Author Archives: beaevans

Lollipop Moments

How to Pack Lollipop Moments Into Travel

A Change Creator podcast with Drew Dudley caught my attention. He was talking about Lollipop Moments.

According to Drew a lollipop moment is a point in time when connecting with someone has mattered, does matter or will matter. More importantly, he believes in the power of engaging, acknowledging and appreciating those moments.

Lollipop Moments

Curious about what else Drew had to say, I searched for him on YouTube. And there he was. Talking more about Lollipop Moments.

In “Recognizing the Power of Lollipop Moments,” Drew talks about how many people rely on leadership to change the world. Drew believes there is no world but rather there are 7 billion understandings of it. He suggests change comes when a person’s understanding of the world changes. A change brought about by Lollipop Moments. Moments when an individual realizes others care; moments when an individual’s capabilities are recognized; moments when an individual’s power to be an agent of change in the world or in their own life are celebrated.

Some Sweet Examples

Eureka! Global illustrations of Drew’s ‘simple but not small idea’ began dancing in my head. A fortunate traveler, my sojourns have taken me to many parts of the world. Along the way, I have met many incredible women and girls.

Catalina. One of my earliest encounters involved Catalina, a World Vision sponsor child. She and I met years ago while I was in Guatemala. She was about 8 years old at the time. Excited to demonstrate our family’s affection for Catalina, I brought several presents to share with her. Grateful, she smiled and shyly uttered “Gracias.” She then leaned over and said something in her mother’s ear. As her volume was beyond a whisper, I asked the translator to share what Catalina said.

“She was hoping her madrina (godmother) would bring a bike.”

Ouch! A disappointed child and someone who had the power to change that! Looking back, I realize this was a Lollipop Moment. An opportunity for me to let Catalina know her wishes mattered. An opportunity for me to make a dream come true. The potential to change someone’s world. The potential for that change to create yet to be discovered ripples of change.

Epifania.  More recently I met a young woman in Peru.  She was attending a leadership training event to which I had been invited.  Throughout the morning, I found myself captivated by her radiant smile.  During one of the breaks, I approached her and complimented that beautiful smile. 

A couple of years later, I had the opportunity to meet Epifania again. At that time, she told me my compliment provided her the motivation she needed.  

“You gave me the certainty when you told me something nice and you also smiled with me.”

She went on to say, “I had a little problem inside. That day I wanted to cry.  But you gave me security and I could smile more and forget the problem.”

That exchange was over six years ago.  Thanks to social media, Epifania and I remain in touch.  We share a Lollipop Moment, one created and one appreciated

Travel + Sisterhood + Lollipop Moments = Power for Change

Several years have passed since the inauguration of Ripple Effect Journeys. The principle of “Leading with Lollipop Moments” adds greater depth to this travel vision.

The world offers so many amazing destinations.  New discoveries await us at each stop.  Historical perspectives along with contemporary insights provide texture to what our eyes can see. Art, culture, architecture, and food illustrate what’s valued in the places we visit. And of course, the people we meet enrich our experiences.  (More about this later.)

Good travel does not occur in isolation. Solo travel has become increasingly popular. But most solo travelers will tell you they are not alone. Along the way paths cross and connections are made.

The opposite of solo travel is group travel. In my experience, a group has the potential to become a community. And when this happens, when you move from group travel to community travel, magic happens! A community has something (or in some cases a multitude of things) in common.

Sisterhoods are powerful communities.   So much so they deserve their own blog post! (Or, more accurately their own Ripple Effect Journeys blog post.)  Sisterhoods bring the following words to mind.

Fun! Support. Feedback. Accountability. Fun!

Fun! Inspiration. Motivation. Transformation! Fun!

Imagine when a sisterhood of travelers meets a sisterhood of women or girls striving to improve their lives. The possibilities for learning, understanding, and empowerment are endless!

Traveling Lollipop Moments change lives. Spontaneous interactions with local people are memorable. Waiting for these to happen, leaves something to chance. Intentional authentic exchanges are possible. But, facilitating these is challenging.

