Seattle to Zambia: Our Journey to Chilileka Basic School Library
Posted on | May 18, 2012 | No Comments
One of Passports with Purpose’s goals each fundraiser is to visit the completed project – whether it is the village in India or the school in Cambodia – and to
witness the impact the project has to the local community. This May, Debbie Dubrow, Beth Whitman and Michelle Duffy returned from a whirlwind trip to Zambia to visit the Room to Read library at the Chilileka Basic School, which was one of the two libraries over two thousand people (bloggers, donors, corporate sponsors and YOU) helped fund in 2011.
Located 90 minutes outside Lusaka, the Chilileka Basic School library is used by over 300 children in the area. In addition to the funds from Passports with Purpose, community members contributed 25% of the building cost in the form of labor and locally sourced materials.
Debbie, Beth and Michelle attended a welcome and ribbon cutting ceremony at the library. Community leaders, including the village headman, had come out for this event, greeting the PwP team with drums and the traditional “War Welcome Dance.” Inside the library, the children burst into a welcome song, accompanied by “Grandmother.” They had a chance to interact with the children, stood by as they demonstrated some of the skills they practiced in the library and listened to them read from the books in the library.
At the end of their time with them, Debbie presented the headmaster of the school with a book of postcards that donors and participating bloggers sent us, connecting our world with theirs even further.
We are extremely grateful to everyone who has followed along our journey. Our thanks also goes to the Room to Read teams in San Francisco and in Zambia for arranging the visit and helping with the logistics; and to Expedia our travel sponsor for the trip.
Stay tuned as we announce the 2012 charity in mid-June!
Related Links:
Ribbon Cutting at Chilileka Basic School’s New Library
We Bought a Library! (in Zambia)
A Tour Through the Slums in Lusaka, Zambia
A School Playground Sign in Zambia
Komboni Tour in Lusaka, Zambia
Lusaka Experience Township Tour
Seattle to Lusaka: Zambia Family Ties
Seattle to Lusaka: First Impressions of Zambia
Seattle to Lusaka: Cognative Dissonance
Join us (Virtually) in Zambia
Posted on | April 17, 2012 | Comments Off
In a few short weeks, three of the four Passports with Purpose founders (Beth Whitman, Michelle Duffy, and Deborah Dubrow will depart for Zambia to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony at one of the two libraries you helped build. We’re excited and, as you might imagine, emotional about this opportunity. We are also very grateful to Expedia who is making the trip possible by paying for our airfare and lodging
While we can’t bring you all along in person, we hope to bring you along virtually. This is Africa, after all, so we’re doing it the “old school” way, with postcards and pictures. We hope to gather hundreds of them to bind in a photo album and deliver to the school. It’s a great way to show the kids in Zambia how many people, from around the world, worked together to make their library a reality! So, if you helped by making a cash donation, providing a prize, or spreading the word on your blog or social media we hope you’ll participate.
- Send us your postcard (or postcard sized pictures). It can be a postcard from your hometown, a trip that meant a lot to you, or a picture of you doing something you love. Don’t forget to write a note on the back!
- We’ll be posting some of our favorites online, so let us know if it’s not ok to share in that way – we promise to respect your wishes.
- Put your picture or postcard in the mail by May 1 – you can send it to: Passports with Purpose, P.O. Box 16102, Seattle WA 98116. Make sure you allow enough time for it to get to us before May 3rd.
Participate in Passports with Purpose 2012
Posted on | March 15, 2012 | Comments Off
We’re hard at work at Passports with Purpose central getting ready for our 2012 fundraiser! If you haven’t participated in the past and would like to hear about this year’s effort, please sign up here. We’ll let you know when we unveil this year’s charity and how to participate, but we won’t spam you or share your email address. We promise.
Passports With Purpose 2011 Wrap Up
Posted on | February 16, 2012 | Comments Off
Thank you so much for your participation in Passports with Purpose this year. We were blown away by your tremendous support for this effort.
We raised a grand total of $89,819.00 for Room to Read. That’s $9819 over our initial goal of 80k, and with matching gifts, the total is sure to grow more.
Construction of the two libraries in Zambia that we’ve funded is underway — we’ll post those on the Passports with Purpose blog and you can see for yourself where your money is going. We’re also talking to Room to Read about other projects which we could support using the $9819 overage: girl’s education in Zambia, filling an existing space with books, or more.
We emailed all prize winners on December 23rd. Congratulations if you were one of the lucky prize-winners — but even if you didn’t win this year, we greatly appreciate your generosity. We hope you’ll agree that the biggest winners this year were the thousands of kids in Africa who will now have access to books.
We’re proud to be working with such a committed group of bloggers and travel industry companies who provided such great prizes and we’ll be looking to have more of the same next year.
We hope you will stay in touch through 2012. An easy way to follow along with us is to “like” our Passports with Purpose Facebook Page
Again, a heartfelt “Thanks!” from everyone on the Passports with Purpose organizing crew. We hope you’ll join us next year.
