman of Wanderlust and Lipstick. Together with their leadership, they were able to raise $7000 last year.
YES, You Too Can Help Build A School
This year, the Passports with Purpose fundraising effort is supporting American Assistance for Cambodia (AAfC) an independent, nonprofit 501 c 3 organization dedicated to improving opportunities for the youth and rural poor in Cambodia. Founded in 1993 by American journalist Bernie Krisher, AAfC operates interlinked programs across Cambodia in the areas of education, health, rural development, and technology. By raising $13,000 we can build a school in rural Cambodia!
Map of Schools built in Cambodia by AAfC.
How It Works
Travelbloggers everywhere are hosting giveaways in support of this fundraising effort. See the full list of prizes and get more details directly from the participating bloggers.
For each $10 donation, yes only TEN Dollars, you make to AAfC, you will be entered in the giveaway(s) of your choice. The fundraiser closes on December 21 and all proceeds go directly to AAfC.
Key Dates
- PwP drawing begins: Nov 30
- PwP closes: Dec 21
- Prize winners announced: Jan 5
Sponsors
We have support from a number of sponsors who helped kick off this year’s efforts. Please see who’s involved!
Join us!
The Got Passport Family 
Thanks everyone for the read and for your kind words. We hope to continue giving large and living small!
Love your generous hearts, guys. Way to go!
Thanks for adding in your personal perspective on Cambodia’s needs and for your help with PwP!!!
very cool – thanks so much for your sponsorship!!