I've partnered up and started a fundraising campaign with Charity: Water
After a recent trip to Cambodia,
I was shocked that children like these, had no access to clean water.
Often times the same dirty water they bathed in, would become the same water they would drink.
100% of your donations will go to a water project that will not only provide clean water to a village of 200, but gives children like these a chance to have a future.
Let's strengthen our community and give back.
Many of us have no idea what it's like to be thirsty.
But many other people around the world do not have that same luxury.
Everyday, 1,400 children die from diseases caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation.
But, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are simple solutions like drilled wells, spring protections and BioSand filters that help provide clean water to communities around the world.
I started this fundraising campaign to help charity: water build these types of projects and I'm looking for anyone who can help me.
I challenge you, let's make a difference together!
Keep reading to hear the story of how I went from Riches to Ramen...
Circa 2001...Lara Croft (Tomb Raider), was the essence of all things badass. She was my first exposure to a strong female character that was not only beautiful, but highly intelligent, athletic and unafraid of the unknown.
As I watched her on the big screen, I aspired to be the same badass, independent, holster wearing adventurer. More than anything I was fascinated by the mysterious overgrown jungle temple of Angkor Wat and I promised myself that I would one day trek the jungles of Cambodia's Siem Reap.
My fascination only grew as I got older and I knew there was no way I couldn't experience Angkor Wat for myself.
However, along the path to Cambodia and Siem Reap I would find a calling far deeper than that of self-discovery and adventure. Multiple guidebooks, blogs, and Youtube videos in tow, I assumed the highlight of my experience would be capturing the awe of Angkor Wat by sunrise or at least so I thought...
Fair warning
This is not the blog post about the best ways, tricks or hacks to see Cambodia, (I will release one of those as well) This post is about finding something that rekindles your soul and reminds you of the impact that you can have on the world, regardless of your skill, experience, or know how.
Angkor Wat was everything I had hoped for and more. I had carefully chosen our driver before arriving in Siem Reap, we made it there well before sunrise and even met an incredible merchant that hand painted us Ta Prohm.
We even did the tour backwards as to miss the large hordes of tourists. I felt fulfilled in experiencing the jungle temple mystery of my youth. I even had the opportunity to be blessed by a monk within the temple walls, leaving me with this sense of humbleness and gratitude.
This was my whole purpose of visiting Cambodia, everything from this point would just be icing on the cake. The next day I had planned for us to visit the floating villages of Kampong Khleang. As you would expect, I did my research and knew that many of the floating villages were tourist traps, but Kampong Khelang was one of the most remote floating villages in Siem Reap and was off the beaten path.
Floating Villages, School Supplies, and Ramen...
I was excited to see life in Cambodia outside of the typical tourist destinations. One thing I've been attempting to do in more recent trips is make a conscious effort to give back in some way. After doing research on the economy and conditions, I was inspired to put together school supplies for children in some of these remote villages.
With my two best friends, Tori and Kylie (that entrusted me to plan out this trip) and our driver "Batman," we went into the local markets and started shopping for supplies. We gathered together notebooks, pencils, crayons and as it was nearly the Cambodian New Years, so we also purchased lots of mini-waterguns for the big "water fight," that ensued every New Years.
I asked our driver if there was anything else that the kids really needed and he was insistent on having us buy ramen noodles. Not sure if this was some kind of scam or not, I decided to go with it and we purchased several "Costco" sized boxes of ramen type noodles to bring with us to the floating village.
We were taken back by how thankful these gleaming little faces were for something that barely took us an hour to put together. The fact that anyone could make a difference simply by putting together some crayons and ramen noodles, made a powerful impact.
While we know of the problems that plague the world, the idea that any of us, even with minimal effort can actually make a difference... is an eye-opening experience.
The thoughts started plaguing me...
If we could make an impact through some crayons and ramen, what could we do with a strategic plan? How could we make a lasting impact and create structural change?
All of us know this saying, but it kept repeating in my head:
"Feed a man a fish and he'll eat for the day. Teach him to fish, he'll eat for a lifetime."
As I started talking to our driver about the core problems of these kids, I found out that he was an orphan and he flat out told me "providing more food or even building a school would be pointless..."
"...Pointless?!"
My face was ajar with confusion and puzzled I asked him what he meant.
He explained that the kids are unable to eat or even attend school, when they can't even access clean drinking water.
The more research I did, I was shocked to learn that 80% of Cambodians lived in rural areas and more than 6 million people (UNICEF) did not have access to clean drinking water or basic sanitation.
In many villages, the main source of drinking water would come from rain fall that is collected in cement structures.
These structures were exposed to the elements and would become contaminated with mosquitos and parasites.
Adults and children would drink this parasite contaminated water and end in a terrible cycle of illness and be in and out of the hospital. The treatment for many of the diseases caused from contaminated water were expensive and many children every year die due to poor quality drinking water.
The issue of improving Cambodia's social and economic development can only happen if the issue of clean water is tackled first.
So now I understood what was one of the biggest problems that plagued these kids,
but now what?
Being the semi-good grad student that I am, I started researching. How can I help these kids and how could someone like me be able to make a difference?
I was shocked to find that not just donating money, but creating infrastructural change that could provide countless families have access to safe drinking water was something I could actually influence.
Let's give these children the access to clean water they deserve.
Now back in the US, I knew there was no other way I would want to celebrate my upcoming birthday than raising money to build a water pump in the villages I experienced in Cambodia.
Be a part of something bigger. Leave an impact.
Helping us raise $6000 would create an entire well to provide clean water, health and hope for a small village of 200 men, women, and children.
What sets Charity: Water apart from any other nonprofit is that they donate 100%, yes every last dollar that is donated goes into creating these water projects. They have a platform where private donors pay for their everyday operations and that means you know exactly where your money is given.
Even more incredible is once the water projects are complete, charity: water will send us photos and GPS coordinates so we can see the exact community we helped.
I challenge you now.
Be bold. Make a difference. Let's make the world just a little bit better.
This isn't our reality, why does it have to be theirs?
Can’t donate? You can still help me get the message out!