Journeys Within our Community – Page 2 – Journeys Within Tour Company

Journeys Within Tour Company Celebrates 10 years of Exceptional Experiences

Posted by April on January 13, 2015 (Updated: 2015-01-15) | 3 Comments

This week I am proud to announce that Journeys Within Tour Company is celebrating 10 years of exceptional experiences!

The truth is that our 10 year anniversary was last year…but we were busy and I just couldn’t quite get around to celebrating it, I think it was because deep down I wanted to wait and really complete 10 years! It wasn’t okay to say we’d gotten to the 10th year, in typical Journeys Within fashion we had to go above and beyond and excel in that 10th year too!! To highlight just that, in the last week I’ve received emails from guests describing their recent trips as “epic”, “once-in-a-lifetime” and “life-changing”. Our tenth year was truly the icing on our anniversary cake!

When Brandon and I started Journeys Within Tour Company 10/11 years ago in Cambodia neither of us realized where it would go and the lives it would change. When I talk about exceptional experiences I’m not just talking about our guests…I’m talking about the Journeys Within team as well. I feel so lucky to have a team that truly loves what they do and I think we are able to really appreciate how exceptional Southeast Asia is. Because we truly value it we’re able to create these experiences for guests that just go above the norm and create unforgettable trips. On a personal level, the last 10 years has been an exceptional experience for me!

When I realized that I shouldn’t just let our anniversary fade into the Angkor Wat sunset I looked online to see what people did for their 10-year-anniversary. Turns out, people have parties…they throw big events and they have a very good time. I thought about doing this, as I do like a good party, but my team is spread across 6 countries and getting them all together seemed unlikely. I will be taking the kids to Southeast Asia in February and in each country I’ll celebrate with my Journeys Within Family, but I needed something bigger, something that defined Journeys Within. I didn’t have to look far.

Shortly after founding Journeys Within Tour Company we founded Journeys Within Our Community (JWOC), a non-profit that has a mission of empowering local communities through health and education and inspiring change. When we founded JWOC we again had no idea of the impact it would have. Today JWOC has given access to clean water to thousands of villagers, we’ve provided education for hundreds of students at our school in Siem Reap, we’ve given out microloans to those living below the poverty line and we’ve sent over 200 students to university. And when I say JWOC has done this, I mean WE have done this — it turns out that the most exceptional experiences are not necessarily helicopter rides and private pampering (though those are great too!), but actually the experiences you take home with you are the ones where you make a difference in someone else’s life. When our guests saw the needs in the countries they were visiting they wanted to make a difference and they have! Our donors are the travelers — people that not only want to see and understand these countries, but also make a positive impact on the people living here. The idea of Active Philanthropy through travel has made measurable impacts in the communities that we work in. Our teams both at Journeys Within Tour Company and at JWOC have made these contributions count, every penny of them! In return our guests have not only seen the highlights of Southeast Asia, but they’ve made a difference in the lives of the local people that inspire us to travel. The experience has gone beyond Angkor Wat and Wat Phou and the Grand Palace, and into the villages and communities.

This to me is what the last 10 years has been about. Making travel bigger than just going somewhere new. So to celebrate 10 years of exceptional experiences Journeys Within is donating $10,000 dollars to JWOC. This donation will go towards the projects we founded and believe in and will help JWOC continue to change lives. This donation adds onto the thousands of dollars given throughout the course of the year by our guests who visit our schools and see our projects, as well as the donations that come in from our amazing travelers after they come home and want to continue making a difference!

I am so proud that what we founded 10 years ago has become something so powerful. I am so thankful to have a team that strives to give our guests the best experience possible every single day and I’m so excited to see what will happen in the next 10 years. On the phone today, I was speaking with a guest about his trip and he couldn’t say enough nice things, finally he said, “for a small company with so much heart, you really have the service to back it up.” And that, well that was all I needed.… Read more »

Making a difference in Luang Prabang

Posted by Andrea on November 12, 2014 (Updated: 2014-12-17) | 3 Comments

Just this last January, two Journeys Within guests, Joanne and David Lockman traveled around SE Asia with a stop in Luang Prabang, Laos. Here Nicole tells us about how they turned one philanthropic tour into so much more …

While the Lockman’s were in Luang Prabang, they went on a JW custom made tour to lesser visited villages and learned firsthand about some of the culture and traditions that are inherently Lao.