Enter the concept of traveling with impact. What if intentional authentic exchanges were facilitated between female travelers and women / girls associated with non-profit organizations focused on empowerment? And what if Lollipop Moments were involved? Moments when an individual realizes others care.  Moments when an individual’s capabilities are recognized.  Moments when an individual’s power to be an agent of change in the world or in their own life are celebrated.

A power for change!

‘A Simple But Not A Small One’

Drew Dudley’s recent “Recognizing the Power of Lollipop Moments” recognizes Lollipop Moments are a simple idea. But they are not small ones. 

So true.

It’s not small when our actions embrace, encourage, and empower others. Travel, like Ripple Effect Journeys – Vietnam, provides a platform to do so. Join a community of women and become a powerful source for change.

FROM LIFE-CHANGING TRAVEL TO TRAVEL CHANGING LIVES

Do you dream about having extraordinary experiences doing everyday things with local people in extraordinary places? Are you searching for opportunities to connect with local people where they live, work and play? Does the promise of life-changing travel excite you?

You’re Not Alone

The desire to travel beyond the sights to engage with local people and activities continues to grow among travelers. A report by Expedia Media Group Solutions and Skift recognizes ‘insiders helping travelers live like locals’ as a trend in 2019.

Travelers often describe the experiences and moments of living like a local as life-changing. Going to a school, shopping for food at a local market, dying yarn with members of a cooperative, spending time in a family home. Imagine if such travel moments and experiences changed lives. They can!

When travelers connect with local agents of change a partnership is born. These authentic travel experiences take on a deeper meaning. The focus shifts. An exchange takes place. It’s no longer about what I can get from the experience but rather what can be shared.

The Change That Comes From Sharing

During a 2018 Ripple Effect Journeys- Peru journey, a simple question prompted a travel changing lives moment. Peruvian Hearts was our primary Impact Partner for this trip. Their efforts are designed to help young women to reach their potential through education, mentorship, and community leadership.

After getting to know several Peruvian Hearts scholars on Saturday, we had the opportunity to visit with three girls in their homes around Cusco, Peru on Sunday.

Aldy, a new Peruvian Hearts student, greeted us as with a huge smile and a warm hug as we got off the bus near her home. Excitement and pride twinkled in her eyes.

A narrow hillside path led down to the family’s home. We navigated the trail thanks to assistance from Aldy and her brother. Aldy’s parents were waiting at the entrance to welcome us. They were honored to receive us in their home. And we were honored to be there.

A Memorable Exchange

As Aldy showed us the series of rooms comprising their home, our guide, Elizabeth, noticed a sewing machine.

“Do you sew, Aldy?”, Elizabeth asked.

“No, that’s my mother’s machine,” Aldy replied.

Aldy’s mother, Ambrosia, told us she had taken a leather making class at the local community center. Did we want to see the items she made?

Receiving an affirmative response, Ambrosia retrieved a large white plastic sack from her room. Opening the bag, she began to remove a variety of tooled leather coin purses and place them on the kitchen table. Next came wallets.

Excitedly we gathered tighter around the table to get a better look at the handiwork. After several exclamations of praise rang out, Jan asked a question.

“Is this coin purse for sale?”

Ambrosia looked at Aldy and then back at us. She’d be honored to sell the coin purse to Jan, she shyly replied.

“How much is it?” Jan asked.

A bewildered look came across Ambrosia’s face. Aldy explained this was her mother’s first sale. She had no idea of what to charge.

Elizabeth, our guide, kindly stepped in. Familiar with Peruvian leather good prices, she offered some suggestions to Ambrosia. After thinking through her options, Ambrosia shared the price of the coin purse with Jan. Her response sounded like a question, rather than a statement.

An immediate reply of “I’ll take it!” caused Ambrosia to catch her breath. Her eyes brimmed with tears, her smile lit up the room as the first sale was made.

A second and third sale quickly followed. A sell-out was announced in less than 15 minutes.

Transformative Travel Awaits You

Life-changing travel experiences turn travelers into storytellers. When people empowered by local agents of change are part of the story, amazing things happen. Shared experiences go beyond being descriptions of life-changing activities to actions that change lives.

