FUTURES global Challenge: Southeast Asia Bike Ride

Interested in taking action in a very real way and making a large impact?
Want to visit Southeast Asia and meet the survivors in the shelters and communities?

Join the FUTURES global ride!

Spots are limited; 20 in all.
Fundraising goal per rider: $7,500
Registration deposit (non-refundable): $500
Ride dates: February 28 - March 10, 2012

Join the team. Make a difference. CREATE YOUR PAGE ON CROWDRISE!
http://bit.ly/UsbikerideCambodiacrowdrise
Learn more here: http://rawtravel.com/trip/pf_global_challenge
Visit our website: http://projectfutures.somaly.org/node/112

The Trip:

Get ready for an adventurous and life changing challenge with over 500km (310 miles) of cycling through Cambodia, and a chance to witness first hand the amazing work of Somaly Mam and AFESIP in shelters to support victims of human trafficking.

The ride involves approximately seven days of cycling on a varied route that provides plenty of contrasting sights along the way, starting with our very first day's cycling in the countryside outside of Phnom Penh and riding down to the beach-side port city of Sihanoukville.

Leaving this coastal town behind, you will have a challenging morning's cycling as we tackle some undulating terrain before we hit the sleepy town of Kampot. The next day we head towards another beach-side town of Kep Sur Mer before taking a short boat ride out to Rabbit Island, a tiny island where a few local families live making their living from fishing and growing coconut trees.

Northward bound and away from the coast, we go back to Phnom Penh and spend a night in the city before we take off again and follow the mighty Mekong river to the city of Kampong Cham. Our last two days sees us cycle through the countryside and to the fabulous ruined temple of Beng Melea, and then hopping onto a bus and set our sites on Cambodia's rich cultural mecca of Siem Reap and Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat, an incredible city built between 9-13th Centuries, was lost to the outside world for over 500 years. We explore through the main temples of Angkor by bike and take in the splendor of this world heritage site. There will also be an optional ride to Banteay Srei, the temple of women or, if you prefer, you can spent the afternoon exploring the incredible temples at your own leisure.

Your second to last day in Siem Reap will visit one of the AFESIP shelters, another emotional and impactful experience. This trip also coincides with International Women's Day on March 8 2012, and you will be fortunate enough to get a chance to partake in the festivities organized in Cambodia for this very special event. Refer to this years' events here: internationalwomensday.org. Siem Reap is a lively place to end what will have been an amazing trip, and no doubt there will be celebration.

PROJECT FUTURES global and RAW Travel have created the trip to raise money for the Somaly Mam Foundation, dedicated to the eradication of sex trafficking and modern-day slavery in Southeast Asia and worldwide and the empowerment of its survivors.

Join the adventure today and help raise funds to create a world where women and children are safe from slavery.