Traveling with a Purpose

From our travel book...

"Grateful for the opportunity to experience the world and serve children as a global volunteer and because peace begins with the individual, I affirm my personal responsibility and commitment to:

Journey with an open mind and gentle heart.

Accept with grace and gratitude the diversity I encounter.

Revere and protect the natural environment which sustains all life.

Appreciate all cultures I discover.

Respect and thank my hosts for their welcome.

Offer my hand in friendship to everyone that I meet.

Support services that share these views and act upon them.

By my spirit, words, and actions encourage others to travel the world in peace."

The Journey Begins

This journey began on January 15th, 2009, the day I decided to raise $20,000.  Though, I could also say it started in August of 2006, when I first stepped onto my yoga mat, or, perhaps I've been on this path all along.  Either way, here I am, now preparing for the trip of a lifetime, and I'm equally excited and terrified.  This blog will document the inner and outer journey.  If you are a donor, friend, or simply an interested reader, the purpose of this blog is to take you with me to Uganda.

Uganda is home to the longest-running war in Africa.  Over the past 23 years, millions of families have been displaced and children are still being abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army.  We will be traveling to the capital, Kampala, and the surrounding rural areas to assist in the development of a birth center, school, and sustainable farms for these facilities.  

Twenty-one people successfully raised $20,000 in 2009 and we will all be traveling to Uganda from February 5 - 21, 2010.  Between all 160 participants, we raised $570,000 and counting.  The goal this year was $500K, and with the state of the economy, the outcome of our efforts is simply outstanding.  

I've already started packing!  We had a conference call (all 21 participants on the line) to connect and answer questions pre-trip.  One suggestion was to lay out everything we want to bring now and gradually make the pile smaller throughout the month.  My hope is to bring a large suitcase of donations and a small carry-on bag for my personal items.  This will be a challenge for me!

Below is my packing list.  Perhaps this list will be helpful for others traveling in the future, or maybe you have suggestions for me!

Yellow card with proof of Yellow Fever vaccination

Clean, crisp, $50 bill printed after 2006 for a visa

Filled prescriptions of Cipro (Traveler's diaherrea), Malerone (Malaria pills), and Ambien (flight)

Regular prescription meds

Pepto Bismol, immodium, anti-motion sickness pills

Multi-vitamins

Ibprofen

Bandaids, gauze, tape, neosporin

Anti-itch cream (insect bites)

Sigg water bottle

Insect repellent + insect repellent for clothes

Sunscreen

Side bag and inner fanny pack

Copies of passport, ID, bank cards etc (leave one copy with family member, one copy goes with me)

Jacket/sweatshirt for chilly evenings

Poncho

Yoga paws (better than traveling with mat)

Yoga clothes

Light, loose, long shirts, pants and skirts

Socks, underware

Sneakers, sandals

Phone and charger

camera and charger

converter and 3 prong adapter

Ear plugs, eye mask, chapstick, Ayr (for flight)

Work gloves

hat, sun glasses

Flashlight and extra batteries

Hand sanitizer

Snacks

Roll of toilet paper?

Soap, shampoo, conditioner

Razor

Toothbrush, paste, floss

Cough drops, eye drops

Bathing suit

Books, journal, letters to me

Spending money printed after 2006, no rips or stamps

Donations for school and birth center

Travel time for me will be a total of 19 hours in the air, 25 hours total if you include layovers.  There's not enough Ambien in the world to make that experience pleasant.  If you have tips for me, I'm all ears!

Until next time, 

Xoxo

Megan

Where the $$ goes...

80% of this year's funds will support the organizations below
20% will support OTM's nationwide yoga for at-risk youth programs

$150k to Shanti Uganda To build an eco birthing center with a sustainable garden and to support birthing education and training programs for women with HIV/AIDS.http://www.shantiuganda.org/

$125k to Building Tomorrow To build a primary school, housing for all seven teachers and their families and to develop a farm on the school's property. With additional funds we can support the organization in updating and improving Building Tomorrow academies.http://www.buildingtomorrow.org/

$10k to PSI/YouthAIDS To support their work in stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS worldwide. http://www.youthaids.org/

$10k to New Hope School To support the orphans and improve/ update existing facilities.
*Breakdown of funds courtsey of OTM

What I've Learned

Americans have clean water to drink and a free opportunity to public education. We can go to a hospital or choose midwifery to ensure safe childbirth. We are working hard to eradicate the HIV/AIDS epidemic spreading worldwide, and for those infected in America, offer the support and treatment necessary to get through a very difficult time. In third world countries, these needs are dreams. Ugandans live in fear. Fear of death, genocide, abduction, rape, and exploitation. Children are afraid to sleep at night not knowing what the dark hours will bring. Most would rather sleep outside in large groups, squeezing together tightly for safety and warmth rather than sleep at home where they are at risk for abduction. When they wake, a million of these children do not have a school they can attend. Some will walk 5 or more miles for fresh water. Women are passing the HIV/AIDS virus to their babies and many are dying in childbirth. And on top of all this, the Lord’s Resistance Army threatens civilians’ safety 24 hours a day.

