If you have been following my trip, you know that I am
currently living in Northern Thailand,
teaching English at a private language school in the evenings. While I enjoy
working at the school, what I find most rewarding is volunteering in the
mornings at an adult education center geared towards Burmese migrant workers.
Working with
the Burmese has opened my eyes to the availability of education for many in Southeast Asia. While education is readily accessible for
Thai’s who live in the cities, the same can not be said for refugees, residents
of rural Thailand or people from the surrounding countries of Burma,
Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos.
Through
word of mouth I came across an organization called PEPY http://pepyride.org/index.php, a
non-profit group in Cambodia
whose goal is “to improve educational opportunities in rural Cambodia, and offering unique
adventures for those looking to give back while they travel”. At
Christmas break I hope to visit other parts of Southeast Asia
with a group run by PEPY.
PEPY
(Protect Earth, Protect Yourself) has organized many community based
projects including building and maintaining schools in rural Cambodia,
providing teacher training, and funding librarian training and literacy
programs. Their schools offer classes that go over and beyond that required by
the Cambodian government. The disparity between urban and rural
educations in this part of the world is astonishing. An urban male has
access to approximately six years of schooling, while a rural female may only
have access to two years of schooling. In a country where 78% of school
children drop out before secondary school and 50% of the population is under 21
years old, PEPY offers incentives for students to stay in school by
rewarding good attendance. They are working to improve rural
education through grassroots efforts.
I have
decided to join a PEPY sponsored tour in December to learn more of what they
do. It starts in Cambodia
’s capital Phnom-Pehn and continues on to Siem Reap. PEPY uses all local tour
operators and focuses on providing opportunities to interact with locals while
volunteering at different sites along the way. This includes two days at a PEPY
school in rural Cambodia and
a day at RDIC (Resource Development International Cambodia-which focuses on
sustainable development programs).
I am paying for all of my travel and volunteer expenses, but as
part of my commitment to PEPY’s projects, I have pledged to raise additional
funds. This money will go toward the various educational
programs that PEPY runs in rural Cambodia. I am writing to
ask for your help in supporting their efforts. No amount is too
small, and every donation will make a visible difference in many children’s
lives. If you are able, please consider supporting PEPY.
PLEASE NOTE THAT 100% of DONATIONS GO TO PEPY RIDE
NON-PROFIT. I WILL PAY ALL OF MY EXPENSES RELATED TO MY PARTICIPATION.
PEPY IS U.S.
REGISTERD 501(c)3 CHARITIES AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO IT ARE FULLY TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
Donating by credit card is safe
and easy by visiting http://www.firstgiving.com/pepyride .
If you do choose to donate, please type “Steph H Dec 2007” in the comments line
so that the PEPY team can keep track of the donations.
If
you prefer to write a check, they are welcome as well. Please make out US
checks to The PEPY Ride, 105
Schrade Rd, Briarcliff Manor, NY, 10510
(please put “Steph H Dec 2007” on the comments line).
I want to
emphasize that you will not being paying for my trip, but rather joining me to
help support this amazing organization. I am extremely excited about this
opportunity and feel very passionate about improving educational opportunities
in rural Southeast Asia. If you have any
questions, please do not hesitate to e-mail me through the website.
I will be
updating my travel journal complete with photos so you get a sense of what
I have been up to and what we have been able to accomplish with your support!
Wishing you all happy travels,
Thanks,
Steph
