From Miles to Smiles

For every mile I get to trek around the world, I will donate $10 to FUNDACION MADRE MARIA LUISA CASAR, a Venezuelan nonprofit focused on literacy and education for children from low-income households. Learn more about the cause below. 

Motivation

In the last ten years, Venezuela has suffered from a massive outflow of its younger generations. They leave the country in search of better opportunities, living conditions and resources among many others. The ones lucky enough to find opportunities abroad, still carry deep inside of us the passion and drive to help out those back home. This initiative allows me (and hopefully others) to pay it forward in a small way. While always keeping in mind what we were forced to leave, we can still be motivated to explore, learn and enjoy the great world around us; with the forever yearn to bring back home all the knowledge learned in these trips. 

1 Mile = $10 towards education and the NOW of Venezuela

GOAL

To intertwine philanthropy with our daily routines and hobbies. People tend to separate the activities they do for leisure from their social responsibilities. They practice both but most likely do each on its own time, splitting these tasks into two different buckets. I want to bridge the gap between these two worlds. 

Join the movement... we are working on a "Create your own Map" section. This will allow you to start your journey of giving back trough your travels, adventures or any other hobby/passion (e.g. Instead of miles trekked it can be books read). Allowing you to track your growth journey and at the same time give back to a cause that resonates with you. 

TREKS

Fundación Madre María Luisa Casar

Mother María Luisa Casar has made it her life calling to help and educate children who have been less fortunate. Her life's work has been dedicated to giving back to others, especially to younger generations. Almost 30 years ago, in a crude shanty with a couple of tables, she started teaching 9 kids how to read and write. Over time 9 kids became 30, and the word quickly spread through the community. Her restless spirit and perseverance triumphed, and over time she managed to open a small school called Jenaro Aguirre Elorriaga in a very marginalized Venezuelan slum. Through this institution she currently promotes and implements educational programs for the children, the community and their families. The initially small school is now a fully developed kindergarten and elementary school, with 400 kids. 

Mother María Luisa’s congregation, Esclavas de Cristo Rey, runs my high school, Cristo Rey de Altamira.  I still remember vividly, Mother María Luisa running in an out of our high school, fundraising, spreading the word and doing whatever necessary to get Jenaro Aguirre Elorriaga going. She used to run around in her nun habit, jump in her white 4x4 Jeep, and drive into the Venezuelans slums to spread her message of hope.

She continues to inspire me and many others, to pay it forward. Hence why this initiative, Trekking for Change, supports this amazing woman and her cause.

www.madreluisa.org

If you also want to help out this incredible woman an her cause, please do...

More to come... we are working on a "Create your own Map" section. This will allow you to start your journey of giving back trough your travels, adventures or any other hobby/passion (e.g. Instead of trekking miles it can be books read). Allowing you to track your growth journey and at the same time give back to a cause that resonates with you.

Tell us what you think...We want to hear your ideas/thoughts/reactions