Now that we have your attention…!
If you’ve seen the movie Calendar Girls you’ll know that’s exactly the point of a skin-bearing charity calendar like the Men and Women of Travel Blogging Calendars. Throwing all body image inhibitions to the wind, with a smattering of smut for a giggle, raising some serious money for a seriously good cause.
The Travel Blogging Calendar participants, 24 charitable travel bloggers from around the globe, collectively put forward a shortlist of NGOs. The public were to decide via online poll on the calendar website, where the proceeds from the calendars should go. The people chose – their support was behind the organizations VSO Bahaginan and Mitrata Nepal. But just who are these organizations and what do they stand for?
The complete women’s calendar preview! Hawt from January to December!
Miss September, Gay Mitra-Emami hails from The Philippines, and is an advocate for the NGO she put forward – the Philippine branch of multi-national organization VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas). VSO Bahaginan actively fights poverty through the empowering and positive act of volunteering. They particularly emphasize their commitment to providing lasting solutions to poverty and disadvantage, and their organization has made a difference in 50 countries. For a taste of the magnitude of their positive work I recommend you read their life changing stories page.
VSO Bahaginan also encourages and fosters national volunteering (within the Philippines). I found this “charity begins at home” approach particularly inspirational as it sparked thoughts about my own backyard, even prompting me to make a personal commitment to volunteer extensively in my own country during my lifetime.
The gents! (Hel-LO!)
Mitrata Nepal, the second charity chosen by Travel Blogging Calendar voters, was put forward by Ben West, (Mr January), having visited the children’s home in Kathmandu himself. Small charities often struggle for recognition in the shadow of larger organizations, who often have high overheads. Mitrata Nepal‘s motto is “children first” and it’s heartwarming to know that the dosh from the calendar is going directly to a specific children’s home. What sets this children’s home apart is that it not only provides kids with the basics to survive, it fosters their individual strengths and talents in a trusting environment, encouraging them to thrive in the world.
To boot, printing company uPrinting incredibly donated their services absolutely free, as well as providing complimentary shipping of the calendars to any US address. This amazing gift ensures that even more cash can go directly to the organizations. What a generous contribution!
Some amazing neon leg art! - Click here to purchase the calendars
Perhaps you’re wondering, what’s the story behind the glowpaint photo? Well… the “Miss March” spread, which was a bucketload of fun, was photographed by none other than the wonderful Steve. We did the shoot at Thailand’s infamous, debaucherous Full Moon Party on the island of Koh Phangan. What better way to take advantage of such a smorgasbord of fire twirlers and colourful neon art, amid thousands of Redbull bucket-swilling, tranced out revellers, than for a lewd photo supporting a mega-worthy cause? A sweet tattoo artist agreed to switch the ink for the fluoro and decorate my skin with that superb art. We took the photo on one of Haadrin Beach’s famous seaside bars, illuminated by UV lighting and complemented by a talented firetwirler in the background.
I had fun preparing for the shoot! Behold, the phenomenal phoenix!
(to buy the calendars click here)
2013 may be upon us, but luckily it’s not to late to purchase the male and female calendars! At $25 per calendar, you can be assured that EVERY CENT of profit goes DIRECTLY to the charities. The only overhead cost is for shipping outside of the US, which is included in the price of the calendar. All of the sexy bloggers and photographers have volunteered their time and resources for the project. It’s a totally transparent and legit way to support a worthy cause… with a little bit of eye candy to boot…!
Miss March
Oh, and, in case you were wondering – we really want you to buy the calendars :-)
