Giving Tuesday: Five Travel-Related Causes to Support
Thanksgiving is just around the corner - which means our attention turns towards the holiday season and gift giving! In the midst of shopping for friends, family, and loved ones, we also have the opportunity to make a lasting impact through Giving Tuesday.
Giving Tuesday (the Tuesday after US Thanksgiving) was started in 2012 as a way for individuals to do good and give back to organizations and causes who are making the world a better place. Personally, I love Giving Tuesday because it helps reset the focus on what the holidays are really about - connecting with people, generosity, and showing care for one another.
This year, I’m sharing five of my favorite international development or travel-related organizations and causes that are worth supporting. Check them out below and consider making a donation or volunteering to support their mission!
photo courtesy of A Leadership Journey
A Leadership Journey. Financial disparities often prevent BIPOC youth with vulnerable backgrounds from being able to afford to travel. A Leadership Journey provides expenses and opportunities for them to travel within the United States and internationally, which develops their global worldview, deepens their cultural contexts, and widens their understanding of societies and systems across the world. The organization focuses on the importance of mental & emotional wellness, global citizenship, self-awareness, leadership, and ubuntu (connectedness of humanity). Consider donating to support a life changing experience for these students!
photo courtesy of RISE Travel Institute
RISE Travel Institute. The RISE Travel Institute is an amazing resource for anyone who loves travel and wants to travel more ethically and sustainably. The Institute is a volunteer-run nonprofit that provides resources, workshops, classes, trips, and scholarships for those interested in traveling responsibly and creating lasting positive impact (both for the traveler and for the destination). Consider volunteering or donating here!
photo courtesy of Days for Girls
Days for Girls. When I worked in international development, Days for Girls was my absolute favorite organization to work with because of their thoughtful and innovative approach of improving education and livelihood outcomes through supporting menstrual health and hygiene. When a girl hits puberty, there often is a lack of information, resources, and tools to help her manage her period, which often leads to missing school or dropping out completely. Days for Girls' innovative model not only provides washable pads and thorough education for girls and people with periods, but also creates social enterprise opportunities for local seamstresses to create and sell these much-needed products locally. To date, Days for Girls has supported over 1.8 million people in 144 countries with quality, sustainable menstrual care solutions and health education. Consider donating here!
photo courtesy of Eden Reforestation Projects
Eden Reforestation Projects. Eden is doing incredible work not only fighting deforestation in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities, but they are also building resiliency in those communities by creating jobs fighting climate change. With over 6,000 people employed working to mitigate climate change in their local communities, Eden’s team is making an impact in nearly 250,000 hectares of land in Madagascar, Mozambique, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nepal, the Philippines, Honduras, and Brazil. Consider donating to provide fair wages to these workers on the frontlines of climate resiliency - or leverage Eden’s carbon offsetting program here.
photo courtesy of The Outdoorist Oath
The Outdoorist Oath. You may be familiar with environmentalist drag queen Pattiegonia and her stunning and creative advocacy for conservation and care for the planet. But did you know she also co-founded The Outdoorist Oath - a non-profit that gets BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and femmes into the outdoors through community and education? The Outdoorist Oath provides workshops, resources and tools for people to support our planet, inclusion, and adventure. Check out their work and donate here!
Hopefully this has given you some ideas of organizations you can support (if you don’t have some in mind already) and will help you to pay-it-forward this holiday season!
