Cover to Cover: Passports with Purpose 2011

spacer

HELP PASSPORTS WITH PURPOSE BUILD TWO LIBRARIES!

If you are reading this article, that’s wonderful! It means two things to me: 1) you were given the opportunity to learn such a skill, and 2) you have had some type of access to real hand-held books at certain points in life. Though I spend a great portion of my time reading, much of it is now from online sources. I sigh as I pass the collection of bound printed paper calling out for attention. Most display bookmarks somewhere within their depths. All are begging me to pick up them up where I’d left off. I sigh again as I tell them ‘hopefully tomorrow’…

Libraries are one of my favorite places to visit. We own so many books we converted an old storage space into a library adorned with a rocking chair and reading lamp. Though it hasn’t seen much visitation time of late, the contents held within its walls are some of my most cherished possessions. You won’t find a single room in this house that does not contain ‘real’ books somewhere.

“We envision a world in which all children can pursue a quality education, reach their full potential and contribute to their community and the world.”

When the news of Passports With Purpose and their 2011 project was released, elation! Libraries! The PwP goal for this project is raising $80,000USD to build two libraries in Zambia. They are working with the Room to Read organization which brings the written word to communities around the world and focuses largely on children. As they state on their website, “We envision a world in which all children can pursue a quality education, reach their full potential and contribute to their community and the world.”

spacer
Photo Courtesy of Room to Read

Recently, TravelBlogs conducted a Q & A session with the PwP founders. The most relevant question and answer:

Pam (Mandel), I have read your blog post about ’short-changing yourself on reading material’ during a recent trip. Like your self, my husband and I grew up with books and our house is overflowing with them. (I pity the person who will have to dispense of our library when we’re viewing the world from the dirt side up.) But, you also comment on downloading several books to your phone. With today’s technology, why choose building libraries rather than computer centers when so many books are available as downloads/online?

I don’t know how you can measure the potential damage to delaying a child’s education because the infrastructure is down, and I’d just rather not.

Pam’s reply: This year I traveled in Tanzania, we had water sometimes, power sometimes… I wish I had a picture of that young man at the Internet café when he told me, with a blinding smile (really, he was just so amused) “Maybe Monday! Maybe we’ll have Internet on Monday!” And I was in a campground where the manager said to me, exasperated, “No Internet in ALL of Tanzania!” I could wait. It was no big deal to me to let it slide for a week or two, I just wanted to check my email. But we’re talking about teaching kids to read. I don’t know how you can measure the potential damage to delaying a child’s education because the infrastructure is down, and I’d just rather not.

Enough said.

Bloggers: Procure a prize and it will be placed in a random drawing. (No donation to Room to Read required.) Host bloggers and prize winners will be notified on December 23, 2011.

Donors to Room to Read: Check out the Passports with Purpose Donation page. Make your bids!

TravelBlogs Prize

spacer
A 100 Euro voucher usable through the Budget Accommodation area of Travellerspoint.com.

Guidelines and Restrictions:
*The recipient must be a PwP participating blogger.
*The voucher is non-transferable without the consent of Travllerspoint.com (Administrators).
*The voucher will expire December 23, 2012.
*An expiration date extension may be available for extenuating circumstances and the request for such an extension is received by the Travellerspoint.com Administrators prior to December 23, 2012.

Share and Enjoy:
  • spacer
  • spacer
  • spacer
  • spacer
  • spacer
  • spacer

Subscribe to TravelBlogsspacer Posted by Gretchen on December 1st, 2011 in Site news.
Tags: activism, Books, Charity, Chldren, fund-raising, good stuff, Libraries, Zambia

Discussion »

    spacer
  • #1rob » December 9th, 2011 at 2:26 pm:

    It’s good to hear when others are truly trying to make a difference.

    Teaching others to read is a blessing and one that we should hold in high regards.

  • spacer
  • #2Kent » January 15th, 2012 at 4:40 am:

    What a truly great and inspiring read. We need more people like this in our world. Imaging where we could get in this world, and in life,,, if we all cared and tried a little harder…

  • spacer
  • #3Maria » February 4th, 2012 at 10:59 pm:

    It’s a very inspiring post, I’m definitely lucky that I’m blessed of a lot of things and for that I’m so thankful. I’m glad that there are people who will definitely help others and share their knowledge and expertise to others. Good job and may God bless you guys.

  • Add Your Comment

Subscribe

Subscribe for more inspiring stories, advice and insight from the internet's best travel bloggers.

Subscribe by RSS

spacer

  • Popular
  • Recent
  • Comments
  • Cover to Cover: Passports with Purpose 2011
  • Cover to Cover: A Passports with Purpose Interview
  • The ‘Art’ of Blogging: A Commentary
  • The ‘Art’ of Blogging: A Panel Discussion
  • Taking Your Blog to the Next Level
  • Greg Prohl: Thom – came across your blog here and enjoyed reading your latest adventures driving I-90 across...
  • Oli: It is interesting that the women compared him to the devil. I have studied a bit of the history of racism, and...
  • Anita: I teach ESL overseas and I agree with the person who said “If you want it at home, you will want it...
  • Kent: Hooray, finally someone also posting about the amazing travels you can have with your children exploring...
  • Mary Strobbe: It was refreshing to read this article and the subsequent comments. Perhaps it is because it resonated...
  • Recently Featured Travel Blogs

    • Sprouts en Route spacer

      Kristin Spencer and her husband are on a mission, one dictated by a ‘higher power’. Wherever they go – so go the ‘sprouts’ (aka their 2 young children). In fact, they are missionaries who’s serves having them traveling the world and it’s a family endeavor. Enjoy the entries of their adventures and the tips on how to make to make it all work.

    • It’s on the Meter spacer

      A 19 year old London black cab, 3 friends, the British Red Cross and the Guinness Book of World Records -what do they all have in common? Normally nothing. But, in this instance – everything. Three friends decided to drive a London black cab from – you guessed it, London to Sydney, Australia – raising money for the British Red Cross and breaking the Guinness Word Record for the longest taxi ride. They broke the record and haven’t even reached Sydney yet.

    • Girl, Guy, Globe spacer

      Life was nice and easy in the US for Rachael and Josh. Then, Josh’s employers gave him the opportunity to work abroad – in Dakar, Senegal to be exact. Rachael being a freelance writer/photographer made the decision to move that much easier. So, they packed up their belongings, including two dogs and headed off to Africa, where they will reside for the next couple of years.

    • More of the best travel blogs

    Sponsors

    spacer
    spacer
    spacer

    Advertise on Travelblogs.com

    gipoco.com is neither affiliated with the authors of this page nor responsible for its contents. This is a safe-cache copy of the original web site.