Ripple Effect Journeys strives to identity and build relationships with Impact Partners in countries we visit. We are excited about developing partnerships in Vietnam. One such partnership empowers women in the Mekong Delta through sampan ownership.

Recently, Mrs. Hong received a sampan from a Ripple Effect Journeys’ Impact Partner. Her family is very poor. They do a variety of jobs to earn money (harvesting fruits as farmers, working as a housekeeper). Doing so, their earnings total about 2 dollars per day. And, these jobs are sporadic. Consequently, some days money is not available to purchase food.

Mrs. Hong’s family faced such challenges. Receiving a sampan changed her life. She and her family use the boat to sell fruits, catch fish, and transport tourists for tours of the Mekong Delta. This increases their earning power to $7-$8 per day.

In 2020 (tentatively April 7-22), women traveling with Ripple Effect Journeys -Vietnam will once again embark on travel that changes lives. Would you like to meet individuals like Mrs. Hong? Do you want to go beyond describing a travel experience as life-changing to engaging in actions that change lives? Let your next travel experience transform you. Email me at Bea@TheTiesProgram.org for further information.

#shetravelswithimpact

Are you a woman who wants to travel beyond the sights? Do you agree with John Kerry when he said, “Traveling enables us to see the world through the eyes of someone else, and to understand their aspirations and assumptions”? Does the phrase #shetravelswithimpact resonate with you?

A #shetravelswithimpact memory…

A #shetravelswithimpact memory

A while ago, I had an hour or so between Ripple Effect Journeys – Women Traveling With Impact Peru activities. After taking care of some business, I bought an empanada to go. Many people were out and about, enjoying Sunday morning with family. The sunny day inspired me to find a park bench where I could enjoy my early lunch.

Comfortably settled in Cusco’s San Francisco Plaza, a young woman approached me shortly after I began to eat. She cordially greeted me before showing me a carved gourd she hoped to sell. I politely said I was not interested in making a purchase.

She joked saying “no buying, only eating” and joined me on the park bench. Blending Spanish and English, a conversation began. I learned she studied English for three months in a program for street vendors. She told me she lived in Chinchero, a town recently visited by women traveling with Ripple Effect Journeys.

She was curious where I was from. Did I like Cusco? How long was I staying? She was very familiar with the Chinchero weaving cooperative I mentioned. In fact, she attended classes there as a child.

Seeing The World Through The Eyes of Someone Else

The mother of an 11, 9 and 7 year old, she was expecting her 4th child in 7 months. Her children had recently returned to school after an extended break. They needed shoes, school supplies and other items. Tourist visits to Chinchero were infrequent this time of year. So, she came to Cusco in hope of selling her handicrafts so her children could continue to attend school.

“No buying, only eating” no longer seemed an option. After looking at her wares, I selected an item to purchase. That item and the selfie we took documents the moment we shared.

Seven hours later, as I left a restaurant with the group, I heard someone say “Beatriz.” What a surprise to run into my new acquaintance! Several of my fellow group members took a moment to look at the items this young woman was selling.

One woman found an item she wished to buy. As the purchase was finalized, my new acquaintance was delighted. She now had two sales!

Wow! Two sales after a day’s worth of work! I remember wishing her day would have been more profitable. I also found myself hoping our moments together acknowledged her hard work and provided encouragement for the future.

Why Women Travel

According to a Booking.com survey, 65% of women embark on a vacation without their partners.

Why do they do so? Here are 10 reasons why women travel.

10 Reasons Why Women Travel

A #shetravelswithimpact community

For some, though, there are deeper reasons to travel, as John Kerry’s words suggest. These women seek experiences enabling them “to see the world through the eyes of someone else, and to understand their aspirations and assumptions:” They want to understand the joys and challenges of women who live in the places they visit. They’re curious about how the lives of local girls and women can be improved. When #shetravelswithimpact she wants to be a partner for change.

Women in a #shetravelswithimpact community enjoy spending time with other globally minded women. They value a sense of community. A sense of fun, discovery and purpose defines the group. They are curious learners and engaged culture seekers.

A #shetravelswithimpact community

Does this describe you? Do you want to look in a mirror and hear someone say #shetravelswithimpact?

