Travel has the power to transform, break down barriers, dissolve stereotypes and bring the world closer together. I believe this to my core. It’s the reason I made travel a central part of my life, the reason I started this blog and the reason I’m thrilled to be partnering with FLYTE, the Foundation for Learning and Youth Travel Education, a non-profit that provides educational travel opportunities to students from underserved communities.
Travel transformed my life at an early age. Trips to London, Paris and Nigeria all before turning 13 broadened my perspective and connected me to the world in a unique way. I am so grateful for these experiences and fortunate that I’ve since added countless stamps to my passport.
I created House of Wend to be a source of inspiration to encourage readers like you to plan that dream trip, book that plane ticket, step outside your comfort zone and go explore the world. But I also recognize that the ability to travel is an incredible privilege.
No matter how many travel tips or Insta-worthy pics I share to encourage others to wend their way, the reality is that for many, travel is not just a luxury it’s an impossibility. Fortunately, there are foundations like FLYTE that are making the impossible a reality for a handful of deserving young people who desire to make a difference and see the world.
Students from the Excelsior Academy in Newburgh, NY on a trek in Ecuador
WHAT IS FLYTE
FLYTE was founded in 2015 by Matthew Kepnes, a New York Times bestselling author and founder of the popular travel site Nomadic Matt. Travel played such a pivotal role in Matt’s life that he wanted to offer students in underserved communities the opportunity to see the world.
This nonprofit organization empowers young people to seek new experiences, engage as global citizens and learn for themselves that the world is so much bigger than their own communities. FLYTE provides teachers and students with the planning and funding they need to take what they learn in the classroom and put it to use in the real world.
Through their fundraising efforts, FLYTE has sponsored 4 schools from across the country on two-week trips to Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico and Cuba, forever changing the lives of 54 students in the process. FLYTE’s goal is to increase the number of schools they are able to support to five per year.
Students from the BEST Academy in Atlanta, GA visiting Chichen Itza in Mexico
HOW IT WORKS
FLYTE aims to support students who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to travel. The schools that apply for funding undergo a rigorous selection process and phone interview before the field is narrowed down to a few deserving applicants. Once the final school is chosen, the lead teacher, with the help of the FLYTE team, is tasked with selecting the students who will take the trip.
To date, FLYTE has sponsored 54 students from 4 different schools on trips to Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico and Cuba. The projects and assignments students are required to complete vary with each trip, but education and cultural immersion are the primary focus.
FLYTE is able to provide transformative travel experiences to deserving students thanks to the help from individual donors and small businesses as well as corporate sponsors. This year, they are ramping up fundraising efforts by hosting their first ever live event, FLYTE Giving Tuesday, in New York on November 27th. You can purchase tickets for this event here.
Students from Anacostia High School in Southeast D.C. on their trip to Cuba
WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
FLYTE has an immediate goal of raising $15,000 to send students from the Envision Academy in Oakland, California to Columbia this June. Every individual donation received between now and May of 2019 will help FLYTE change the lives of these students.
I profoundly believe in FLYTE’s mission and that is why House of Wend has set a fundraising goal of $500. We’re already 1/5 of the way there! All proceeds raised are tax deductible and will directly support the travel costs for the upcoming Columbia trip.
Here’s how your gift can make a difference:
- $25 can provide all pre-trip materials for one student
- $50 can buy a day-tour for one student
- $120 can pay for one student’s passport application fees (that they can use for years to come!)
- $250 can provide all meals for one student
- $500 can cover accommodations for two students
- $2,500 can sponsor one student’s entire trip
If you would like to contribute, you can do so through this secure fundraising portal:
Travel has been an integral part of my life and I’m so excited to be partnering with an organization that is giving the gift of travel to so many deserving students. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this great cause and happy holidays!
To learn more about the FLYTE organization and the important work they’re doing, you can visit their website here.
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