The holiday season is about giving back. Travelers, no matter where they seem to be in the world, are coming together this month to do just that, and share with those less fortunate. I have been keeping my eyes peeled for unique charities and fundraisers happening in the travelsphere and I’d like to help spread the word on those that are sincerely making a difference in people’s (and animals) lives.
Up first is Adopt a Koala For Christmas posted by the environmentally-conscious blog, Traveling Greener. I may be a bit biased here since Koala’s are among my favorite animals, but I also believe in saving animals from extinction. The Koala Hospital in Australia is raising money this Christmas to treat and rehabilitate endangered Koalas who are also sick, injured, or orphaned.
How could you say no to that face?
Adopting a Koala for Christmas is a special gift for animal lovers to give one another. A donation of AU$50 will help facilitate a better sustainable living environment for the endangered species, who face extinction due to urbanization and destruction of their natural habitat. To learn more information about the Koala Hospital, and to Adopt A Koala For Christmas, go to www.koalahospital.org.au.
Everyone should be given the opportunity to travel abroad, especially young people. For the second year in a row, Matador Network is hosting its Brave New Travelers Youth Scholarship Fund to enable low-income, urban high school students the chance to travel abroad each summer. With their scholarship program, young people are able to discover, grow, and become inspired by the many wonders and cultures of the world. This is their chance to tell stories about their own travel experiences.
The Matador community is stepping up their campaign this year, hoping to raise $15,000 which would send 15 students overseas next summer. Donations are currently being accepted until February. To give the gift of travel, visit the BNT Youth Scholarship Fund website.
Passports with Purpose is all about educating children. As travelers, often times we are taken aback by how little some of us really have, and take advantage the luxuries we hold back home. Passports with Purpose aims to bring the travel community together to provide education and improve opportunities for the rural youth in Cambodia. This year, PwP have surpassed their goal of $13,000! Continual donations by travel bloggers everywhere have been collected to build a school in Cambodia, a very exciting program to begin in 2010.
Join American Assistance for Cambodia, New York Times’ columnist, Nicholas Kristof, Sosauce, and the founders of Passports with Purpose to bring positive change in the youth of Cambodia. To make your donation, visit www.passportswithpurpose.com.
So remember this holiday season – no matter where you are or where you are headed – take a moment to pay it forward.
What charities are you involved in this year?
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