Did you know that less than 40% of Americans have a passport? Have you ever wondered what percentage of this number includes underserved communities?
Meet Tracey Friley, award-winning travel writer and philanthropist, founder of The Passport Party Project and named one of National Geographic’s 2013 Traveler’s of the Year. I had the honor of first meeting Tracey in person at BlogHer 2012 in New York City. Tracey gave a presentation called Travelanthropy and I was fascinated by her talk. Her words and mission in life touched me deeply and we’ve kept in touch ever since.
Tracey Friley
Tracey caught the travel bug early and has been fortunate to have traveled to many wonderful parts of the world. Yet Tracey realized that many people in this country especially underserved communities do not have passports and have no means of international travel.
Inspired by her own passion for travel and making a difference in people’s lives, Tracey decided to act upon her disenchantment for the way the world works and find a way to help underserved girls travel. In the summer of 2011, Tracey gathered a group of local kids in the San Francisco Bay Area and spent the day with them talking about travel. By the end of the day, she had given the kids money for their first passports. Little did she know, this was the start of something bigger: The Passport Party Project.
“To struggling families, international travel is a luxury, an unattainable goal. So passports aren’t a priority because they don’t feel they can travel internationally anyway. But I think travel should be available to everyone, particularly children. The sooner they explore, the better for the world.” – Tracey Friley, award-winning travel writer and founder of The Passport Party Project
The Passport Party Project is an award-winning grassroots initiative providing online global awareness training, first passports and first time international travel experiences to underserved American girls ages 11-15 in an effort to help create responsive and responsible global citizens.
The Passport Party Project was launched in the Fall of 2011 with Phase 1, an 18-month global awareness campaign in Los Angeles. Friley obtained full funding for Phase 1 from Expedia, the world’s largest online travel company, and was thrilled to be finally realizing her dreams. The Passport Party Project was able to successfully gift 100 underserved girls with their very first passports during a nationwide traveling campaign that ended in July 2013 with a trip to Belize, Central America for six lucky girls that received their very first passport stamps.
Photo of Passport Party Project girls trip to Belize (Phase 1). Photo credit: Tracey Friley
Given the fabulous success of Phase 1, an even better Phase 2 is now getting underway. The Passport Party Project Phase 2 will empower 10 girls at a time in an effort to make a more personal impact and ultimately create a replicable model. Sponsored by HomeAway (Official Housing Sponsor) and Guadeloupe Islands Tourist Board (Official Destination Sponsor), Phase 2 will take the Passport Party Project to the next level. Phase 2 will consist of 6 hour-long global awareness parties in cities nationwide, an exciting 6-week online global awareness training program that teaches and encourages local and global responsible travel practices and one on one mentoring by established travelers. The dream destination is the lovely Caribbean island of Guadeloupe.
I’m honored to announce that I am one of the 20 Advisory Board Members for the Passport Party Project’s Phase 2 initiative. I will be mentoring one of the selected girls for a 15-month timeframe and help prepare her for her travel abroad. I am so excited to have this unique opportunity to help a young girl experience international travel for the first time! It is going to be a wonderful experience.
Photo credit: Tracey Friley
All 20 Advisory Board Members are dedicated volunteers who believe in the power of the passport and are committed to contributing to the growth of a girl as she embarks on her journey to global citizenship. Some Advisory Board Members will also serve as judges and one-on-one mentors.
I look forward to my new role mentoring a young girl and helping her discover the beauty and life-changing impact of global travel.
To learn more about The Passport Party Project, here are some links:
National Geographic 2013 Traveler of the Year: Tracey
Friley
A Caribbean destination that should be on your radar: Guadeloupe by Maroc Mama
Here is an inspiring half-hour video of the 2013 National Geographic Traveler’s of the Year. The video includes Tracey and The Passport Party Project. Get ready to be inspired!
I am somewhat at a loss for words because the Passport Party Project is just absolutely amazing. A passport and the ability to look at the world from a more global perspective really can make powerful changes in a person’s life. I hope you keep us all updated on Phase 2 and your participation in the project! 🙂
Oh Tracey must read your comment as she would feel so humbled and happy to read this. Yes, it is such an amazing program for these girls. I too am in awe of her program and I can hardly wait to get my girl to mentor! It will be really fun. 🙂
Wow. That’s all I can say right now. Thank you ALL so much. =) It is a pleasure to have you on board, Nicole. Being a part of giving girls a world view is my life’s work and I am proud to have team members like you that bring so much to the table. Let’s do this. 😉
You will be a wonderful mentor Nicole! What a fabulous project.
Thanks Sue! I’m excited and yes it is such a fabulous project indeed. 🙂
This is such a great idea! You’re really lucky to be a part of it Nicole, and I know you’ll make a brilliant and inspirational mentor 🙂
Thanks Sas. I can hardly wait and thank you for the kind words! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this video – watching as I type! Looking forward to seeing how travel will forever change these girls’ lives!
Isn’t the video inspiring? I loved it and also found a few other people to watch over. I can hardly wait to be a mentor and help a girl travel for the first time out of the country! 🙂
I’m so inspired. Congrats on being part of an incredible initiative!! Lost for words really, just one big YAY!
Thank you! It is really wonderful! I can hardly wait to help out and be a mentor for a young girl who has never left the country and may never if she wasn’t exposed to this opportunity! 🙂 Stay tuned!
Wonderful project! To start someone off on travels is the beginning of a new life for many!
Yes it is wonderful indeed Angeline! I’m always so inspired by what people can do to make a difference and can hardly wait to help with this project.
Wauw, this really is an initiative that changes a persons life. In a good way! You have my blessing.
Thank you! Yes it is an amazing project! 🙂
How wonderful this is Nicole – talking about making a difference!
Thanks! I am excited about helping out.