Washington – AAUW and TravelSmart Partners, LLC, will offer customized tours to international destinations next year under the newly created Director’s Travel and Study Series, designed specifically for AAUW members with a taste for adventure, culture, and knowledge. AAUW travelers will explore Vietnam, Cambodia, and Peru in the company of an AAUW host to see how women are breaking through barriers abroad.
"These tours will give our members the opportunity to learn about the challenges and victories experienced by women in these fascinating countries," said AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman, CAE. "We expect great enthusiasm for our travel and study series given our members' interest in global equity issues."
The Vietnam and Cambodia: Women and Their Worlds tour, set for February 19–March 7, 2010, will provide an intimate look at the impact and influence of women in these ancient civilizations. AAUW President Carolyn H. Garfein will serve as host. An enthusiastic and experienced traveler, Garfein has held many AAUW leadership posts on both the national and state levels and was a longtime member AAUW of California before joining the AAUW North Fulton (GA) Branch.
"Our Director's Travel and Study series truly caters to the discerning traveler who wants more than a cursory view of a country's historic sites and geographic vistas," said Garfein. "We will get ‘insider' access and learn how women have shaped these cultures."
The Women of Peru — A Tour of Discovery trip set for July 16–28, 2010 will be hosted by AAUW Director of Fellowships and Grants Gloria Blackwell, who also manages AAUW’s relationships with international partners, such as CARE. Blackwell's professional background includes long-term engagement at the Institute of International Education and positions as a Peace Corps staff member and volunteer in Africa.
"We have long wanted a travel and learn program such as this at AAUW. We are extremely pleased that TravelSmart Partners, LLC, has arranged this intimate glimpse into the role of women in such varying cultures," said Cordy Galligan, AAUW director of corporate relationships.
TravelSmart Partners, LLC, specializes in customized, small-group tours with an emphasis on cultural tourism. All tours include highly experienced tour managers and local guides. The woman-owned company is based in Louisville, Kentucky. To view the details of the Vietnam and Cambodia tour, visit http://www.travelsmartpartners.com/aauw/index.html.
