Travel - Together Women Rise

By Kay Yoder, Florida Regional Leader and Director of US Operations for Ripple Africa

A country not instantly recognizable by its name or geographical location, Malawi is one of Africa’s best kept secrets and a travel destination not to be missed! It is a beautiful, sub-tropical country with a majestic lake lining much of the country’s eastern border and a diverse terrain of mountains, hills, and plateaus from north to south. In spite of Malawi’s lovely landscape, this tiny sliver of a nation is ranked as one of the most impoverished and least developed countries in the world. Details

Together Women Rise

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2019 Bhutan Trip, Bhutan, READ Bhutan, Travel, Travel Program

Day 1: The Trip Has Begun!

By Linda Levine, Dining for Women Traveler and Member of the CA, Saratoga-1 chapter

Greetings from Thimphu! I’m having an amazingly colorful time on my Dining for Women trip to Bhutan. When Sandy (Baily) and I arrived in Paro along with three other DFW travelers, we received white welcome silk scarves. One of our guides, Rabten, warmly placed them around our necks much like welcome leis in Hawaii. We then took a minivan through the lovely countryside to Thimphu, the capital. It was our first glimpse at the incredible architecture of Bhutan and the adults and children wearing the national clothing called Kira’s and ghos, for women and men respectively. Details

Together Women Rise

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2019 Bhutan Trip, Bhutan, READ Bhutan, Travel, Travel Program

Day 3 – READ Center Visit in Thimphu

By Regula Spottl, DFW Traveler and Member of the NC, Greensboro-5 chapter

Another sunny and warm day: unexpected but very welcome!

As usual, breakfast buffet at the hotel between 7 and 9 am. Beth Ellen, Dining for Women President, introduced the grant DFW gave READ Bhutan in 2017. Details

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2019 Bhutan Trip, Bhutan, READ Bhutan, Travel, Travel Program

TIGER’S NEST aka TAKTSANG MONASTERY

By Ellen Williams, DFW Traveler and Member of the WA, Spokane Valley-1 chapter

Guru Rinpoche, Precious Master, rode upon a flaming tigress to mediate for four months in a cave now located on the lower floor of the monastery. At this site, the iconic monastery is nicknamed Tiger’s Nest. Guru Rinpoche established Buddhism– the everyday fiber that holds Bhutanese national identity. He is said to have possessed supernatural powers to subdue demons and evil spirits. His birth was foretold by Sakyamuni, the historical Buddha. This legend has turned the man into a powerful Buddha who can take many forms and possess many powers. Details

Dr. Veena Khandke

Travel

2019 Bhutan Trip, Bhutan, READ Bhutan, Travel, Travel Program

Bhutan: An Experience on top of the world

50 million years ago the Indian plate collided with the Eurasian plate to give rise to the Himalayan mountain range. A mountain range that continues to grow 1 cm a year. What a vision of beauty with high peaks, and breathtaking glaciers and valleys. Nestled in this mountain range is the beautiful landlocked country of Bhutan. Flying into Paro, Bhutan from Kathmandu in Nepal brings this beauty to the fore. Looking out of the plane window, our pilot gently reminds us to look out at Mount Everest, majestically bursting through the clouds at 29,029 feet. As we approach Paro, our plane banks to the left and then to the right between high ridges for a thrilling picture-perfect landing in Paro. Details

Beth Ellen Holimon, President & CEO

Travel

2018 Guatemala Trip, Guatemala, Travel, Travel Diary, Travel Program, Travel Tales

Guatemala 2018 – Day 1 — Going Back in Time

It was fitting to start our first full day in Guatemala going back in time to the Iximche /ee-sheem-chay/ ruins between Antigua and Panajachel. Iximche was the capital of the Kaqkichel Mayan Kingdom from 1470-1524 prior to Spanish conquest. Over 100 structures have been found at Iximche which is composed of four large plazas strung out along a ridge and protected by a deep moat. Buildings include palaces, numerous pyramid temples and residences, and a couple of ball courts. Details

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2018 Guatemala Trip, Guatemala, Travel, Travel Diary, Travel Program, Travel Tales

Guatemala 2018 – Day 3 – Weaving and Retail Therapy

By Emmy Holt, Dining for Women member, SC, Greenville-7 chapter

After being served breakfast at the hotel, we walked down to the dock in Panajachel where we climbed into motor boats and crossed Lake Atlitlan (translation: “near the volcano”) to San Juan La Laguna. What a beautiful lake, formed from a crater after the 1853 volcanic eruption! The lake connects the villages, is 12 miles long, and over 1000 feet deep. From the lake we could see three cone-shaped volcanos- Atitlan, Toliman, and San Pedro. Details

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2018 Guatemala Trip, Guatemala, Starfish, Travel, Travel Diary, Travel Program, Travel Tales

Guatemala 2018 – Day4 – Visit to Starfish—Her Infinite Impact

By Judy Bacon, Chapter Leader, WA, Spokane Valley-1

In Dining for Women we hear the word “impact” all the time. That word came alive for me the day our tour group visited the Starfish School in Guatemala and saw what impact truly means. Details

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2018 Guatemala Trip, Guatemala, Travel, Travel Diary, Travel Program, Travel Tales, Women's Justice Initiative

Guatemala 2018 — Day 6 – Women’s Justice Initiative

By Suzanne Spitzer, Dining for Women member, SC, Greenville-7 chapter

Background

Guatemala faces some of the highest levels of violence against women and girls in the world, has the third highest femicide rate globally, and ranks third lowest in the region on the Gender Inequality Index. Rural indigenous women and girls are disproportionately impacted due in part to their social isolation and limited access to resources. Details

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For members, Together Women Rise, Travel

Rwanda, Travel

Why You Should Visit Rwanda: A DFW Member Experience

By Linda Baxter, Dining for Women Member

As part of Dining for Women’s Travel Program, a group of travelers will visit Rwanda February 18-25, 2018. DFW member Linda Baxter lived and worked in Rwanda and shares her experience in the country.

In 2014 and 2015, I was living in Rwanda and working for the Human Resources for Health (HRH) project. Our goal was to assist the staff of the University of Rwanda in their efforts to improve medical and nursing education and practice. I was assigned to a more rural school of nursing and midwifery in the town of Gicumbi (Byumba) where I worked with faculty, and students – in classrooms as well as the hospital and local health center. Details

Beth Ellen Holimon, President & CEO

Together Women Rise, Travel

Elevate, Travel

Get to Know Elevate’s Katherine Redington

Members have been telling me for over two years about the importance of our travel program, how it has transformed their lives, and how they feel more connected to the women and girls we support through our grantees. Announcing our new travel provider in May means that soon you will have that again!

We introduced Elevate Destinations to you in our May announcement, but I want to know who will be planning these trips. Katherine Redington is Elevate’s Director of Donor Travel and I asked her a few questions so we can all get to know her better. Details