connecting
people and cultures – inspiring journeys
sharing meaningful discoveries in Asia
Thank you for coming to this page.
Traveling in Asia, the heart is often touched with a desire to help and to give back to the places that have welcomed us. Half the population in Southeast Asian developing countries is under 25 years of age and much of the population still lives on just a few dollars a day. Helping to create useful skills and opportunity, dedicated and motivated individuals can be empowered to find a brighter future. The hope also is for a new generation to find inspiration within their own culture and heritage and to become new leaders in their community.
See Campaigns Below
and
Scroll further down for links to worthy Projects in Asia…
The Plastic Waste Disaster:
Tons of plastic waste dumped into our oceans.
Look at this- where we once sailed to pristine islands in the South Pacific:
Watch this short video report:
Sungai Watch Bali
Protecting and Restoring Rivers preventing the flow of plastics into the ocean:
http://www.bbc.com/news/av/science-environment-43235247/five-ways-to-break-up-with-plastic
Avani Eco Bali
Learn about an Eco-alternative to plastic using bio-degradable cassava waste:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Learn more- Become an Earth Buddy!
https://consciousplanet.org/
India- Cauvery Calling – Action Now!
A massive on-ground campaign to initiate the revitalization of Cauvery River in India with a goal to plant over 2 billion trees in the Cauvery basin through agro forestry. It will impact the lives of 84 million people, increase farmers’ income and set the standard for reviving India’s rivers.
International Rivers
Rivers are worshipped as the Mother of Waters.
Since 1985, International Rivers has been at the heart of the global struggle to protect rivers and the rights of communities that depend on them.
See the links below to follow updates on plans for more dams along the Mekong and Salween Rivers.
SADLY THE MILITARY COUP in MYANMAR HAS MADE PROGRESS DIFFICULT!
www.internationalrivers.org
Mekong River Commission: www.mrcmekong.org
Salween River- the longest free-flowing river in Southeast Asia.
Can a battlefield be turned into an indigenous-run protected area?
Click to watch a touching video with a Karen proposal to create a Peace Park along the Salween: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWyDBz2HaJo
SUPPORT: ICAN!
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) is a coalition of non-government organizations in one hundred countries advocating for a strong and effective nuclear weapon ban treaty.
Learn more on: http://www.icanw.org/campaign-news/negotiations/
The continued struggle of Tibetans in their homeland must not be forgotten! Follow more on:
Free the Panchen Lama… Where is he after more than 25 years?
Impact of Environmental destruction in Tibet:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25359391
MEKONG SUB-REGION:
Childs Dream (Kindertraum): assisting underpriveleged children in the Mekong Sub-region Myanmar/Thai border, Laos, Cambodia providing healthcare, water and education.
A very informative website with office based in Chiang Mai: https://childsdream.org/
Insight Myanmar – Learn about and Support their Work, Blogs and Poscasts:
https://insightmyanmar.org/blog
LAOS:
Big Brother Mouse!
Publishing easy to read and fun books for children in Laos in Lao and in English. Making literacy fun!
Beginners books, Story books for more advanced readers, Reference books -illustrated by enthusiastic young Lao staff.
US$1200 was donated towards the publication of Wonders of the World!
https://www.bigbrothermouse.com/
The Language Project @ My Library
In 1999, American Carol Kresge began setting up reading and listening libraries for the novices and monks in Luang Prabang temples. Since 2003, a self study and resource centre has been operating in town open and free to all. English language books, tapes and CD Rom learning materials are carefully chosen to meet the need for further studies and skills. Books on Art, History and Folk Stories of Laos are also available.
Being the largest town in Northern Laos, several thousand post secondary students come to attend school in Luang Prabang. The Language Project library is a place where young people come to help each other, learn about problem solving and where students realize that they too, can become teachers.
Learn more: www.thelanguageproject.org
The Language Project is a US non-profit 501(c)(3)
COPE:
Exhibition on Cluster Bombs dropped on Laos by the US during the Vietnam War.
Learn about COPE services that continues today for bomb survivors- a very moving and eye-opening place to visit in Vientiane. Sadly the US is still one of the few countries not to sign the treaty to ban these cluster bombs.
https://copelaos.org/
CAMBODIA:
Cambodia Living Arts: Founded in 1998 by musician, genocide survivor and human rights activist
Arn CHORN-POND, CLA’s mission is to be a catalyst in a vibrant arts sector, inspiring new generations.
https://www.cambodianlivingarts.org/en/
Phare Ponleu Selpak: Changing Lives through the Arts
In a country where the artistic culture was destroyed through years of conflict, Phare Ponleu Selpak promotes a sense of Cambodian pride and identity.
https://phareps.org/
Epic Arts in Kampot- transforming lives of people with disabilities
https://epicarts.org.uk/
Green Gecko Kids: www.greengeckoproject.org
INDONESIA:
Orangutans are critically endangered.
Habitat loss and poaching continue to push orangutans to extinction.
Not only are these peaceful orangutans at risk, but entire ecosystems of
flora and wildlife.
Organizations working heard to protect forests and habitat:
Borneo Orangutan Survival:
https://orangutan.or.id/
FNPF- Friends of National Parks Foundation:
dedicated to reforestation in Borneo and Bali Starling breeding project.
https://www.fnpf.org/
Borneo Nature Foundation:
https://www.borneonaturefoundation.org/about/
Sumatran Orangutan Society:
https://www.orangutans-sos.org/
Kopernik:
Disaster Relief and Education:
Practical solutions, educational programs and relief efforts in disaster struck areas:
Bali:
Yayasan Senyum- The Bali Smile Foundation:
providing operations for poor people with cranio-facial disabilities.
www.senyumbali.org
Bumi Sehat providing free natural birthing, health programs and oureach on Bali and islands beyond
Based in the village of Nyuh Kuning in Ubud:
https://bumisehat.org
NEPAL:
Little Sisters Fund helping girls in education many from remote areas:
Follow updates on:
https://www.littlesistersfund.org/
Karuna Shechen- Humanitarian Projects in Himalayan Region:
https://karuna-shechen.org/en/
Vegan Travel Asia- learn about their wonderful travel programs:
https://vegantravelasia.com/about/
The VegVoyages Foundation – established with the belief that travel should be beneficial for both the people traveling and the communities we are guests of:
https://vegantravelasia.com/foundation/
SRI LANKA:
Bhante Sujatha’s Love in Action: www.bhantesujatha.org
founder of Blue Lotus Temple near Chicago
Tea Leaf Trust: lifiting Sri Lankan Tea Leaf Estate communities out of poverty
https://tealeaftrust.com/
Also,
Learn more about the Global Climate Change Collective:
One Earth Sangha
website with powerfully transformative articles:
http://www.oneearthsangha.org/articles/call-to-social-transformation