I’m off again.

I haven’t traveled internationally since the end of October when I operated the amazing WOW! Travel Club adventure to Puglia in southern Italy.

On Sunday morning,I’m heading to one of my favorite parts of the world – southeast Asia.

First to Cambodia – in and around Angkor Wat, and then to Vietnam: Hanoi, Halong Bay and Hoi An/Danang in the central part of the country.

This is a repeat of a journey I created last year for a group of travelers representing an organization called Dining for Women.

Here’s my plug for that organization:  Some years ago, I was seeking a meaningful way to give back – to contribute something in a way that made logistical sense for me (with my crazy schedule) and that resonated with my heart. In previous years, I had mentored a girl from South Central LA and had signed up to be a Big Sister. Both were worthwhile causes, but neither of those experiences were completely satisfying.

When I heard about Dining for Women, it was a perfect fit. I would attend a monthly potluck dinner – showcasing a worthwhile grassroots group somewhere in the developing world – take a dish to share, and write a check for what I would have spent to dine at a restaurant. Simple. Meaningful. Worthwhile. Supporting women in some of my favorite places (India, Peru, Vietnam….).

I was surprised and disappointed to learn that there were almost NO chapters in southern California! So I signed up to be a Chapter Leader and host monthly dinners at my home. (Another plus, since I love to entertain!)

I can say that it has been one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences I’ve ever had. Every month I get to share great food, laughs and connections with friends. The donations of my chapter (combined with almost 9,000 other chapters around the U.S.) have made a substantial difference to many women who need help. On average, DFW grants about $50,000/month to a well-vetted grassroots organization. Plus, they give sustaining grants to NGOs to continue their good work.

Scenes of Cambodia & Vietnam 2013

It’s been proven over and over that when you educate and empower a woman, she’ll spend the money on her children – giving the next generation an opportunity to succeed. And the benefits don’t stop there. With their new-found confidence and power, women and girls begin to speak up and take a stand against gender-based oppression and violence. Quite likely, in violent households, a woman’s husband might stop beating her if she’s earning money.

In Cambodia, we’re scheduled to visit the staff from Lotus Outreach, which rescues girls from the brothels on the Thai/Cambodia border and successfully re-integrates them into society. In Hanoi, we’re spending an afternoon doing arts and crafts with a dozen young girls who live in a foster home, having been abandoned by their families. In Danang, we’ll meet with single mothers (ostracized by their families and communities … even if they were widowed or abandoned by their husbands) who have received microloans to start small businesses. I made a short video after last year’s journey.

And, of course, we’ll see and experience the magnificent beauty of this destination all along the way. Organizing this kind of journey is bringing everything full circle for me. My very first international travel experience was to the developing world – in southeast Asia – back in 1979.

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Wherever you are reading this … if you’re in a place like I was … with a desire to do something to help make a difference in the world, I would encourage you to check out Dining for Women. It’s really very simple. Attend a dinner meeting in your area, or start your own group like I did (I promise you – it’s very easy!). Make a donation. And (hopefully) come with me on an unforgettable journey one day in the future!

Namaste!

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(Please share comments in the box below.  Pass the word about Dining for Women.  The Founder, Marsha Wallace, will be making an appearance in Westlake Village on March 27.)