Posts Tagged ‘Causes’

Seeking Brave Female Travelers For The 1 Peak 1 Week Kilimanjaro Challenge

Monday, April 11th, 2011

All rights reserved by xiaow3i

Who: Fearless female mountain conquerers. (Acrophobics need not apply.)
What: Scale the highest free standing moutain in the world, Mount Kilimanjaro.
Where: Tanzania, Africa
When: August 12-21, 2011
Why: To support Tanzanian women living with HIV/AIDS

Support For International Change has teamed up with The Peaks Foundation, an organization that organizes global mountain challenges for women who seek adventure and a sense of personal acheivement. Their work has directly impacted communities in Nepal, India, Tanzania, Congo, Kenya and South America.

The 1 Peak 1 Week Kilimanjaro Challenge aims to assist Support for International Change and their effort across northern Tanzania to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS by providing education, economic and social support.

If the 1 Peak 1 Week Kilimanjaro Challenge fails to recruit at least 5 climbers in the next two weeks, this challenge will be pulled. Support for International Change will not be able to provide much needed resources for Tanzanian women living with HIV/AIDS.

Here is a brief one week itinerary on your climb up to Mount Kilimanjaro:

  • Day 1: Arrive Kilimanjaro International Airport – transfer to Arusha
  • Day 2: Half day with local organization, Game drive
  • Day 3: Day with local organization
  • Day 4-8: Kilimanjaro climb
  • Day 9: Kilimanjaro decent, celebration dinner
  • Day 10: Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport

Please pass on this post to friends, family, adventurers, mountain climbers and anyone who would be interested in scaling Mount Kilimanjaro. RTs and Stumbles is also much appreciated in helping to spread the word. It would be even more awesome if you can share this with your readers.

The more people who know about it, the more likely this challenge will be able to succeed and the more likely Tanzanian women living HIV/AIDS will have the resources they desperately need.

Now that we’ve got all the basics down, who amongst my fellow wanderlusters is brave enough to take on this challenge?

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Africa | 10 Comments »

Globetrotters, Have You Changed The World?

Sunday, July 11th, 2010

 

 

change the world

Flickr - Globetoppers

 

When I travel, all I do is take. I take in the sights. I take in the sound. I take in the smell, the feel, the culture and I certainly take in the food. But what do I give? Nothing but dollar bills. Now, how fair is that?

The only time I ever gave back was during my study abroad semester. I volunteered at the QiDi Migrant School in rural Shanghai teaching English to impoverished children.

These migrant children were not only hungry for food but they were hungry to learn. They shouted answers with bright eyes and they fought to come to the board. For them, enough was never enough. They always wanted more. At the end of each class they tugged at my hands and asked,
“黄老师，你会回来吗？”(Miss Wong, will you be back?)

I always said yes. They always gleamed with joy but I knew that the more I said yes, the closer it was to saying no. Eventually I had to leave. Just like everyone else in their lives. (Read more)

With the exception of my study abroad semester, all of my trips were never extended travels. Perhaps that’s why giving back was never top of mind. It was all about me and what I wanted because in about a week or so, I’d be back to my 9-7.

So I’d like to propose something new  on A Pair of Panties & Boxers and I hope you will all support me. I will be featuring a fellow wanderluster who has given back to the global community on “Do Good Thursday.” I’ m looking to share stories from travelers who have volunteered abroad and inspire others to do the same.

If you have a personal story, volunteer resources, tips and advice you’d like to share, please email me at monica@apairofpantiesandboxers.com. I can’t wait to hear about the lives you’ve changed and the differences you’ve made.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Do Good Thursday | 16 Comments »

Housing Works: Hidden Treasure In NYC

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

Housing Works Bookstore

Buried between two large, busy intersections of New York City and hidden under scaffolding is the Housing Works Bookstore Café located on 126 Crosby Street. This bookstore’s mission is to fight AIDS – one book at a time. Everything in this bookstore is donated – records, CDs, DVDs, VHS videos – and everything is sold under its retail price. Most books I came across were $6-$10 – all in great condition.

All the employees volunteer and all the profits go toward fighting AIDS and providing housing to people with AIDS. You can donate or volunteer, buy a book and sip some coffee. It’s a great way to give back and perhaps, maybe even discover something new amongst the shelves. I usually like to grab a cup of coffee and spend the entire afternoon rummaging the bookshelves. Here is where I found Che Guevara’s Motorcycle Diaries for $5.

More info about Housing Works Bookstore Cafe:

Housing Works Bookstore Café has established itself as a New York downtown institution and tourist destination for the last decade. Special events and a fully stocked cafe make this a great place to meet friends, relax and shop the best book, movie and music selection in New York City. Our one of a kind space is available for rental and all of our merchandise is donated. We are staffed almost entirely by volunteers and 100% of our profits go to Housing Works, Inc.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in New York, US | 8 Comments »

I’m Guest Bartending In New York City!