I’ve spent the past couple weeks diving deep into Uganda’s political and social history. Emotionally, this has not been easy. Uganda is a small country with many problems. It has birthed a generation of people who live in constant fear, and it is truly affecting the world on a psychological level. Every time we see a photo, a video, hear a news report about what’s happening in Uganda, fear is imprinted somewhere in us. The same fear and horror Ugandans live with every day gets lost in us if we do not acknowledge what is happening. Once we start to learn, we can never go back. It is impossible to ignore. There is no “us” and “them,” there is only “we.” And WE must ALL accept the emergency happening in Uganda if we intend to heal, moving from fear into love.

Shanti Uganda, Building Tomorrow, and YouthAids are already helping this war-torn country. Off the Mat, Into the World will bring additional funds to these organizations. With our help, Shanti Uganda will build a clinic and teach women how to midwife. The transfer of the HIV/AIDS virus from mother to child is easily prevented when safe birthing practices are applied. Getting children into schools will help the country and its people on a multitude of levels. Building Tomorrow will not only bring children into schools, but also provide housing for the teachers and their families. The government will pay the teachers salaries and with additional funds, we can help improve their academics. With enough support and funding, YouthAids can educate the population of Uganda on how to reduce and eventually eliminate the spread of HIV. It takes time to heal, that’s why Off the Mat has designed this Seva Challenge to ensure we will leave a legacy in Uganda, a lasting impact to improve their present and future.

As of June 29th, you’ve helped me raise $10,164 for this cause. My goal is to raise $20K by December 15th, 2009. A donation of $5 or $5,000 will be instrumental in its inevitable success. Together, we can change the lives of the people living in Uganda, because it’s no longer “us” and “them.” There is only WE.

Off the Mat, Into the World

In Uganda, one million children between the ages of 6-12 are not in school. Five people per minute become infected by HIV and the AIDS virus kills one child every minute. Families travel miles to gather fresh water. Off the Mat, Into the World's Seva Challenge 2009 exists to help the people of Uganda experience a life where human, basic needs are met.

Off the Mat, Into the World is a non-profit organization formed by three yogis- Seane Corn, Suzanne Sterling, and Hala Khouri. These women wanted to create a forum for people to come together and brainstorm projects in support of conscious activism. Their annual seva (service) challenge asks participants to go out into their local and global communities to individually raise $20,000 in support of countries that need assistance. This year's spotlight is Uganda, a country that has been plagued by civil war for more than 20 years. OTM is partnering with 3 different organizations- Shanti Uganda, Building Tomorrow, and YouthAids to fund the building of an eco birthing center, sustainable farms, and a seven room school house in Uganda.

My name is Megan Ridge and I signed my letter of intention in January to take on this challenge. I have officially raised $10K and now have until December 15th to raise the full $20,000. If my goal is reached, I will travel with the Off the Mat team to Uganda in February of 2010 to help lay the brick and dig the wells for these projects. The trip will be very physical and interactive. To prepare mentally, emotionally and physically for this kind of work, the group will do 2 hours of yoga in the morning and processing work in the evenings. Our support system is strong, and we will leave Africa knowing that we have saved many lives.

If you or anyone you know might be interested in contributing to this cause, please visit www.meganridge.com/uganda for more information on how to donate. All donations are tax deductible. If you would like to be included in email updates concerning my progress, I can add you to my mailing list. Emails will also include any upcoming events/products for sale in support of the challenge. Just write an email to meganaridge@gmail.com with "ADD TO LIST" in the subject line.

This project is something I'm drawn to because whether I raise the full $20,000 or not, I know that 100% of the donations are going to save lives. As little as $15 will provide a new birthing kit to the Shanti Uganda clinic, ensuring a safe birth for mother, child and midwife! Contributions to this cause, whether $5 or $5,000 will be instrumental in its inevitable success. Together, we can change the lives of the people living in Uganda. I know that this journey, no matter the outcome, will change my life, and I thank you for sharing in the experience.

Namaste,
Megan