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Adventure For Good

To make a secure, online donation to The Trailblazer Foundation, visit my First Giving website here.

Marisa Walks Across will be raising donations for a charitable organization, The Trailblazer Foundation, with field offices in Siem Reap Province, Cambodia.

From the Trailblazer Foundation website:

Despite a decade of growth (1994-2004), poverty in Cambodia remains high at 38%. Siem Reap (the province where Trailblazer bases most of its projects) is one of the three poorest provinces of Cambodia with almost half (45%) of its residents considered poor. * Trailblazer Foundation is currently working specifically within Angkor Thom, Prasat Bakong and Puok districts of Siem Reap Province, Cambodia. Our work area encompasses a 60 kilometer radius from our work site in Siem Reap City. We practice a sustainable, community-focused style of development, which is a low cost and long-term solution to alleviating poverty and increasing the quality of life in a sustainable manner. Rural villagers, our project beneficiaries, set our agenda by identifying their greatest challenges; water is a typical priority because it allows people to irrigate, bathe and drink. We then provide appropriate technology (locally built, affordable and easily maintained) and training which ensures villagers´ success in the projects and allows Trailblazer to eventually exit the stage.

I visited Cambodia in Spring 2012 during an Asian backpacking trip, and although it may have been the hottest place I’ve ever been to, it treated me well.  Millions of tourists from all over the world flock to Siem Reap to take in sights at the Angkor Wat Archaeological Park, but it remains one of the poorest provinces in the country.

When I returned from my trip, I knew I had been treated well, by people who didn’t owe me anything at all.

This project is a way to show that even small amounts of money can go a long way, and that change is possible through practical means.  It’s easy to get disillusioned and cynical about the problems in the world, and to feel like that measly 10 bucks isn’t going to make a difference.  An organization like the Trailblazer Foundation shows us that our spare change does matter.  We can see exactly what our money does–we aren’t just an anonymous donor– and I get really excited about that!

I decided to combine my passions– hiking, travel, and writing– with a bigger goal: raising $15,000!  Why not dream big, right?  Of course, I can’t do it alone.  And even if I only raise half that, a quarter, heck even $100, it’s all still worth it.  Every penny makes a difference, I assure you I believe that will all my heart.

So let’s do it!  Follow me on my journey walking through Europe, starting in June 2013, and be part of the adventure!

Donate HERE at FirstGiving.com.