Travel
23
Sep, 2025

Travel

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Journey of Impact: Reflections from Indonesia

Over the past two weeks, I had the honor of traveling with 10 Together Women Rise members to Jakarta, Kalimantan, and Bali, Indonesia. Together, we were immersed in the beauty of the culture, arts, traditions, and cuisine. We cooked with local women in their homes, participated in sacred rituals like a water purification ceremony and a baby naming ceremony, received blessings from a Hindu priest, and supported the local economy by shopping for art, intricate woodwork, and handmade souvenirs. In Chinatown, we took part in a New Year ritual of releasing birds—a symbolic act of hope and renewal. 

But among all these unforgettable moments, the highlight for our group was spending time with two of our Rise grantees.  Details

Group of Rise Rwanda travelers in 2025 stand in the jungle on a trek to visit gorillas with their guides.
23
Jun, 2025

Travel, Together Women Rise

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A Journey to Rwanda: Compassion, Community, and Connection

By Tonnie Cummings, Rwanda traveler and member of the Together Women Rise chapter in Vancouver, WA.  

A group of Rise travelers from the Rwanda 2025 trip are gathered outside a building smiling with hands raised with a granteeReflecting on my recent Together Women Rise trip to Rwanda, these are the images that stick in my mind: row after row of brilliant, green hills extending to the horizon; brightly-colored birds flitting about and calling from dawn until dusk – even in downtown Kigali; and the huge, warm smiles of every single Rwandan we met. The consequences of the horrific 1994 genocide continue to influence their lives, but Rwandans have chosen to reconcile in order to heal and to unify their country. There is a true sense of community and of people looking out for one another. For example, every able-bodied adult participates in a monthly day of community service, called Umuganda, that involves cleaning neighborhood streets, maintaining public parks, or other activities that contribute to the overall wellbeing of the country.  

On our trip, we were fortunate to visit four Together Women Rise grantees that embody the Rwandan spirit of compassion and community.  

Details

Travelers in front of Angkor Wat
19
Dec, 2024

Travel

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Reflections on Cambodia

By Tessa Hart, Together Women Rise Cambodia Traveler and Member of Elkins Park, PA Chapter 

I had the good fortune to travel to Cambodia with 14 other members of Together Women Rise in November 2024. After I got home, everyone asked: “How was your trip?”, typically followed by: “How was the food?” The second question was easy to answer—the food was great—but the first, not so much. Of course, the trip was wonderful, fascinating, fun—but just too complex and special to sum up in a few words. (In fact, I think I’m still working on understanding everything it meant to me.) What were some of the best things about it, that made it such a standout? Details

29
Jun, 2021

Travel

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Journey with Us to Malawi: One of Africa’s Best Kept Secrets June 8-17, 2022

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

29
Aug, 2019

Travel

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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

29
Aug, 2019

Travel

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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

29
Aug, 2019

Travel

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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

27
Nov, 2018

Travel

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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

27
Nov, 2018

Travel

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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

26
Nov, 2018

Travel

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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

4
Dec, 2017

For members, Travel, Together Women Rise

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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

28
Jun, 2017

Travel, Together Women Rise

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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

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