Generous Travelers
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Generous Travelers

You've probably experienced the joy of watching a child's face light up to see you or of having a child take you by the hand. Perhaps a child has produced a drawing or sung a song for you with a mixture of shyness and pride. For Grand Circle and OAT travelers, these moments are often set in schools that have no cafeteria, gymnasium, computer lab, or other educational tools we so often take for granted here; or in villages where a one-room house fills a family with pride. We are honored—and humbled—that visits to schools and villages supported by Grand Circle Foundation so often inspire our travelers to want to give back, too.

We'll be updating this site regularly with more stories of generous travelers, so stay tuned. And if you have a story that you'd like to see featured, please send it to foundation@oattravel.com.

Pets Providing Pedals

During their OAT safari, Naomi and Mark Hughes were struck by the responsibilities faced by the children of Tanzania, in addition to their schoolwork. They realized that because of the importance of these chores to the family, getting back and forth to school becomes a big hurdle—so much so, in fact, that it may prevent children from attending school at all. The couple realized the bicycles could provide a life-changing solution ... and soon found themselves back in Tanzania, with 45 very special gifts.

Kristina TesterInspiring Young People to Help Their Peers

As a child, Kristina Tester dreamed of living in Africa one day. So when her grandmother offered her the chance to join her on Overseas Adventure Travel's Ultimate Africa: Botswana, Namibia & Zimbabwe Safari, along with her parents and twin sister, Kristina jumped at it. It was a decision—and a trip—that would change her life.

Linda SteffensLinda Steffans

8-time traveler - Port Jefferson, New York

In Swaziland's Esitjeni community, where the population has been ravaged by violence and HIV/AIDS, children are often forced to grow up much too soon—and for many of them, the Esitjeni Primary School and Orphanage is the only home they know.

"Visiting the orphanage was the most overwhelming single moment of any trip I've ever taken," says Linda Steffens, an eight-time traveler from Port Jefferson, New York.

Javier BarrientosJavier Barrientos

5-time traveler - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Before visiting Africa, Javier Barrientos had never considered himself an activist—but when he visited Tanzania with OAT for the first time in 2007, something changed. He was exploring Ngorongoro Crater—which he describes as "the most beautiful place on earth"—when the group stopped to visit the Kambi Ya Nyoka primary school in the village of Karatu. "You could easily miss this school, and most do," says Javier. "But OAT makes a point to stop."

Orphans

Kathleen Kircher & Dana Vannoy

2-time travelers - Williamsburg, Michigan

Reverend Kathleen Kircher and Dr. Dana Vannoy traveled the narrow, bumpy road to the De Ji orphanage during their recent OAT adventure in China—and from the very first moment, they felt compassion for the children who lived there. "The October air was cold," Kathleen remembers, "and the little ones who greeted us were without gloves or mittens, and shivering in their lightweight jackets."

Gale FamilyJim & Jeanne Gale

6-time travelers - Moline, Illinois

This past July, 16 members of the extended Gale family embarked on OAT's Safari Serengeti:
Tanzania Lodge & Tented Safari adventure. Before they departed, Jim and Jeanne had a special request: Could OAT help them organize a day of community service at one of the schools supported by Grand Circle Foundation?

Maury Peterson, Vice President of Grand Circle Foundation, was happy to oblige. Here's the story of their very special day.

Susan Rickert

10-time traveler - San Francisco, California - Washburn Award Recipient

"My last child was off to school. So, I decided that now I belong to the world." With that
sentiment, 10-time traveler Susan Rickert of San Francisco, California, set off on OAT's Safari Serengeti: Tanzania Lodge & Tented Safari adventure to Tanzania, where she had once served for two years as a Peace Corps volunteer.

The itinerary included a stop at a school similar to the one she had taught at more than 35 years earlier. There, she found a classroom with a dirt floor and no roof, windows, or doors, in which a single teacher was presenting lessons to 100 children. "That was a turning point in my life," Susan recalls. "I was so moved, I decided to collect money for the school on the spot."

And she's been collecting money ever since. With the assistance of Honorary Director Willie Chambulo—owner of Kibo Safaris, an Overseas Adventure Travel partner—Susan has supported four primary schools and led the charge to build a new secondary school in the village of Karatu. She has also found sponsors to establish dozens of scholarships for deserving students. So far, she has raised more than $100,000. "This remains my number one passion besides my children," she says. In honor of these extraordinary accomplishments, Grand Circle Foundation presented Susan with its first Washburn Award. Named in honor of Honorary Director Bradford Washburn, the award is given to an individual in recognition of a personal commitment to giving back to a community where the company travels.

Hugh ThurnauHugh Thurnauer

6-time traveler - Westlake, Ohio - Washburn Award Recipient

When Hugh and Alina Thurnauer of Westlake, Ohio, were deciding where to go for their next trip, they knew they wanted to see animals in the wild. OAT's Safari Serengeti: Tanzania Lodge & Tented Safari adventure was a natural choice. When Alina fell ill and was unable to go, she urged Hugh to go ahead without her. He did. And on his return, he reported to Alina that he was moved by his visit to the Elerai Primary School in Sinya, Tanzania, which is housed in a straw hut, and by the children he met in the village of Karatu. "I told her I wanted to build them a new school," he said, "and she told me, 'Why don't you do something for the people instead?'"

Hugh did. When Alina passed away, he established the Thurnauer Family Scholarship in her memory and made a pledge of $25,000 to provide secondary school scholarships for students from three Karatu primary schools and the Elerai Primary School. In appreciation of his generosity, Grand Circle Foundation awarded Hugh the Washburn Award and pledged to match his gift.

Kristen TesterKristina Tester

Minneapolis, Minnesota

There aren't many teenagers on OAT trips. But then, there aren't many teenagers like Kristina Tester. Traveling with her parents and twin sister on OAT's Ultimate Africa: Botswana, Namibia & Zimbabwe Safari adventure, she was moved by her visit to the Ngamo Primary School in Zimbabwe, where she mingled with her peers in the eighth grade. "These are some of the most inspiring kids I ever met," says the first-time traveler from Minneapolis, Minnesota. "They studied in rooms without any electricity or running water, yet they were learning stuff my own school hadn't covered yet."

At the end of the school visit, Kristina met with the school principal to learn what she could do to help. She discovered that most of the children would not be able to obtain a secondary education due to poverty and distance to higher-level schooling. Upon her return home, she contacted local service clubs and businesses in her area, soliciting their support. Within six months, she had raised $10,000 and recently added an additional $11,386 toward a scholarship account. "I wasn't sure I'd be able to help," she says, "but Grand Circle Foundation inspired me and helped me." As a result of her efforts, Kristina was recently honored with the Kids Who Care Award, a regional award that acknowledges personal volunteer efforts.