Stuff Your Rucksack
Encyclopedia
The Stuff Your Rucksack Foundation, or simply Stuff Your Rucksack, is a not-for-profit organization helping to carry resources to charitable projects in need across the globe. The Foundation is registered in Guernsey
and was established in 2006 by British
television presenter Kate Humble
.
Stuff Your Rucksack advocates responsible travel, encouraging travellers to support organizations and projects around the world that need equipment and resources by packing extra items in their luggage. The charity’s website acts as a message board between travellers and the small charities and organizations that require extra resources.
, ending up in a remote oasis village 200 km north of Timbuktu
. She sought permission to stay there from the head of the village and was asked to visit the local school. The children at the school were keen to find out how long it would take for Humble to get back to England in camel days. Humble started to draw lines in the sand, but found it difficult to describe the sea without a world map. This experience motivated her to start the charity, which finally launched in 2006.
Explaining the rationale behind the charity’s website, Humble said: “How many times have you been travelling and visited a school or community or local charity that you would love to help? The school needs books, or a map or pencils; an orphanage needs children's clothes or toys. All things that, if only you'd known, you could've stuffed in your rucksack. But once you get home you forget, or you've lost the address, or worry that whatever you send will be stolen before it even gets there...”
The website was relaunched on May 19, 2010 with a party at the Royal Geographical Society
in London
. It has received support from a number of UK celebrities including Ben Fogle
and Simon Reeve
.
.
The projects and organizations on the website are not all registered charities. Some are local community-run initiatives designed to help people find a route out of poverty.
As founder of The Stuff Your Rucksack Foundation, Humble has been featured in The Daily Express. The Observer, The New Delhi Sunday Guardian, and The Sunday Times. The Mail Online listed Stuffyourrucksack.com as website of the week on 3 June 2010.
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
and was established in 2006 by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television presenter Kate Humble
Kate Humble
Katherine 'Kate' Humble is an English television presenter, mainly for the BBC, specialising in wildlife and science programmes...
.
Stuff Your Rucksack advocates responsible travel, encouraging travellers to support organizations and projects around the world that need equipment and resources by packing extra items in their luggage. The charity’s website acts as a message board between travellers and the small charities and organizations that require extra resources.
Stuff Your Rucksack history
Inn 1999, Humble spent 35 days crossing the SaharaSahara
The Sahara is the world's second largest desert, after Antarctica. At over , it covers most of Northern Africa, making it almost as large as Europe or the United States. The Sahara stretches from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coasts, to the outskirts of the Atlantic Ocean...
, ending up in a remote oasis village 200 km north of Timbuktu
Timbuktu
Timbuktu , formerly also spelled Timbuctoo, is a town in the West African nation of Mali situated north of the River Niger on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert. The town is the capital of the Timbuktu Region, one of the eight administrative regions of Mali...
. She sought permission to stay there from the head of the village and was asked to visit the local school. The children at the school were keen to find out how long it would take for Humble to get back to England in camel days. Humble started to draw lines in the sand, but found it difficult to describe the sea without a world map. This experience motivated her to start the charity, which finally launched in 2006.
Explaining the rationale behind the charity’s website, Humble said: “How many times have you been travelling and visited a school or community or local charity that you would love to help? The school needs books, or a map or pencils; an orphanage needs children's clothes or toys. All things that, if only you'd known, you could've stuffed in your rucksack. But once you get home you forget, or you've lost the address, or worry that whatever you send will be stolen before it even gets there...”
The website was relaunched on May 19, 2010 with a party at the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It has received support from a number of UK celebrities including Ben Fogle
Ben Fogle
Ben Fogle is an English television presenter, adventurer and writer.-Early life:Fogle is the son of actress Julia Foster and broadcasting veterinary surgeon Bruce Fogle...
and Simon Reeve
Simon Reeve
Simon Reeve may refer to:* Simon Reeve , British author and television presenter* Simon Reeve , Australian television presenter...
.
Projects and organisations
Today, there are more than 120 projects co-ordinated by the charity, which are located in more than 45 countries. They range from schools and orphanages to veterinary clinics and healthcare charities. More than half of the projects featured are located in Africa – 21 of which are linked with long-established organizations such as SOS Children's VillagesSOS Children's Villages
SOS Children's Villages is an independent, non-governmental international development organisation which has been working to meet the needs and protect the interests and rights of children since 1949. It was founded by Hermann Gmeiner in Imst, Austria...
.
The projects and organizations on the website are not all registered charities. Some are local community-run initiatives designed to help people find a route out of poverty.
Examples of projects
- PinkDrive is an initiative in FrankenwaldFrankenwaldthumb|View to DöbrabergThe Franconian Forest is a mid-altitude mountain range in Northern Bavaria, Germany. It is located in the district of Upper Franconia and forms the geological connection between the Fichtelgebirge and the Thuringian Forest...
, South AfricaSouth AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, which focuses on breast cancerBreast cancerBreast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
awareness and is listed as needing bras and items of clothing. - Earthwise Valley is a volunteer-run sustainable living project based in Tuateawa's rainforest in New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The project is listed as needing outdoor tools, office equipment, relevant books and educational DVDs. - HELP Madagascar is a not-for-profit organisation committed to alleviating poverty in communities held back by a lack of education or healthcare. The organization is listed as needing plasters and French-English dictionaries.
- Dogstar Foundation works with local vets in KegalleKegalleKegalle is a town in Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka. It is located on the Colombo - Kandy road. Its 48 miles/78 km away from Colombo and 24 Miles/40 km away from Kandy. It is the Capital City of the Kegalle District which is one of the two districts belonging to Sabaragamuwa province...
to provide access to free veterinary care, sterilisation and vaccination for dogs and cats from rural communities in Sri LankaSri LankaSri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. The organization is listed as needing milk powder for puppies and kittens, small dog collars and flea/tick treatments.
As founder of The Stuff Your Rucksack Foundation, Humble has been featured in The Daily Express. The Observer, The New Delhi Sunday Guardian, and The Sunday Times. The Mail Online listed Stuffyourrucksack.com as website of the week on 3 June 2010.
See also
- Kate HumbleKate HumbleKatherine 'Kate' Humble is an English television presenter, mainly for the BBC, specialising in wildlife and science programmes...
- SOS Children's VillagesSOS Children's VillagesSOS Children's Villages is an independent, non-governmental international development organisation which has been working to meet the needs and protect the interests and rights of children since 1949. It was founded by Hermann Gmeiner in Imst, Austria...
- Ben FogleBen FogleBen Fogle is an English television presenter, adventurer and writer.-Early life:Fogle is the son of actress Julia Foster and broadcasting veterinary surgeon Bruce Fogle...
- Simon ReeveSimon ReeveSimon Reeve may refer to:* Simon Reeve , British author and television presenter* Simon Reeve , Australian television presenter...
- Ludo GrahamLudo GrahamLudo Graham is a British television producer, who has produced such series as Paddington Green for BBC1, That'll Teach 'Em for Channel 4, and Al Murray's Road to Berlin for the Discovery Channel....