Visiting the country of Laos had been a dream of mine for the past few years. It's a long trip for a single mother from Alaska to make, but I had the feeling that it would be a life-changing experience. Rich with a diversity of cultures, history, and traditions, what the people of Laos desperately lack is resources for their children's education.

I've had the privilege of visiting developing countries in the past, and while it's true that my money stretches further in them, it's equally true that I've left with feelings of guilt and ineptitude. I wouldn't go to a new friend's house for dinner empty-handed. So why should I be a guest in a poor country without bringing something to help if I know what their needs were?

Enter Pack For a Purpose (PFAP). Just days before my long-planned trip alone to Laos, I read about PFAP in a recent issue of O magazine. I looked over the PFAP website and was hooked.

Immediately, I contacted the clearinghouse for PFAP goods in Laos, Barnaby Evans at Rivertime Resort and Ecolodge. I booked a reservation at the lodge for a week, and cleared space in my luggage for 100 pencils.

And less than a week later, I left the below- zero temperatures in Alaska and arrived to a tropical oasis in Laos in the serene setting of the Rivertime Resort and Ecolodge. Mr. Evans brought me to one of the local schools a few days into my trip. Accompanied by a former student of the school who is currently a Rivertime staff member, we presented a teacher with a the collection of supplies Rivertime staff had collected from it's guests. The students excitedly watched us, peering out the windows of their over-crowded classroom.

That's all it took. A little space in my luggage and a small donation made a big difference to the children of Laos, and gave my trip a whole new dimension. I actually felt connected to the people of Laos.

Pack for a Purpose has definitely inspired me to reconsider how and where I plan all of my future adventures.

My wife and I recently travelled to Tanzania for a 14 day long safari, on which we expected the highlight to be seeing zebras (for her) and cheetahs (for me). What we did not expect however was how a simple forethought and advice from Pack for a Purpose, could have such a wonderful impact on our experience in Tanzania.

My wife and I had both been looking forward tremendously to visiting Africa, as we had strong family connections to the continent, with her parents being born and raised in Uganda and my father being born in South Africa. As we planned the trip, focusing on which safari camps to stay at and how to move from one national park to another, we struggled with how to "connect" with the real citizens of Tanzania. Serendipitously my wife happened upon the Pack for a Purpose website linked to our guest house in Arusha (Onsea House). Immediately we took one of our old gym bags and filled it to the brim with school supplies and medical supplies (both my wife and I are in the health care field).

Once at Onsea House, we were greeted by three Belgian volunteers who were each completing a year volunteering at the local Barra school. And so it was on our second day in Africa, we spent the entire morning visiting with the amazing boys and girls of Barra school. We spent time meeting the teachers, we played soccer with the boys, we enjoyed tea made for the teachers, and we wandered from class to class seeing all the wonderful teaching that was happening. Most importantly we were very excited that what we had brought was exactly what was needed: pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, pencil crayons, first aid supplies and basic medicines.

It was actually kind of sad seeing computers and Harry Potter Books collecting dust in the library because they were too advanced for the school children. The very basic supplies we brought are vital for a public school like Barra to continue to deliver education to the children in its region. And it felt really good to participate in a program that so tangibly helped out the school. My wife and I were so touched by our experience that we have been in touch with the headmaster of the school since returning to Canada and we are exploring how we can continue to support the school and some of its students. So the next time you're planning to travel, consider looking for a Pack for a Purpose opportunity, I guarantee it will make you feel more connected to your destination and enhance your experience.

We packed up our goodies including pens, pencils, erasers, rulers, note pads, crayons and plasters. Departed on our adventure to the very beautiful Botswana. After a long journey via Johannesburg we arrived in Gaborone. After a refresh, tour of the city and a meeting at the tourism office the following morning, we departed for Tuli Game reserve. Whilst here we were lucky enough to visit the village of Mothlabaneng and a local school, where we were met by a sea of small faces and singing from the local children. We got to see first hand exactly where some of our donations were being used and the children who were directly benefitting from our efforts.

