One initiative that makes me proud to be a member of the travel community is the annual Passports with Purpose (PwP) project which brings together bloggers, travel industry professionals, and nonprofit organizations in an effort to support various worthy causes since its inception in 2008. Last year, with all our collective help in raising over $65,000, Passports with Purpose was able to build a village in India.
This year, Passports with Purpose is teaming up with nonprofit organization Room to Read to raise $80,000 to build two libraries in Zambia. You can follow fundraising efforts and conversations on Twitter at #PwP.
Where I Come In
This year, I’ve partnered with Beyond Boundaries Travels to bring you an amazing tour which you can bid for – 8-Night Thailand Bike/Cruise the Coast from Bangkok to Koh Samui (LAND ONLY) in support of PwP. The prize is valued at $1,760 which covers land costs and other items as outlined here.
Fellow travel photographer, Matador Network colleague and friend Daniel Nahabedian recently traveled on this very same tour with Beyond Boundaries through Thailand and you can check out his gorgeous photo essay here – Cycling Southern Thailand.
This is a solid travel company I can personally vouch for because I discovered a new way of exploring Egypt through their Egypt Bike and Sail tour.
It was so much more than a leisurely cruise down the Nile or a camel ride to the Pyramids, and exploring Egypt on bike exposed me to its sights, smells, and sounds in a more intimate way. Plus I got to meet some amazing travelers like Ann Lombardi of TripChicks, Melissa Adams of WordGeisha, and the inspirational Alpha Bennett who I consider friends today.
You can view my photo essay here – Egypt by sea and sand.
Where You Come In
Starting November 30th until December 16th, you can make donations of $10 or more to the cause. In addition, you can choose which prizes you’d like to win (including the amazing biking tour above) when making your donation. Please reach into your pockets and give what you can. Special thanks to Beyond Boundaries for supporting this effort.
Please Donate Here
Previous PwP Efforts
To learn more about previous projects, please check out the links below.
2010 – LAFTI – Building a village in India – https://www.lolaakinmade.com/2010/11/15/passports-with-purpose-help-us-build-a-village-in-india/
2009 – American Assistance for Cambodia (AAC) – https://www.lolaakinmade.com/2009/11/26/counting-blessings-at-a-food-bank/
2008 – Heifer International – https://www.lolaakinmade.com/2008/12/02/passports-with-purpose-supporting-a-great-cause/
2008 – Giving Back: Passports with Purpose – https://www.lolaakinmade.com/2008/11/19/giving-back-passports-with-purpose/