Through your generosity, we can make a difference

 by Carolyn Ray, JourneyWoman Publisher 

The Covid-19 pandemic teaches us that our actions have profound consequences, good and bad. We’ve adopted new behaviours, reexamined our role in making our communities safe and healthy and witnessed a spirit of renewal that is a testament to our resiliency.

Like so many in our community, I believe it’s important to give back, particularly when I travel.  In addition to helping build a school in Kenya, one of my most recent and rewarding experiences was volunteering at a women-owned farm in Puerto Rico. This was a meaningful way to connect with people in the community and demonstrate my personal commitment as a traveller.

 Our Pay-What-You-Can Model

We’re asking JourneyWomen to help us do our part by participating in a Pay-What-You-Can model for our virtual events, where we take proceeds from each event and make a donation to an organization chosen by our speakers or panelists.  To date, these are organizations that focus on key areas that support women, education/research and the environment.

Thank you for your generosity and kindness! Although we issue receipts for our events, we do not issue charitable tax receipts, so if you’d like to donate directly please do so using the links provided for each non-profit.

We also welcome your thoughts on what organizations could use some extra support from our community. Please email [email protected] if you have suggestions. 

Tree Sisters: Women Seeding Change

Trees are the lungs of our planet and every effort to improve our environment serves all humankind. On Earth Day 2020 (April 24), we announced a partnership with Tree Sisters and a goal to plant 100,000 trees by Earth Day 2025. This will contribute to growing initiatives in the rain forests of Brazil, the upland forests of Mount Kenya, Mount Bamboutos in Cameroon, Khasi Hills in North East India and mangroves in Madagascar and Mozambique.

 Walking the Camino to Raise Awareness of Period Stigma 

 In October 2021, Carolyn walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain in support of The Period Purse, a non-profit registered charity that strives to achieve menstrual equity and reduce the stigma surrounding periods.

“As I go through menopause, I’ve become more connected to my period and to my body than ever before. I can’t imagine not having access to menstrual products or being limited in my career options – can you?  But this is the case in many countries, where period stigma limits women and girls from education and career opportunities.” – Carolyn Ray, CEO, JourneyWoman

Thanks to JourneyWomen around the world, we raised $2,000 for this cause- Thank you!

Read more about Period Poverty here.

Donating JourneyWoman Shop Proceeds to Generation Rise in Rwanda for #GivingTuesday

JourneyWoman Marillee Carroll, a member of our Women’s Travel Advisory Council, met the co-founder of Generation Rise, Solange Impanoyimana, in Kigali, Rwanda, several years ago and urged us to consider donating process from our store to this worthwhile organization, which empowers young women in small rural communities. Generation Rise uses a novel approach of reading and group discussions to examine how self-awareness, confidence, critical thinking, resilience, and civic engagement are key to empowerment. I spoke with Solange in October to learn more about the impact of the pandemic on girls in Rwanda, school closures and her desire to expand her reading program to more schools. She told me how important teachers are to helping facilitate positive, constructive conversations about issues like sexual health, unwanted pregnancy and disease, and building confidence and leadership skills.   

Solange says: “Even a little support counts and helps us to make an impact in rural communities. All of the proceeds will be allocated towards the establishment of the safe space at one of our partner schools. This space allows girls in the “Her Voice Matters” programme to come together to discuss the issues they are facing. The space also includes books so that girls can enjoy reading and discussions as they form new perspectives.”  

From Angela at Ernestine’s:

“Dear Carolyn,

We at Ernestine’s are always grateful to hear that a new donor joined our family of community supporters, but your decision to join us and support us during this challenging period makes it all the more special and means so much more! Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement and we’re so grateful that we are able to provide a safe space for women and children, thanks to donors like you who support our mission.

 I was just on your website and learned about the wonderful work that you do helping women travel safely and well. Helping empower women to seek new adventures and build confidence is also part of what we do at Ernestine’s, so I admire the work that you do at JourneyWoman. Warmest wishes to everyone at JourneyWoman and thank you so much for supporting the women and children at Ernestine’s.” 

From Noyman at Yaysan Widya Guna:

“Dear Carolyn, 

What other organizations should we support? Email [email protected] with your suggestions.