Yours,
Beth, Debbie, Meg, Michelle and Pam
Prize Donations are Now Closed.
Posted on | December 17, 2011 | Comments Off
You can still donate directly to Room to Read here. Stand by, in a few days, we’ll notify prize winners.
Thank you — our grand total at midnight on Friday, December 16 was 89159.00.
Best Odds Prizes Valued at $1000 or More
Posted on | December 15, 2011 | Comments Off
Yesterday, Pam published a list of the PwP prizes that you have the best odds of winning. That list unleashed such a flurry of activity and donations, that we thought we’d put out a second list for people who want to win a BIG prize! And here it is, the list of best odds if you want to win a prize valued at $1000 or more.
Best act quick, though, Passports with Purpose closes this Friday, Dec 16 at Midnight PST
- 5 Day Tournament of Roses Parade and Los Angeles Tour Ever wonder why so many people move to LA? I think it’s the New Year’s day sunshine at the Tournament of Roses parade. This one is on my personal bucket list. Package for 2 includes: 4 nights hotel, reserved Grand-stand seats for viewing Rose Parade, private viewing of parade floats, city tour, taxes. (Value 1696)
- Family Getaway at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Sunshine AND included childcare? That sounds like a dream come true to this busy Seattle mama. Here’s a Two-night stay at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess with two full-day admissions to Bobcat Billy’s Clubhouse for kids ages 4-12. (Value 1000)
- 3 Night Stay For A Family Of Four At Choice Of Beaches Resort In Jamaica My blogging buddy Corinne can’t stop raving about this place. Win an all-inclusive three night stay for a family of four (two adults, two children under 15) at winner’s choice of Beaches Resort in Jamaica. (Value: 3000)
- 3-night Unlimited-Luxury stay at Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa in Mexico for two people Gourmet food and drinks included? I’m there! Resort stay for 2 at Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa in Mexico, including gourmet dining & drinks, 24-hr room service, activities & more! (Value: 2000)
- 4 Day Rafting Trip for Two on the Lower Salmon River A cell-phone free rafting trip on Idaho’s Lower Salmon River seems like the ultimate way to unplug. This prize includes meals, catered camping, experienced guides and expedition equipment for a 4 day rafting trip. (Value 1814)
- Washington Wine Country Experience Round out a Seattle vacation with a Private Washington Wine Country tour in Walla Walla with IMBIBE Wine Tours for 6 adults including private wine tasting at Dusted Valley Vintners.(Value: 1000)
Best Odds on PwP Prizes
Posted on | December 14, 2011 | Comments Off
Have you been waiting around to see what you’ve got the best shot at in the long list of totally fabulous Passports with Purpose prizes? We know how you are. I’m not going to show you how many bids there are on these items, but I WILL say this: “Whoa, how can it be that there are only X bids on that one thing? HOW CAN THAT BE?”
Here’s your best odds list. You know what to do, right? Links take you to the detailed post on the prize, come back here to give. And maybe, just maybe, get.
- Pit Stops for Kids: Two Adult One Day Go Cards from Smart Destinations. Choose from one of 14 US Cities.
- Travels with Two: Shuttle Bus Weekender Bag.
- The Carey Adventures: $150 in rentals from BorrowLenses.com (a Nerd’s Eye View pick!)
- A Traveler’s Library: $100 gift certificate for audio books from MacMillan Audio. You’ve not experienced how awesome audio books are until you’ve been on a long, rough ocean crossing. I tell you what.
- Roaming Tales: Cooking class at Freestyle Escape in Queensland, Australia.
- Roadtrips for Families: Buckeye state (that’s Ohio, kids) getaway. Two nights at a state park lodge plus goodies.
- Sheila’s Guide: Voltij travel pack, great for backpackers.
- The Gastrognome: $500 towards a Willing Foot tour, good through the end of 2012.
- Travel with Teens and Tweens: Monkey Trunks Extreme zip-lining and ropes adventure in Chocorua, NH; Weirs Beach, NH or Saco, Maine.
- PNW Journeys: One night at the Hotel Andra in Seattle. (Come visit the PwP crew!)
- A Dangerous Business: The Nevis Experience: Bungee and swing in New Zealand (You go ahead. I’ll wait at the bar.)
- Trekaroo: Overnight and a round of golf at the Barton Creek Resort and Spa in Austin, Texas.
- Mo Travels: Stylish carry-all for your laptop and “stuff”, made to slide over your rolling bag handle. You know the drill.
- Travelblogs: $100 voucher for accommodation through Traveller’s Point (a PwP sponsor!)
- Ireland with Kids: Two nights at any B&B on the B&B Ireland website. The Irish? Insanely charming, in my experience.
- Field Trips with Sue: CNN package at the Omni Hotel, Atlanta. Breakfast for four, activities, and one night stay.
- Overyonderlust: SteriPEN freedom. Microbes, bad. Clean water, good.
- Where am I Wearing: Brand new HTC SmartPhone, plus, an hour with a literary agent. (What, you don’t want this? Are you nuts?)
