In 2005, I visited Cambodia for a brief weeklong stay. The country’s history and its people touched me so that I wrote the following article about it. Five years later, Phnom Penh still appears in my dreams, I often fantasize about moving to Cambodia for a volunteering project, the voices of street children still echo in my mind and the country retains a special place in my heart.

When I heard from Debbie Dubrow of DeliciousBaby, Michelle Duffy of WanderMom, Beth Whitman of Wanderlust and Lipstick and Pam Mandel of NerdsEyeView about the second annual Passports with Purpose fundraiser they’re organizing, I just knew I had to participate. I procured a prize last year – we collectively raised over $7000 for Heifer International – yet this year I felt even stronger about wanting to help.

The 2009 fundraiser is supporting American Assistance for Cambodia (AAfC), an independent, nonprofit organization (a 501 (c)(3) charity) dedicated to improving opportunities for the youth and rural poor in Cambodia. They’ve already built over 400 schools throughout the country and you can help them build the next one! 100% of donations through this year’s Passports with Purpose will go directly to AAfC. The goal is to raise $13,000 and build a school in rural Cambodia.

What can you do? The fundraiser launches today and runs through December 21. Through a small donation of just $10, you can bid on a variety of great prizes and help improve the lives of a new generation of Cambodians.

Talking about prizes… I am happy to announce that I’ve procured an amazing prize I’m very happy to share with you: a $200 gift certificate courtesy of Viator, the traveler’s one-stop-shop for researching, planning and booking destination activities in more than 400 destinations worldwide. They offer thousands of adventure activities, city tours, off-the-beaten-path experiences, educational tours, family-friendly outings, theater and show tickets, shore excursions, city passes, day trips… You name it, they probably have it, all available on the award-winning Viator.com website.

So, by donating a mere $10 for this great fundraiser, you can win $200 in Viator tours, be it a helicopter sightseeing flight over New York, a surfing lesson in Hawaii, a cooking class in Tuscany, or a guided bike ride through Buenos Aires. Other fun choices include air & glider tours, hot-air balloon rides, 4WD jaunts, dolphin swims, opera & theater dinners, and lots more.

Sometimes a tiny effort means the world and an amount of money insignificant to us makes a huge difference to someone else. Since we are lucky enough to be able to travel, let’s give a tiny bit back.