Santa Baby, please bring me a library in Zambia from Passports with Purpose
December 14, 2011 by Heather Cowper
Filed under Blogging, Misc, Passports with Purpose, World Issues
If you are part of the travel blogging community, or even if you’re not, hopefully it won’t have escaped you that there’s a travel blogger’s charity initiative going on in the run-up to Christmas called Passports with Purpose. The initiative ends in a couple of days on Friday 16 December, so now is your last chance to support and win one of the great prizes on offer.
Passports with Purpose was started in 2008 and is a great way for travellers and travel bloggers and just anyone who wants to leave the world a little better than they found it, to give something back to communities that don’t have as much as we do in the UK. Things that we take for granted – like a school to go to, or a library where we can find books to read that give us a window on the world of possibilities.
Each year Passports with Purpose supports a different charity project in the developing world and this year we’re trying to raise money for two libraries in Zambia with Room to Read. The charity works with local communities to provide a library of books relevant to that school or community with resources for children who might struggle to even afford an exercise book can learn and develop their education through reading.
It’s a fantastic project to support, but even better, you can win any number of travel related prizes that have been donated by travel bloggers working with sponsors. I counted over 80 different prizes, from tech travel gear like a Kindle Fire or a digital camera, to luxury hotel stays, travel vouchers and tours. All you have to do is pledge $10 for the prize of your choice and you’re in the draw for that prize – the more pledges you make, the more chances you have to win one of these prizes. To check out all the prizes, go to the Passports with Purpose Donate page and follow the links to the individual blogs that have donated prizes, to find out more.
The Fund raiser ends in just a couple of days this Friday 16th December 2011 – so don’t delay – just hop over to the Passports with Purpose donate page and decide what you’d like Santa to bring your this Christmas. I wish you every luck in winning the prize of your dreams and every hope that we’ll raise enough for those two libraries in Zambia.
Here are some of the prizes that are tempting me;
A Kindle Fire – so much lighter than carrying travel guides and novels around, from Mother of all trips and a nunber of other bloggers too
A Nook tablet – from Foxnomad – an e-reader that is also wifi capable for a quick check of the e-mail or facebook page
A Sony Cyber Shot digital camera – from Amateur Traveler – A neat little camera to slip in your pocket
A stay at the Luxurious Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale Troon North – from My Itchy Travel Feet – the perfect place for a romantic gettaway
Four Seasons resort Scottsdale at Troon North
$500 stay in an apartment in a European city – from Ottsworld – Ideal for those who love to immerse themselves in local neighbourhoods when they travel
1 year’s worth of wifi with Boingo – from Everything Everywhere – Enabling you to login to any Boingo wifi point around the world
Hopefully I’ve encouraged you to head over now (before Passports with Purpose ends on 16 December 2011) and make your bid for a great travel prize and support the last push to fund those two libraries in Zambia. Go on – you deserve the chance to win, and those kids in Zambia deserve the room to read.
This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com – Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home
You’ll also find our sister blog with tips on how to build a successful travel blog at My Blogging Journey
Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels
Donate now for Passports with Purpose 2011
December 12, 2010 by Heather Cowper
Filed under Caribbean, Europe, India, Leisure, Lisbon, Misc, Northern Ireland, Passports with Purpose, Portugal, St Lucia, Travel products, United Kingdom, World, World Issues
I’m a supporter of Passports with Purpose, the Travel Blogger’s annual fundraiser and I’ve just made my personal choices from the fabulous array of prizes, in the nick of time. The chance to win prizes closes tomorrow although you can continue to donate to help build the village in India through this year’s chosen charity, Friends of LAFTI. Here’s what I’ve personally put my bids in for – if you read this in time, head over quick to Passports with Purpose before tomorrow and put in yours.
Passports with Purpose building homes in India
The prizes I’m hoping to win are;
Apple iPad 16 GB Wi-Fi + 3G
from Andy Murdock at seekingb.blogspot.com
Why?
Well, any shiny new Apple toy is obviously extremely desirable and I also think it’s good sport of Andy to give up the prize that he won in a competition for this good cause. Also the Winnie the Pooh ebook must be a big bonus although removing the Tie me Kangaroo down sport MP3 is a bit hasty – not everyone is bored with kangaroos and I’m sure it would give my kids endless amusement. If I win this I’ll probably take it on shorter trips when I need to have internet access rather than taking the laptop.
8 GB iPod Nano
from Anil Polat at Foxnomad.com
Why?
Again the shiny new Apple toy rule applies and as a lover of podcasts this little baby will be just the thing for listening to all my faves such as Amateur Traveler, This week in travel, Betty in the sky and Raising Miro. If you happen to win it instead of me, do download some of my Heather on her travels podcasts to enjoy, such as my latest interview with Beth Whitman about Papua New Guinea.