We continued our journey through Botswana to visit the Central Kalahari, Nxai Pan and on to the Okavango Delta. We then made our second contribution to the Shinde Camp, we met one of the volunteers from the programme they support in Maun, Bana Ba Letsatsi.

Such a small effort can really make a huge difference to the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves. We were only allowed 15kgs of luggage for our trip and everyone manage enough of their own supplies with space to spare for goodies for these amazing causes. We were away for 2 weeks so if anyone says it can't be done I assure you it can!

Last year I went with two friends to Kenya and Tanzania, on safari as well as to volunteer at a clinic in Kenya. One friend, Rita Berlin, suggested Pack for a Purpose to Isaac Okumu, who owns Village Life Safari. Isaac, besides being a great safari guide, volunteers whenever he can at a school in the slum of Mukuru, outside of Nairobi. We brought school supplies last year, and I went again this year, bringing as many school supplies as I could manage to carry. We visited the school with Isaac, and it was wonderful to see the children, as well as meet the dedicated faculty members and director of the school. Pack for a Purpose is a wonderful concept put into action.

I recently visited Namibia, and every day there was a day in paradise. The scenery is magnificent including the highest sand dunes in the world, bright red in colour, with the ridges forming sinuous lines. I climbed, barefoot, up the highest one. And the animals are fantastic! We spent about two hours among a herd of 12 elephants and were almost charged by three at one point. We sat next to a pride of 5 lions in an open Land Rover having drinks as the sun set and they began to think of tasty morsels such as us, only 5 to 10 metres distant, and feeling very vulnerable and exposed. I saw hundreds of zebras, oryx, springboks, giraffes, wart hogs, several rhinos.

But, sadly, there is poverty. That's why before departing for Africa I investigated how to bring supplies to needy people. I soon discovered two great organizations, Pack for a Purpose and Wilderness Safaris, which runs the Children in the Wild (CITW) program. I mentioned that I was taking school supplies to Namibia and three friends also contributed and, when shopping at Staples for the supplies, a clerk also donated some items, at her own cost. When I arrived at Windhoek, A CITW rep picked up the materials at my hotel. Too easy!

Since returning to Canada I have approached my travel-writers' association to make it a formal mandate to encourage, organize and facilitate such contributions, after all our members travel all the time.

Before leaving Namibia I visited several poor areas. The magnitude of poverty was depressing, and makes one wonder how this problem will ever be solved. But at least I felt I had helped a little.

Our trip to Africa was our first time and it was amazing!

We have a set of friends that had traveled a month before us and they shared some stories. One of the couples had grown up in Johansburg and still had family there. Her father is involved with some agencies for children's needs. They told us they took a bag of items to donate. I got so excited that we too could do this.

Our travel agent, after reviewing the Pack for a Purpose website, got us in touch with Wilderness Safaris and they indicated items that would be useful to the community -based projects in Johannesburg. I then started going to various stores checking our sales. One store was closing out all the childrens thermal items..since it was the start of the winter season in Africa and the summer for us..I asked the manager if I purchased all that was on the wall what would he charge me? He then called me later in the day with such exciting news..I could purchase all the items for 1.97 a piece.. I paid 102.00 and saved 933.02!! That got me charged ...I then ventured to area stores asking the same...I was pleasantly surprised by the support!..Our neighborhood brought me 6 black garbage sacks full of wonderful childrens clothing.

We had our dentists donate toothbrushes and paste...It was so easy and brought us so much joy to be able to do this. It is so EASY!

We filled up duffel bags , put them on the plane..and took them with us to our hotel. And that was it. Wilderness Safaris came and collected the duffels full of special items and delivered them where they were needed!. To top it off we received photos of where and how our items are being used!! Everyone that is traveling should embrace the opportunity to help in such a small way ...but with such great rewards! I will do it again and again. I hope more will join in...