If so, welcome to the #shetravelswithimpact community! Please introduce yourself by posting a comment! I look forward to exploring the world of meaningful travel with you!

Building a Meaningful Travel Community for Women

Collecting travel thoughts for Ripple Effect Journeys in a notebook for reflection.

“Hold on. I want to grab my phone and get a picture.” Sound familiar? According to Forbes 85% of the 1.2 trillion digital photos taken annually are done with smartphones. That’s not to mention the number of 4×6 paper photos stored in shoe boxes or photo albums for those of us who began taking pictures with film. Google shows 176,000,000 sites offer advice on how to organize your pictures.

It’s not just pictures needing organization these days. The Internet offers a treasure trove of recipes, DIY projects, quotes, news articles…the list goes on. In 2010, Pinterest stepped in to help. By Fall 2018, 250 million people used Pinterest monthly. Together they pinned 175 billion items on 3 billion virtual boards.

Collecting Meaningful Travel Ideas, Dreaming of Women Traveling with Impact

I’m a digital information collector. Specifically, I collect information about causes related to women and girls, women’s empowerment, girl’s education, and grass-root organizations facilitating change. I also collect information about women’s travel, meaningful travel, travel that serves. Why?

Because I dream about bringing together small groups of women who want to travel differently. The women I’m thinking about are curious about the world. They are interested in the lives of women and girls. The travelers I envision want to make personal connections. They want to get to know their global sisters. And then? They want to act!

The goal? To empower women and girls to succeed. I dream about a community of women whose travels inspire them to become storytellers. The stories they share help others understand why a village well increases the likelihood of a girl being able to go to school. They illustrate how education has the power to break the cycle of poverty. Their stories connect the listener to people the storyteller has met through amazing organizations like Peruvian Hearts or Room to Read – Vietnam.

Creating a Community of Women Around a New Kind of Travel

This week I read Melinda Gates’ interview with Abby Wambach. Abby advises to “build…a community…based on our unique and powerful voices, talents, dreams, curiosities, and courage,” Her words inspire me to move beyond my digital storage files and into a conversation with other women about important and thought-provoking topics connected to travel, girls’ education and women’s empowerment.

The folders in my digital file cabinet are overflowing! I’m passionate about material related to #girlseducation, #empoweringgirls, #women’sempowerment, #women’srights, #fairtrade, #socialentrepreunership, #makeadifference, and #NGO.

#meaningfultravel, #women’stravel, #bucketlisttravel, #womenwhoexplore, and #travelingladies describe travelers I’d like to know.

And, let’s not forget destinations like #Peru, #Vietnam, #Cambodia, #Ethiopia, to name just a few.

Ripple Effect Journeys embodies these passions and inspires a new kind of travel. Travel designed for women passionate about discovering the world while supporting initiatives improving the lives of women and girls in the places they visit through listening and collaboration.

Please contribute your voice, curiosities, and dreams to build a community where #shetravelswithimpact. You can do so by:
• Commenting on this post
• Suggesting a discussion topic
• Joining the Women’s Impact Exchange Facebook group
• Liking the Ripple Effect Journeys Facebook page
• Traveling with Ripple Effect Journeys.

Giving Gifts with Impact

What’s On Your Wish List?

Give a Gift With Impact

A text from my brother, got me thinking. The adults in my family exchange names for Christmas. He heard I had his name and wanted to confirm that with me.

I replied “yes” and asked if he had a wish list.

He responded, “I would like to donate to one of your causes.”

Now there’s a Gift with Impact.

Ripple Effect Journeys Visits Peruvian Hearts In March

This prompted me to go back to an email I received from Danny Dodson, executive director of Peruvian Hearts.  Ripple Effect Journeys’ participants will visit Peruvian Hearts in March.  We will spend several days with girls, learning how Peruvian Hearts impacts their lives and that of their families.

Hmmmm.   That got me thinking about my brother’s request.

The Cost of Empowering and Mentoring Girls

I had asked Danny to tell me about the costs of supporting a girl in the program. Here’s some of what he shared.