Monday, April 12th, 2010

Image by Michael van Emde Boas

I’ve been volunteering with FXB to promote this year’s World AIDS Orphans Day. On May 7th, FXB Action Network is bringing together young professionals to raise money to help AIDS orphans around the world. The event will be hosted at Overlook Lounge in New York City. I will be guest bartending that night. So for all you heavy drinkers out there, ahem Chris Richardson, bring your behinds to NYC and drink up the bar for a good cause!

We’ve reserved the entire second floor and the outdoor patio. Your $15 donation will earn you admission to the event and ONE FREE DRINK but it can also:

  • Pay for a child in Rwanda or Uganda to attend primary school for the first time in their life by covering the costs of school fees that they would otherwise be unable to afford
  • Provide uniforms to AIDS orphans in India, so they can attend school with the other children in their community
  • Purchase basic school supplies like notebooks, pens, and reading materials for children in Thailand.

There will be $5 drink specials all night. You’ll also get a chance to win prizes like:

  • One hour of open bar at the Overlook Lounge for you and 9 of your friends!
  • Free registration for a co-ed sports league and post-game parties at NYCSSC. Join a Kickball, Softball, Ultimate Frisbee, Flag Football, Bowling, or Inner-tube Water Polo team!
  • A one-month membership to New York Health and Racket Club, includes use of state-of-the art cardio and strength training equipment, indoor lap pools, sauna, steam Rooms, whirlpools, jacuzzis, group fitness and spinning studios with over 600 weekly classes, and racquetball, basketball and squash courts. Plus, access to yacht, VIP Beach Club in Westchester and Doral Arrowwood Golf Resort!
  • Designer purses, exotic jewelry, SwitchFlops, and more!

By purchasing a ticket, you are helping FXB change the lives of AIDS orphans and children in need around the world. Reserve your ticket now and be entered for a chance to win free registration with NYCSSC!

Come out. Show your support. Have fun and help change the life of an orphan left in the wake of the AIDS pandemic. We can even turn this into a NYC tweet up!  I hope you all can make it. I’ll see you at the bar.

Place: Overlook Lounge

Date: May 7, 2010

Time: 6PM to whenever

Location: 225 East 44th Street

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

FXB is an international non-profit organization dedicated to addressing the needs of children affected by AIDS and poverty. For the last 20 years, FXB has worked around the world to empower AIDS orphans and vulnerable children, their caregivers, and the surrounding communities. FXB is currently working with communities in China, Myanmar, Thailand, India, Brazil, Colombia, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda. Visit http://fxb.org/ to learn more.

World AIDS Orphans Day is a grassroots campaign to draw attention to & advocate on behalf of the 15+ million children orphaned by AIDS, founded by FXB International and supported by a network of partners.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in New York, US | 12 Comments »

Abandon The Cube & The 2010 ATV Mongal Rally

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Our fellow travelers at Abandon the Cube have decided to venture into a whole new arena—volunteering. They have abandoned their cubicles to travel, and now they are using their love of travel to help people in need. This summer ATC is tackling the Mongol Rally, a 10,000-mile race from London to Ulan Bataar that will take the adventurers through twenty countries and several time zones.

The rally will last over a month, depending on the route these intrepid wanderers take. The end result is a dust-covered duo in Mongolia donating their rally car to be auctioned for charity, and delivering the money they raise for Mercy Corps Mongolia. They also hope to volunteer their time once on the steppe before continuing their independent travels in South East Asia.

ATC would love for you to get involved by making a small donation to Mercy Corps Mongolia through the Abandon the Cube website. Each donation gets them closer to their goal, and thus closer to the steppes of Mongolia! You can also donate via the widget below. If you are looking for a great way to spend your summer in 2011 then look no further than next years rally—ATC will be on hand to answer any questions about the race, the charity or Mongolia if you have an interest in participating next year.

For additional information, please take a look at the ATC Sponsorship Proposal below.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Asia, Mongolia | 2 Comments »

Inspirational Reading: Leaving Microsoft To Change The World

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

Great books are books that take me out of my element. Books that make me miss my stop. Books that make me wish my 1+ hour commute was just a little bit longer. Books like John Wood’s “Leaving Microsoft To Change The World.” I’ve been reading it every morning for the past 2 weeks and I wait a dreadfully long 10 hours before I can immerse myself in it again.

John writes about his transition from a six-figure Microsoft exec to an unpaid non-profit entrepreneur. Well…it was more of a dive than a transition and all he needed to take that dive was a little dose of reality – in Nepal. But that’s the beauty of traveling and it’s what traveling is. It’s reality. His book is not so much about his travels around the world but about his travels through life.

Leaving Microsoft To Change The WorldHere’s the synopsis:

In 1998, John Wood was a rising executive at Microsoft when he took a vacation that changed his life. What started as a trekking holiday in Nepal became a spiritual journey and then a mission: to change the world one book and one child at a time by setting up libraries in the developing world. He was soon driven to leave his career with only a loose vision of the change he wanted to bring to the world.

John made the unlikely marriage between Microsoft business practices and the world of non-profits to create Room to Read, an organization that has created a network of over 7,500 libraries and 830 schools throughout rural and poor communities in Asia and Africa.

The organization is now one of the fastest growing, most effective, and award-winning non-profits of the last decade. John has been recognized in the worldwide media as a “21st century Andrew Carnegie,” building a public library infrastructure to help the developing world break the cycle of poverty through the lifelong gift of education.

I use to want the corner office. Now, I want the world. I can only assume John use to want the corner office too. He worked in the corporate world for almost 10 years before pursuing his passion in philanthropy. I just wish I don’t have to wait that long before I pursue mine. Reading his story encouraged me to tough it out.

It’s difficult to have ambitions and not be able to execute them. Most of the time, I have scenarios in my head of what I could be doing instead. Since reading John’s book, I’ve decided that I’m going to raise money to build at least 6 schools in rural China. Each school will be in honor of my grandparents and parents because education has always been so deeply ingrained in my family. My maternal grandparents are retired educators.  Unfortunately, Room To Read is currently not operating in China. Hopefully by the time I’ve raised enough funds to start building my first school, Room To Read would have expanded into China.

Have you read anything inspirational lately? Please recommend it. I’m always looking for some mental stimulation.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Life, Nepal | 4 Comments »

Rowing Against Slavery

Saturday, December 5th, 2009

I was born and bred in New York City. It has always been and will always be my home. The entire world seems to merge into this one magnificent city…and then I studied abroad. Out of my comfort zone I realized I was living in a bubble. I use to want the corner office with a Manhattan skyline view. Now I realize that view only allows me to see the world through a keyhole. That’s not good enough for me anymore.

For avid travelers who’ve seen the world – the world that isn’t all glitz and glamor – it’s hard to turn your cheek to poverty and human injustice. Canada’s Adventure Couple, Dave and Debra, recently shared their experiences about Begging in India. Like them I began to question a lot of things when I began traveling. I questioned myself. I questioned the society I was raised in. I questioned the media. I questioned governments and their hidden agendas and self-serving intentions.

At times it seems overwhelming. But then someone like Peter Gadiot comes along and shows me that one person, with a passion for change, can light a spark and spread it like wildfire. Peter and his team will be rowing across the Atlantic to raise awareness for modern-day slavery and to collect donations for Anti-Slavery International, Save the Children and Fairtrade Foundation.

Who is Peter Gadiot?

Peter Gadiot is an actor and a true citizen of the world. He graduated from the prestigious Drama Centre London and have filmed in Spain, Romania, Greece, Poland and Australia. He’s traveled to place like Brazil, Thailand, Eastern Europe and Africa. In addition to Rowing Against Slavery, Peter is a volunteer school speaker in humanitarian education for the British Red Cross and a member of Climate Camp.

Why is Peter Rowing Against Slavery?

“Having traveled to various parts of the world and seen, first hand, the effect of modern day slavery, I really wanted to do something big to raise awareness of this issue, and it doesn’t get much bigger than rowing across one of the world’s great oceans,” says Peter.

About Rowing Against Slavery

The 5 week journey begins tomorrow, December 6th and ends the first week of January. Preparations began December 2nd, which marks the United Nations’ International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. Peter and his team will be rowing from La Gomera, Canary Islands to Antigua, which is expected to take about 5 weeks.

As if the 3,000 mile-ordeal wasn’t grueling enough, the crew of 10 (of which Peter is the youngest member), has decided to up the pressure by attempting to beat the cross-Atlantic rowing world record, which is currently set at 33 days. The crew was hand picked by the captain, Ian Couch, one of only three men in the world to have rowed both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

The crossing is an enormous physical challenge, with all crew members rowing 2 hours on, 2 hours off, continuously 24 hours a day so that the boat never stops — not to mention the salt sores and blisters, no cooked food and no toilet facilities.

How can you support Peter, Rowing Against Slavery and the cause of ending human trafficking?

Or you can help by spreading the word.

For more information:

Where and when have you witnessed poverty and/or social injustice while traveling?

Tags: , ,
Posted in Life | 28 Comments »