Robert and I do most of our travel in the US, camping and exploring in our RV but, we do have passports. We use them occasionally for a special trip – a cruise or jaunt to faraway lands. When I heard the term “passports with purpose” mentioned on Twitter, I instantly thought two things – Cool! and probably too expensive for both of us to go overseas and do a project.
What's this? Lonely Planet is our giveaway sponsor. Keep reading to learn about our great Lonely Planet prize.
I got the cool part right. Passports with Purpose was started last year by a group of travel bloggers who wanted to make a difference. Instead of just writing about the places they visit, they wanted to jump in and do something bigger. I’ll bet they knew not everyone could buy a plane ticket to go on a faraway service project too. So Passports with Purpose – a month of travel (and other) bloggers giving away great prizes – was born. How does that help? The giveaways are a raffle style. Entries cost $10. For each entry, or ticket, you buy, you can put your name in for a prize. The prize list is growing every day, and there is some great stuff in there. Keep reading to find out what we’re raising money for.
Passports with Purpose is partnering with AAfC – American Assistance for Cambodia to build a rural school. I knew we were in as soon as I saw the project. Robert and I are both certified teachers (though neither of us is teaching now) and good schools for kids are something we know can make a difference.
Passports with Purpose is working to raise $13,000 – the cost of one school in Cambodia through AAfC. The school will be a recognized school by the government and supplied with teachers, it will have solar power for computers, desks and all the basics, and a well to provide water for the students. In a small, rural village, this is a big deal. It gives the children the opportunity to learn, and to possibly move beyond the poverty of their village if they want to. AAfC also works to provide internet for the schools, both via satellite and through the ingenious motoman system where a motorcycle equipped with a satellite internet receiver travels to schools in the area to provide wifi for a certain amount of time each day.
Just $10 is all it takes to get involved. You can make a difference for an entire village as well as win great stuff. Pick a prize and jump in! Better yet, pick our prize – a $75 Lonely Planet gift certificate. You can select the Lonely Planet guidebooks you want from their online store (Note: redemption is via mail not via the online shop. Details provided to the winner). We love the Guide to Travel Writing, the Guide to Travel Photography and all of the US Trips books. The best part about our giveaway though, is that you can pick any books that you want with the $75 gift certificate. So if you’re planning a trip, dreaming of a trip, want to read about other people’s trips, see beautiful photographs or even read the Lonely Planet magazine, it’s all up to you. And with frequent sales and special prices you could probably get four or five books, easily.