Along with visiting ancient temples, they observed clay pottery artisans and learned local fishing methods from villagers on the Mekong River. They concluded the day with a stop at Ban Xing, a 16th century village on the banks of the Mekong, for a blessing ceremony from the elders of the village. After the ceremony, with the help of their guide, Phaeng, the Lockman’s handed out notebooks and writing utensils purchased in town to the 65 students at Ban Xing Primary School. Even though they had already given items to the school and knew a portion of their tour fees went to a village fund, they felt they could do more.

They inquired what the school needed most and were told that the installation of electricity for lights and fans in the classroom was at the top of the list. The teachers of the school expressed how during the winter and rainy seasons the classrooms would become too dark for the students to see the blackboard, making them incapable of staying focused. In addition to the dark classrooms, the sweltering heat from February to June would also serve as a major distraction for the students.

After returning home, the Lockman’s felt so moved by the gentle and gracious spirit of the village and its residents that they decided to raise funds in order to install electricity at the school. The Lockman’s reached out to friends and family about their experience and asked for help in order to put 2 ceiling fans and lights into each of the 5 rooms as well as to light the outside walkway and the 4 bathrooms. In just one quick week the Lockman’s were able to reach their goal of $1,200 USD, which meant that the entire project could be completed all at once!

They made their donation to Journeys Within Our Community’s Village School Sponsorship program and installation was quickly underway at Ban Xing Primary School. The week before last, Phaeng and I went to the school to oversee the electrical team’s installation of the lights and fans until its completion. It was a long day with the electricians working from 7:30 until 5:30, but luckily just as the sun was setting behind the mountains of Luang Prabang, all was complete and we had electricity!

Just today the Director of Ban Xing Primary, Mr. Siphanh, contacted Phaeng to express, on behalf of the students and teachers, their sincere gratitude for the Lockman’s efforts in raising funds needed for the installation. He said, The electricity was very important to the school so that the fan could make the room cool and lights made it helpful when rainy or cloudy. The students seem to have fun and more energy to learn than before. The class doesn’t waste time to wait for the rain to stop because of it being dark.

Most importantly, the teachers and kids are so happy with the cool fans also. All of us at the village would like to say a big thanks to all the donors that supported the Lockman’s goal and made this rural school in Laos cooler and brighter. It makes it easier to encourage the students to continue to pursue their education. The JW teams hope to welcome our friends the Lockmans when they come back in the future. We want to highlight the Lockman’s efforts and thank them along with their friends and family who allowed Journeys Within and Journeys Within Our Community to help give back to the local community. We would not be able to make a difference without the support of these donations. If you would like to join the Lockman’s in supporting projects like this please visit www.journeyswithinourcommunity.org and find out how you can benefit the lives of others.… Read more »

Get creative at the JWOC volunteer art class

Posted by Andrea on March 20, 2014 (Updated: 2014-03-20) | 3 Comments

On Sunday afternoons JWOC presents a great volunteer opportunity for those with a creative streak and time to give…

Sunday afternoons are special at Journeys Within Our Community — a day designed to the artist inside shine.

On Sundays, JWOC holds their art class for local students at 2.30pm — a no-pressure class where anyone is invited to come and play games, sing songs and participate in a simple and rewarding art projects. Basically it is an afternoon designed to channel the creative spirits of our eager young learners.

A favourite volunteer opportunity for our Journeys Within guests, these art classes present a great chance to integrate, even for a short period, with the local community.

Like art classes anywhere, the students are split up into groups where adult volunteers are tasked with helping the little ones with their scissor work or other tricky tasks while offering older students encouragement and an opportunity to practice their English.

A fun experience at any age, these art classes are a great way for traveling families to see JWOC’s projects in action.

Guests to the class also have a chance to meet with our scholarship students and gain a greater understanding about the work we do within the greater community.

1609735_10152768702801992_834885083_n — JWOC students showing off their inner expressionists!

For those looking to give back while on tour — or let their inner Picasso loose for an afternoon — the Sunday volunteer art class is the perfect addition to any trip to Cambodia.… Read more »

A Cambodian abroad

Posted by Andrea on October 18, 2013 (Updated: 2013-10-18) | 3 Comments

Recently, members of the Journeys Within team were sent to the United States to share their stories on behalf of Journeys Within Our Community. Here, Makara, a three year employee of the Journeys Within Hotel, shares his impressions of their time abroad.

I had the opportunity to visit a few states and everything was different from one to another — and it is all totally different from Cambodia.

It was a fundraising trip, but I have some free time to see some things around too. It was great to see other country because I have never been out of my country before. I had a good time, but I just missing the local food sometime. I can eat everything burger, sandwich, Mexican and Italian foods, but I am not used to it yet, because we were only gone for a few weeks.

