Charity | Kaleidoscopic Wandering Travel Blog

Archive for the ‘Charity’ Category

May14

5 Questions with Alice Gugelev, Founder of The Muskoka Foundation

By: JoAnna

In 2009, Jay Shapiro and Alice Gugelev founded The Muskoka Foundation, an organization that inspires travelers to “use what you know, to do good as you go.” Volunteering and travel go hand-in-hand for Jay and Alice, and the mission of their organization is to transform the travel sector so that meaningful volunteering is a part of every travel experience. They are building a global network of travelers that are interested in donating their time and skills at partner organizations all over the world. All programs available through The Muskoka Foundation focus on building cross-cultural relationships, empowering youth and local staff through skill transfer workshops and providing market access for local products.

Though I don’t believe there is any right or wrong way to travel, I’m definitely a believer in travel that supports local communities and sustainable programs, so when I learned about The Muskoka Foundation, my interest was piqued. I haven’t worked with the organization, but I wanted to learn more about it, so I got in touch with Alice about how the organization works, what its goals are and what makes it different from other volunteer organizations.

1. Why did you start The Muskoka Foundation? Have you had volunteer experiences that shaped the way you created your organization?

When Jay and I embarked on an around-the-world trip a few years ago, we found it difficult to find the right volunteering opportunities that fit our experience, philosophy and mode of travel — hence The Muskoka Foundation was born. In the last three years, we have found that more and more people share a similar profile and intent. The Muskoka Foundation currently has 20 local partners around the world where volunteers can come for a short term to conduct training workshops based on local needs and on their skill sets.

Posted in: Charity, Personalities0 comments

March14

6 Questions with Chris Breitenberg, Change Maker

By: JoAnna

Though I’d been to Canada, I didn’t actually board a plane and travel abroad until I was in high school. My first trip was to London, England, to play with my high school band in the New Year’s Day parade. I followed that up with a three-week trip to Australia via a leadership program for high schoolers. With that, my love for international travel was a done deal.

I think introducing international travel to students when they are in middle and high school is incredibly important. The world is much bigger than our own backyard, and when students have the opportunity to learn about other people, places and cultures, their perspectives regarding what is important and what is real may change, often for the better.

This came to mind when I learned about Daraja, an international high school leadership program that caps enrollment at well under a dozen students. Daraja’s first trip is this year, when students will travel to Oaxaca, Mexico, for 16 days to partake in skill-building classes, social entrepreneurship and service learning development. I’m intrigued by the potential of Daraja, so I dropped Chris Breitenberg, the brainchild behind the organization, a few questions about what he hopes Daraja will accomplish and his own travel dreams as well.

1. Tell us about Daraja. Why do you believe programs like this one are important?

Daraja is the work of my heart. When I was 16, I took a trip to Mexico that changed my life forever. I met people who lived in a state of material suffering but who had spiritual joy. And I really saw myself, living with material wealth but in a state of spiritual suffering. The contrast was so stark. I had never been so far out of my own context before (growing up in central Jersey) that I had never had any perspective on life, the word, my own thoughts/feelings/actions.

Posted in: Charity, Personalities3 comments

July26

Partnership with the Pound in Jamaica

By: JoAnna

When we pulled up to Chukka Caribbean, an adventure outfitter in Jamaica, I admit to being a little bit skeptical. Though I love adventure activities, I always feel a little put off by companies that offer a menu of offerings that are fun but don’t do much to actually showcase an authentic destination. I love an afternoon of zip lining, white water rafting and ropes courses, but what do we learn from them? So many of these companies could be picked up and placed anywhere else on the planet and nothing would change.

That was my fear with Chukka, which actually operates in a number of different Caribbean locations. How did this company differ from anything else that had a colorful marketing brochure at the hotel concierge?

Posted in: Charity, Do16 comments

May18

Best Kept Travel Secrets Project Launch

By: JoAnna

You may recall that awhile back, I gave you the inside scoop on my three best travel secrets. Well, I wasn’t the only one, and now the travel blogging community has compiled those secrets with the help of Tripbase to raise money for Charity:Water.

Now you have access to all of those travel secrets in seven, easy-to-download eBooks based on theme. The eBooks are completely free, and for every copy downloaded, Tripbase will donate $1 to Charity:Water. Please download your copy (or copies) here, and share the news with your friends and family via Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon and word of mouth to help provide clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations at no cost to you.

Thanks for your support!

Posted in: Charity4 comments

October29

Introducing the Karikuy-Haugen Fund

By: JoAnna

Introducing the Karikuy Haugen Fund Last spring my husband and I decided to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. For four days we traversed the beautiful if well-worn trail, stopping frequently for breaks and gnawing on coca leaves. As we rested, our guides gave us mini-history lessons and answered our questions about the trail, Machu Picchu and Peru in general. Our weary legs needed a break, our lungs ached from the high altitude.

Not that we really had all that much to complain about. Let’s face it … the hard work was really on the shoulders of our porters — literally. Sure, we had a day pack with water, snacks and a rain jacket, but the porters each carried up to 25 kilograms / 55 pounds on their backs every step of our journey. They carried our tents and sleeping bags, all the cooking gear, fuel, water and food — not to mention their own personal items.

Posted in: Charity6 comments

July1

A Cat’s Life — Rosamond, California

By: JoAnna

A Cats Life Rosamond, California In Rosamond, California, a small, unsuspecting town in the middle of the desert, we found the Exotic Feline Breeding Compound, one of the most successful feline breeding facilities in the world. I get a bit queasy around zoos, with oversized animals confined to small cages, pacing back and forth, back and forth to the delight of paying customers who knock on the glass windows before moving on to the next live exhibit.