Infographic

Give a Gift With Impact – Empower a Girl To Change Her World

So this year,  I’m not going to visit Amazon or head to the nearest sporting goods store to purchase my brother’s Christmas gift.   Instead, I’m going to present Peruvian Hearts a donation in his honor while traveling with Ripple Effect Journeys – Peru  in March.

Is there someone in your life who would appreciate a Gift with Impact? 

If so, I’d be happy to handle the delivery.  Send me a note (Bea@TheTiesProgram.org) and we can coordinate the details.

Happy Holidays!

 

Travel to a Space Where Authenticity Meets Meaning

A few months ago, I had the good fortune to hear a presentation by Leymah Gbowee. A co-recipient of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, Leymah was recognized for her efforts mobilizing women in a peaceful protest resulting in the end of the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003.

A strong believer in the importance of education, the Nobel prize money enabled Leymah to not only send girls to school but also to provide them with the support needed to succeed. According to Leymah, there have been many successes over the last 5 years. This includes two women earning their PhD’s and a continuous wave of girls entering high school.

After speaking of these successes, Leymah passionately spoke about the challenges. They were numerous and heartbreaking. Despite Leymah’s efforts, girls still experienced significant problems.

For example, one girl repeatedly ran away from school. Leymah was facing so many problems, and now this! She was a point of dismantling the program she had created.

Fortunately, before taking such action, Leymah decided to visit the school and address the girls in attendance. As she vented her frustrations, Leymah found one of girls standing next to her. It was runaway girl. Shyly, she placed a note in Leymah’s hand. It read, “I understand all that you have done for us. I don’t want to mess up my life.”

Leymah knew this was an important moment. She asked everyone, but the note writer, to leave the room.

Then, the girl explained “I’m not running away from school. I run from school when school is dismissed.” Leymah learned that this girl was the first student to get off the bus at the end of the day. Everyone in her neighborhood knew her mother was a sex worker. At school, this girl was Vice-President of the Student Council. She was smart and commanded respect. School was a different world than her reality. The girl went on to say, “I don’t want someone in my neighborhood to say something about my life as I get off the bus.”

Leymah’s story remains with me. How often do I judge someone before knowing their entire story? Just like it takes time to read a book beyond its cover, it takes time to understand someone’s story. Time to ask questions, time to listen, and time to reflect.

After telling this story several of times, I discovered another take away message. Leymah reminded us that school was a very different world for this girl compared to the reality of her neighborhood. This dichotomy raises so many thoughts within me.

I’m reminded of a Spanish teacher I had years ago in Antigua. Teachers at this school wore a uniform that included a white blouse or shirt. As I got to know my teacher, I learned that she lived in a home with one electric light bulb. She fetched water from a community well. She shared that house had dirt floors. I distinctly recall thinking, how does she keep her blouse so white and crisp? I found it challenging even with a wash machine and a good iron. Leymah’s story causes me to wonder how my teacher felt about sharing those details of her life. Was she feeling pride at being able to move beyond her limited material to work as a teacher? Or did sharing these details put her in a place of vulnerability?

Ripple Effect Journeys was created for women who want to experience the world beyond the sights and learn the answers to questions like these.

They want to meet people, particularly women and girls, where they live, work and go to school. We hope the women we meet will be comfortable in sharing their stories. What are their hopes and dreams? What challenges do they face? What do they need to be able to meet their goals? How can we support their efforts? Rather than fixing a situation, we are there to champion individual efforts.

Authenticity meets meaning! I hope Leymah Gbowee would approve.

3 Aha Moments Define Travel that Serves

My mother often remarked that good things come in threes. That certainly seems to be the case when it comes to how I’ve interconnected three aha moments with how I envision travel that serves.

