I have something truly amazing to share with you guys. A story of a journey that my friend took and a chance to help out some kids that really need it. I’ve talked about my friend Gary Arndt who’s traveling the world and blogging about it. Gary has a unique view on things and his blog isn’t typical by any stretch. And when he came to me with an opportunity to help out some kids he met along his travels we got pretty excited about the project. Let me just share Gary’s own words with you
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I have a confession to make. During the entire time I’ve been traveling, I haven’t been traveling alone. I’ve been traveling with one Skull T. Troll. Skull is a character of my cartoonist friend Scott Kurtz and the Skull plush toy was given to me at the start of my trip.
As I’ve been traveling, I’ve been taking photos of Skull in front of famous places and with children I meet around the world. Scott and I have been talking about making a calendar with the Skull photos I’ve been taking on my trip and we planned on doing it in for 2010.
When the bloggers in Seattle who head up Passports With Purpose announced what they were raising money for this year, what we would use the proceeds of the calendar for was sort of a no-brainer. They were raising money for American Assistance for Cambodia to help build a school for Cambodian children.
This cause struck a cord with me because I was able to visit a school for orphans in Cambodia. It is pretty hard to not see children wherever you go in Cambodia. It is a very young country and a very poor country. The closest I ever came to tears was in Cambodia when two little girls, one with a cleft lip, gave me a simple ring made out of a palm frond.
The particular way they were spending the money also resonated with me. These aren’t theoretical kids that are going to benefit. This is an actual school which will be built in the village of Preah Vihear (which I also visited and has been the location of fighting during the last year between Cambodia and Thailand). Since the beginning of December, Passports With Purpose has raised over $13,000, which is enough to build the physical school. You can help bring clean water, a nurse and school supplies to help keep the school operating.
If you have ever been to Cambodia please share your stories in the comments to let everyone know how real the situation is there and how much good a project like this can do.
If you have a blog or have a Twitter account, please post this link and encourage people to help out. It costs you nothing….except for the $19.95 you will spend to get the calendar of course.
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Now look. I know that this time of year people hit you hard with the “won’t you please help the children” stuff. I get it. And maybe you don’t give a shit about kids in Cambodia. If that’s the case, at least consider the calendar because it’s a cool calendar. That little plush has been around the world and back and Gary is an amazing photographer. It’s a really classy little piece of wall art.
Gary’s been there. He’s met these kids. They’re awesome kids. That’s enough for me. Why not try to build them a school? I mean? How awesome would it be if PvP’s readers BUILT A FREAKING SCHOOL?! Across the globe? That’s pretty awesome. I think.