- Stuck at the Airport: Travel products mystery box. Laugh in the face of the TSA’s three ounce tyranny, you are READY!
- NW Trip Finder: Mt. Rainer Glacier and Waterfalls tour. The PNW is freaky beautiful. Come see some of it.
- Alaska Travelgram: Two for one Alaska and Seattle TourSaver books for discounted activities. I’ve used mine.They’ve saved me a pile.
- Hammock in Paradise: Two nights, excursions, camping gear rental, more on Espritu Santo Island. Whoa. How did I miss this?
- Go Backpacking: Premium membership in this travelblogging program.
- GranTourismo: Context tour for two. Educational walking tour any where Context offers their tours.
A little effort can make a BIG difference
Posted on | December 13, 2011 | Comments Off
It has been amazing to see the level of generosity from so many travel bloggers and donors. The two libraries in Zambia through Room to Read are almost a reality. On December 16 at 11:59 PST donations for prizes close, but donations to Room to Read are still accepted. As we head into these last few days of the 2011 Passports with Purpose fundraiser, here’s some inspiration from 13-year-old Isabella Gagliardo, or Bella, from Round the World with Us.
We’re really glad to be [involved] with so many others who aren’t afraid of crazy adventure and who know that when you work with the right organizations, a little effort can make a big difference.
Not only did we raise funds for Room to Read last year, but we also partnered with Passports with Purpose to help raise money for the village in India that all of you made possible. But we were so honored to volunteer there for almost a month and to be able to get to know Krishnammal Jaganathan. She’s an amazing woman, who started her activist career over 60 years ago working with the likes of Gandhi and Venoba. When I tell you that you’ve helped make her dreams for a better life for her people come true by building that village … it’s no exaggeration. Through your creativity, your hard work, and your unique ability to inspire people, you are truly changing lives for generations to come.
Library foundation walls being completed near the Chilileka Middle Basic School in Zambia
So the adventure continues in Zambia. It’s a country of unparalleled beauty. I believe what you’re doing this year is even more impactful than the incredible feats you’ve achieved over the past few years. Bringing the tools for literacy to two communities in Zambia, is like opening up the world to the people who live there. There is nothing that is as empowering as the ability to read and write. It can be the key to a life free from poverty. A world of education, independent thought, job skills, activism, entrepreneurship – in short, a world where taking control of your own life, your own destiny – no matter your current conditions – is suddenly within reach.
So keep traveling, and keep blogging. Not only are you changing lives in Zambia, you’re making difference everywhere because in a world with so many problem that can seem so hard to solve, you’re paving the way, using your voices to show people what’s out there, what’s fun, what’s exciting, what’s good… And what’s possible.
Round the World with Us returned as a sponsor for Passports with Purpose for the second year in a row. Learn more about their philanthropic efforts here:
Round the World with Us and Room to Read
Our 2011 Fundraiser is Open! Give Now!
Posted on | November 30, 2011 | Comments Off
We’re super excited to announce that we’re open for this year’s fundrasier for Room to Read. Prizes are listed on the “Donate” page — click that big orange button to go directly to the catalog. Your donation goes DIRECTLY to Room to Read (minus a small transaction fee charged by PayPal). But hey, what are you doing reading this? We stop taking entries at 11:59PM PST on Dec 16, so you need to act fast! Go see the amazing prizes our contributing bloggers have lined up and give, give, give.
It Took You to Build a (South Indian) Village
Posted on | November 18, 2011 | Comments Off
Beth here, one of the co-founders of Passports with Purpose.
While we’re in the process of gearing up for this year’s fundraiser, I thought you might like to hear about what you made happen through last year’s Passports with Purpose.
You’ll recall that our 2010 fundraiser brought in nearly $65,000 through Friends of LAFTI. Those funds are helping build 25 homes in a small village, Karunganni, in South India.
Karunganni is located in the state of Tamil Nadu. A small village near the coast, it’s far enough inland to have dodged the tsunami in 2004, but is prone to flooding and, like much of India, struggles with extreme poverty.
In January, I visited Karunganni just as ground was being broken on those homes. What I found there was a very grateful community where most people live in poorly built mud huts that crumble and need to be patched and rebuilt every few years.
With the funds raised through Passports with Purpose, 25 families are in the process of moving into well-built brick homes that are expected to last far longer than their mud huts. LAFTI provided the land for these families, now landowners for the first time! An added bonus is that the homes are signed over to the woman of the house – an amazing feat given that India is a very patriarchal country.
The thing that blows me away about this little story is that families are changed. Improved. Provided a new life. And that this would NOT have been possible without hundreds of people donating in $10 increments.
That’s powerful.
The photo at left was taken this summer at one of the partially built homes.
Once homes are complete, they’ll look like this home built in a nearby village through LAFTI.
Passports with Purpose 2011 launches on November 30th. It’s not too late to participate as a blogger or to donate a prize. And we encourage all to donate between November 30 – December 16!
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