Aha Moment #1

It began with watching Lume Mufleh’s powerful TED Talk “Don’t feel sorry for refugees-Believe in them.” Lume’s grandmother, who fled Syria for Jordan as a young mother, was determined to help her grandchildren understand their family’s history. When Lume was 8 years old, her grandmother took her to visit a refugee camp, similar to the one Grandmother had lived in with her small children. Upon arrival, Grandmother told Lume to go play with the children. Lume shares how she did not want to play with children who seemed so different from her. But Grandmother insisted. Later, while leaving the camp, Lume told Grandmother how much fun she had playing with the kids. “Those poor kids,” said Lume. Grandmother’s response is one that continues to impact Lume’s actions today. “Don’t feel sorry for them – believe in them.”

photo credit: Tijen Erol <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37212053@N07/4742667508">Children of Palestine</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">(license)</a>

Aha Moment #2

Believing in someone is at the heart of a relationship I embarked upon about a year ago. At that time, a coalition of leaders came together with the goal of a poverty-free life for everyone in the community where I live. Designed to empower people in poverty with skills, resources and personal connections, a mentorship program was one of the strategies suggested to work toward this goal. Interested in giving back, I volunteered to serve as a mentor.

Connecting through mentoring

Two months ago, I met my neighbor, the person I would mentor, for the first time. A single mother of 2 girls (ages 10 years and 3 months at the time), my neighbor is in her mid-thirties. She works full time as a caregiver and human resources assistant in an assisted living center located about 15 miles from home. Despite full time employment, she lives from paycheck to paycheck with no reserves for unexpected expenses.

The connection with my neighbor is teaching me so much.

When we met for the first time, my neighbor was upbeat about so many things. She loved her job, feeling valued and challenged.  She owned a car, enabling her to work at the assisted living center as local public transportation was not available. A strong network of friends helped care for her kids. Her spiritual life was strong and provided a source of strength when things became uncertain. An outgoing individual, our conversation continued for more than an hour. I found myself wondering why someone felt she needed a mentor.

We met a week later, as planned. Things were no longer going so well. My neighbor felt the initiative she demonstrated at work was not being appreciated by her boss.  Childcare was getting harder to arrange. Fall-out with a longtime friend struck a blow to her self-esteem. The refrigerator was nearly empty and diapers were running short. Within a week’s time, her world had become chaotic.

My neighbor has shared a variety of ups and downs with me since our first meeting. Because of her, poverty is no longer an abstract term to me. Rather, it’s something that impacts someone I’ve come to care about. Witnessing my neighbor’s approach to life, I often find myself in awe.

Here are a few of my takeaways.

The importance of being seen in a positive light

My neighbor was invited to participate in this program. Local social service representatives, familiar with her over time, felt she could benefit from a mentor’s support. The difference in tone between our first and second meeting reminds me that people want to be thought of in a positive light despite the challenges they face.

Being seen in a positive light

The importance of listening

A story unfolds over time. This is especially true when someone is sharing their life story. As a mentor, I’ve realized the importance of listening to someone without feeling the need to fix the problems they face.  My role is to build a trusting relationship that supports someone taking charge of their own life.

The importance of listening

Resilience and the importance of believing in someone

My neighbor has repeatedly shown me her resiliency. I am in awe of her ability to bounce back from both emotional and financial challenges. She strives to improve her life despite frequent setbacks. She is not asking me to solve her problems. Rather, she expresses gratitude in my belief in her ability to live her life.

The importance of believing in someone

Aha Moment #3

I recently came across a quote by Karen Blixen that connected things for me.

“We must leave our mark on life while we have it in our power.”

For several years, I’ve been exploring how to combine the wonder of travel with the desire to serve people in need. I envisioned a trip that serves rather than a service trip. But what did that exactly mean and why should people be interested in opportunity such as this?

Travel that serves

Connecting My Three Aha Moments Provides the Answer

I believe that many of us desire to follow Karen Blixen’s direction and “leave our mark on life.” Most of us are already doing so within our families, social groups and communities. But what could we do if we thought outside of communities familiar or close to us? How could those of us who explore life through travel integrate the desire to leave our mark?

Mission or service trips have long offered travelers a way of doing so. But the focus for my vision has been different. Lume Mufleh’s grandmother has given me the words to articulate the mission of travel that serves. “Don’t feel sorry for them. Believe in them!” Our hearts break when we see people living on the edge. This is especially true when we travel beyond our own country. We want to help. How can we solve the problems that are in front of us? There must be something we can do to improve the lives of those we see.

connecting 3 aha moments with travel that serves

There is! Lessons learned in my aha moments provide a starting place.