Passports with Purpose building homes in India
3G Wi-Fi Amazon Kindle
from Lisa and Tim Bergren at theworldiscalling.com
Why?
If I don’t get the ipad then I’ll settle for a Kindle to play with. If my husband is really nice to me and doesn’t nag me about the amount of time I spend on my laptop, he might even find it in his Christmas stocking.Or perhaps I’ll be that girl in the deckchair relaxing on the beach with a Kindle in my hand one of these days that I give up the blogging.
$100 gift card to spend on a Mr & Mrs Smith Hotels
from Mr & Mrs Smith blog
Why?
Because I love staying in Mr & Mrs Smith hotels and have even been known to write the odd review or guest post for them myself. I know that any boutique hotel that they recommend will be just the sort of stylish, welcoming place that you always hope to find and that I’ll always get the best available price at the time if I book through them. If you don’t believe me, read what I said about these lovelies in their portfolio; The cosy Avenue Hotel in Copenhagen, the country house chic of Fawsley Hall in Northamptonshire or the modern luxe of Avenue Liberdade in Lisbon.
$800 to spend on a HomeAway Holiday Rental property
from HomeAway and Lara Dunston at Grantourismo
Why?
Because I love the flexibility of this prize, to book a holiday stay anywhere I like to enjoy with my family, and I love the idea of finding a home from home somewhere where I can soak up the local colour and feel part of the neighbourhood. I met up with Lara and Terry at the start of their year long Grantourismo project to travel the world, staying in HomeAway properties and writing about their experiences and you can listen to my podcast interview with Lara Dunston here.
Passports with Purpose building homes in India
Three Night Stay at Luxury Hotel Tiara Park Atlantic Lisbon
from Matt Long at Landlopers.com
Why?
Because I fell in love with Lisbon when I visited with my husband in November 2009 and the 2 days we spent there just weren’t enough. I can jump on a plane from Bristol and be settling into the rather sleek Tiara Park Atlantic that is part of Kiwi collection, another hotel site that I trust to find me impeccably luxurious hotels such as the Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park in London that I reviewed for them.
A Four-Night City and Country Getaway in Ireland
from Corey Taratuta at Irishfireside.com
Why?
Because I’ve only once been to Ireland and I remember the unspoilt countryside and windswept charm and because we have friends there that are overdue a visit and because I can easily get there from Bristol courtesy of the charming Mr O’Leary, a man who does not lack the gift of the gab.
A 3 night luxury spa break for two at LeSPORT hotel in St Lucia though the Explorateur
from Jool Stone of Trainsonthebrain.com
Why?
Because my parents have been spending their last few Januaries in St Lucia and love the island, and as I’ve never been to the Caribbean the island is firmly on my wish list. As I find the grey days of January and February rather dreary, I could do with a bit of sunshine with my husband
If none of these tempt you, get over to Passports with Passport in the next 24 hrs and see what other goodies are on offer – if you’re too late, there’s always next year….
Read more Indian stories
Exploring the ‘Abode of snow’ in the Indian Himalayas
Friday photo – my Indian sponsor child
This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com – Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home
You’ll also find our sister blog with tips on how to build a successful travel blog at My Blogging Journey
Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels
Passports with Purpose Thanks
January 11, 2010 by Heather Cowper
Filed under Blogging, Giveaways, Media, Misc, Passports with Purpose, Travel products, World Issues
The Passports with purpose travel blogger’s fund-raiser completed just before Christmas raising a fantastic $26,000, which was double the original target. The money will be going to build a school in rural Cambodia through the charity American Assistance for Cambodia and should be built by this summer. Not only has enough money been raised to fund the school building, but the additional funds raised will mean that your donations have also provided water filters, a kitchen garden, books for the library and a school nurse.
Passports with Purpose builds a school in Cambodia
So now it’s time to say some big thankyous to all those who contributed to this amazing effort, not least all of you out there who pledged donations in the Passports with purpose raffles for some amazing prizes, from camera equipment to holidays to hotel stays.
Flip Ultra Video Camera
I’d like to thanks my sponsor, Flip UK who donated the Flip Ultra Video camera that I was able to offer as a prize. The Flip Video Camera was won by Rebecca Self of Xpat Adventures – hope you have fun making some cool videos Rebecca!
Thanks also to the sponsors of Passports with Purpose, supporting travellers with their services
Last but not least, thanks to Debbie Dubrow, Pam Mandel, Michelle Duffy and Beth Whitman, the bloggers behind Delicious Baby, Nerd’s Eye View, WanderMom, and Wanderlust and Lipstick who worked so hard behind the scenes to organise Passports with Purpose.
Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home
Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels
