Historie 

The TravellingAid Foundation was founded on July 18, 2001. During our holidays we visited many countries in Asia, the Middle East, the Caribbean and Central America. During these travels we enjoyed the beautiful nature and historical sites. However, we also came across poverty and underprivileged areas, inhabited by a usually very positive population. In November 2000 we visited Cambodia in order to visit the temples of “Ankor Wat”. The scars of the Khmer Rouge regime were still clearly visible and tangible. There are still millions of landmines buried in Cambodia, which still make victims every day. Many vagrant children and families live in the streets of Phnom Penh. This made a deep impression on us.

We wanted to be more meaningful to the people of the countries we visited during our holidays. This is how the TravellingAid Foundation came about.
 
 Vincent en Daniëlle Westmaas
Combining a holiday and offering humanitarian aid!

 People travel a lot nowadays! Some travel for a few weeks, others for a few months. At every holiday destination the TravellingAid Foundation looks for a project. One can think of schools, children’s homes or local hospitals. For each project funds are raised separately, from which goods are bought locally or in the Netherlands. Foundation members or “friends of the foundation” hand over the money or the goods personally, without interference of a third party. In this way we know for sure that the money arrives at the right place. Besides there are no extra costs involved to support the project, such as air tickets, accommodation; the holiday was planned anyway! It just costs time and this time is very well spent when you know that you can help many people. You get to know the country in a different way and get into contact with the local population in a very positive way. An optimal combination; being on a holiday and offering aid at the same time!

Objective of the Foundation:

The objective of the foundation is: caring for and supporting concrete international projects at a local level, especially for the benefit of children. We want to realize this objective by:

1. raising funds and collecting money and goods; 
2. giving financial help directly to small-sized local projects without interference of a third party;
3. making contacts with experts at a local level.

Particulars:

* The money, means or goods are handed over on the spot to the project by foundation members or “friends of the foundation” at all times.

* Fundraising is carried out for general support of the foundation or for specific projects.100% of the raised funds is spent on the project (a project is a one-time occurrence, up until the moment that a project is revisited by foundation members or “friends of the foundation”).

* Overhead costs of the foundation, such as printed matter and the website are paid for by donation funds or company sponsoring. Target is to keep these costs as low as possible, so that as much as possible will be for the benefit of the project.

* The foundation members or “friends of the foundation” determine on the spot if the money or means are indeed handed over to the project. In case the gathered information turns out to be incorrect or if the local situation has changed considerably, foundation members or “friends of the foundation” can refrain from donating on the spot. (Raised funds or means are then spend on other projects). The foundation can also refrain from donating in case of external circumstances preventing a visit to the location (such as weather conditions, transportation problems or political instability in the country).