  • Remember the importance of an individual’s dignity. Travel that serves means taking direction not giving direction. Challenges are shared only after trust is established.
  • Listening serves as a building block for trust. Travel that serves means listening to an individual define their challenges. Once challenges are defined, solutions can be explored.
  • Travel that serves means aligning with someone as they examine their challenges. It is discussing possible solutions rather than providing the answers. Travel that serves believes in people, it doesn’t feel sorry for them.

Travel that serves – what an incredible way to leave your mark on life!

Leave your mark on the world

Travel with Purpose: 13 Quotes to Inspire You

To travel with purpose is to travel deeply.  It stems from a desire to combine the exploration of new places with the hope of making a difference.  The journey to discover how to do so adds depth and dimension to the destination.

The following 13 quotes give voice to the impact possible when travel with purpose is your goal.

One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things. Henry Miller

Explore the world with an open mind, a sturdy carry-on, and clothes that don’t wrinkle. Madeleine Albright

Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey. Patrick Conroy

It circulates your brain. Yoko Ono

It’s not enough to read about the world; the most important education comes from first hand experiences. Richard Bronson

Traveling enables us to see the world through the eyes of someone else, and to understand their aspirations and assumptions. John Kerry

Travel is more than seeing the sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent in the ideas of living. Miriam Beard

What fills the eyes, fills the heart. Irish Proverb

Traveling-it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller. Ibn Battuta

Travel literally forces us out of our routines and, in doing so, gives us the freedom to see things with fresh eyes. Annabelle Selldorf

I travel around the world in a way that tries to open my mind and give me empathy and inspire me to come home and make this world a better place. Rick Steves

Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving. Terry Pratchett

The real work of an expedition begins when you return. Louise Arner Boyd

10 Ways to Refocus a Service Trip to a Journey That Serves

10 Ways to Refocus a Service Trip to a Journey that Servecs

I See and You Can Too!

Jotting down words while pondering my vision for Ripple Effect Journeys, I experienced an epiphany! Removing the letters “i” and “c” from service, results in the word serve. This “IC” (as in I see) moment led me to think about the many definitions of the word “see.” Do the varied meanings of this word impact what it means to serve as opposed to provide service? I think so!

Here are 10 ways “IC” (I see) refocuses a service trip to a Journey that Serves.

1.  To see – To visualize

Thinking about traveling beyond the sights, you begin to think about problems that needs fixing. Because you care, you begin to visualize how your actions could be part of the solution.

A journeys that serves means gathering impressions

2.  To see – To perceive by sight

Being able to see something with your own eyes, enables you to gather information and impressions. The adage “One picture is worth a thousand words” comes to mind. Reading about a situation and experiencing it are two different things. What are your eyes teaching you?

3.  To see – To call upon &
4.  To see – To grant an interview

Journeys that serve are about partnership. As travelers, we often ”feel called upon” to make life better for those we perceive are suffering in the places we visit. But wait. Before developing an action plan for change, don’t we need to be invited in by those we wish to serve, so that we can listen to one another, ask and answer questions?

A journey that service means partnership and discovery.

5.  To see – To watch, to examine &
6.  To see – To discover

If the goal is long term sustainable change, it’s important to discover the complexities that contribute to a situation. Discovery involves going beyond what the eye can see. It involves watching without judgement. It involves not only gathering information but also examining it through someone else’s eyes. Discovery often challenges what we have envisioned. Most importantly it requires a conversation focused on learning.

7.  To see – To understand

Our “IC” journey approaches a place where we begin to grasp the complexities of what we see before our eyes. The tendency to refer to this as a light bulb moment is strong. Because of what we’ve learned, our arrival at a place of understanding comes from empathy.  Our words “I understand” are spoken with a full heart.

A journey that serves means understanding and recognition

8.  To see – To recognize

The words recognize and acknowledge are often used as synonyms. A closer look reveals a slight but important difference. When we recognize someone or something, the act typically takes place quietly. But acknowledging someone or something requires an audience. Inspired by their growing understanding, travelers learning to serve are keen to both recognize and acknowledge, and in doing so help others to understand the power of serving.

9.  To See – To imagine the possibility

Traveling to serve nurtures an empathetic spirit. The importance of this can’t be overstated. Empathy enables us to recognize that we are the visitors, serving in a supportive role. Empathy allows us to accept if our help is rejected. Empathy humbles us to accept an invitation to collaborate rather than solve. And empathy honors us with requests to serve as mentors rather than doers. Understanding empathy helps us see the possibilities for serving may take many forms.

Journey that services means possibility

10.  To See – To take care of, to provide

Whoa! This “IC” may seem contradictory. At first glance, this reaction is understandable. But nothing could be further from the truth. When learning to serve, travelers grow to understand this. As educators, champions, advocates and mentors, we serve others through acts of empowerment. Our journey towards that goal does not end once we are home. Rather, our experiences ignite a passion to champion continued steps towards change.

www.RippleEffectJourneys.com

‘Tis the Season of Good Travels with Ripple Effect Journeys

Bea Evans, Ripple Effect Journeys founder, received her Good Travels Advisor certification on November 23, 2016. 

The Good Travels Advisors (GTA) program from Tourism Cares is a training program and learning community of travel agents committed to promoting good giving and good volunteering among travelers. Effective giving and travel fulfills the good intentions of travelers, boosts trip satisfaction and connections, and increases the benefit to local communities.

We invite you to join the Ripple Effect Journeys community.  Subscribe to our blog or join in on Facebook.  Travel with like-minded women.  Experience the wonder of new places.   “See” a destination beyond the sights.  Learn about issues impacting women and girls in countries you visit.  Explore the meaning of learning service.  Discover how you can make a difference by supporting someone’s journey.   It’s fun, it’s memorable, it’s “good travels”.

Good Travels Advisor
‘Tis the Season for Good Travels!

Inspiration and tips for an especially meaningful holiday.

As a certified Good Travels Advisor, I am delighted to share a particular magic of the season – the smiles, joy and caring that comes with giving to others.

The job of a Good Travels Advisor goes beyond superb travel advice and service – we are also guides to meaningful experiences and giving in the communities we hold dear, near and far.

Here are 6 special ways to celebrate the giving spirit this year!

1. Looking for beautiful gifts that also make a difference? Here’s a very special list of 7 items that also directly help a cause, whether its breast cancer, Cambodian girls, anti-trafficking, endangered species conservation, and more – choose one gift and cause, or all!

2. Discover the surprising way you can actually buy happiness, along with other TED Talk inspiration. Watch Michael Norton on How to Buy Happiness; spoiler alert — the key is not to buy for yourself but to give to others, with great stories and data to prove it! Also check out Bill and Melinda Gates and their reflections on wealth and giving, starting off with an anecdote about their very first trip to Africa.

3. Find your favorite quote on giving while sipping some egg nog, scotch or tea. Peruse this list of philanthropic quotes from the National Philanthropic Trust, which includes James Baldwin: “We are responsible for the world in which we find ourselves, if only because we are the only sentient force which can change it.”

4. Give yourself and give for others. Here’s a list of 12 surprising charitable giving options that will likely tickle anyone’s curiosity and inspire you to explore and act, in addition to what you may give to your favorite organizations and in your hometown community. There’s also a shorter list for engaging your kids!

5. Use the new year to revisit your giving overall, along with your resolutions. Your guides include “How to be smart about charitable giving over the holidays” and tips from Guidestar, the national nonprofit database.

6. Think about giving back to a destination you care about, or a place following a disaster. What are your favorite places far from home, domestic or overseas? Think about the special experiences you’ve had in the last year or two and where you think you can make a difference, even with a small charitable donation. Think back to the nonprofits, museums and community organizations you encountered – or look up the local “community foundation,” a hub for local giving. It’s a great way to connect as a family and get back in touch with places you love. Alternatively, think of a place that was hit by a disaster this year; look into the latest and make a gift to the first one that comes to mind.

Good Travels Advisors make a differenceGood Travels Advisor Partners