1238238_4877405033424_1525794148_n — The boys bundle up for the lower temperatures in the United States.

I landed in San Francisco, California; and the first thing I noticed is the airport was so big and beautiful. We then drove three hours from airport to Truckee, along the way I could see that there were a lots of small houses, which was different from what I thought before arriving. The weather was cold and I needed to wear my jacket all the time – not what I am used to. Truckee is a mountain town with really great views, and as we drove along the hills I could feel my ears popping. The roads are big and they have highways, freeways and railways that connect state to state. The people in Truckee live on the mountains and in the forest, but they still have access to everything like clean water, power and internet everywhere, even though they live in the forest on the side of a mountain. It was amazing!

1374189_698885276807777_876292866_n — Somit, Andrea, Makara and Vantha in New York City.

New York was different from California — this state is very nice with a lot of tall and big buildings. The people all look so busy. They prefer to walk then take the car, because the road is so crowded. I went to see the subway — in there the people are just like go! go! go! They moved so quickly that sometimes I got push in to the train. I had to wonder what they are doing and where they are going. Time Square is so nice – here the billboard lights mean it is always day time. I went to see the Central Park, it was very nice place with green views. There are a lot of people go to visit and lay on the grass.

556547_4826324876452_203031410_n — The boys hit the nation’s capital.

Washington DC is another beautiful state. But the traffic is crazy, not so many people are walking, because from one place to one place is far. I had a chance to see the Capital City Building, it was amazing. The people are friendlier than in New York.

One day we went to see Reno, Nevada; it is a state that has a lot of gambling. During the day it looks quiet, the road is not so busy, but I heard that in the night time it is so crowded.

For me, there was no disappointment at all. I wasn’t surprise with how different the living standard are compared to Cambodia, because I can see the difference in the level of education. I mean in the USA, the people know a lot more about how to live together and how to respond and support their country.

It was a big gift from Journeys Within Boutique Hotel, they gave me a great bonus as I have been along with them for about 3 years. This trip was a big gift from Journeys Within Tour, they arrange a great trip for me.

It was also a big gift from Journeys Within Our Community — they gave me a great experience and an opportunity to help them back as they helped me pay for my college for four years in 2007.

Again, thanks to Andrea, Brandon and the Journeys Within Team.

— Makara… Read more »

Siem Reap Floods: Emergency Appeal

Posted by Andrea on October 13, 2013 (Updated: 2013-10-13) | Leave a comment

Rainy season is part of life in Southeast Asia, but this year flooding throughout Cambodia is putting those who are marginalized at further risk. Here, Journeys Within Our Community appeals to supporters for help with immediate flood relief.

Dear Supporters,

As you may have heard in recent news, Cambodia is experiencing severe flooding with the death toll currently over 100 and more than 60,000 people have been forced from their homes so far. There is growing concern over disease outbreak from water-borne diseases due to a lack of sanitation and hygiene in these extreme living circumstances. The flooding has seriously affected nearly all of Cambodia with Siem Reap Province, the communities Journeys Within Our Community (JWOC) works with, hit especially bad. The flooding is damaging homes, crops and causing harm to roads and infrastructure.

For those living off the main roads just getting out of the house means wading through dirty water that in places is well above knee height. In the rural parts of the Province villages are becoming cut off as roads are washed away. People in the communities JWOC works with are so far surviving but it’s an anxious time as the risk of water related and mosquito-borne diseases, such as Dengue Fever, is high and growing as the flooding is not receding.

As well as the large concern over the risk of disease there is also recovery to consider once the water goes down, with clean up and repairs to roads and houses needed. Many families are losing their crops as their rice fields and poultry are destroyed by the flooding, a source of both income and food for impoverished families.The longer- impact of the flooding is fear for food security with concerns over food shortages.

We are asking for you to donate towards JWOC’s Relief Fund during this difficult period to allow us to help with current emergencies, reduce risk of disease and to give us the ability to contribute to the recovery of the communities that mean so much to us.

With a donation of $15 you can help 10 families prevent and treat water related diseases they are contracting from living in flooded homes and drinking contaminated water. Each hygiene pack contains clear water purifying tablets, iodine antiseptic and soap.

Donating $50 can help 10 families stop their sleeping children from being at risk from fatal mosquito-borne diseases.

Donating $100 you would help provide food for 10 families for a week to help them through the food shortages and difficulty in securing food for their children.

To donate please go here. Please mark your donation Flood Relief.

Thank you and best wishes,

Sincerely,

Alex and the staff, volunteers and beneficiaries of JWOC… Read more »

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