Travel
The Taj Mahal and Ranthambore Tiger Preserve are among the sites tourists
commonly visit when traveling in India.
Beyond these popular attractions, however, is
another side of India that most visitors bypass.
While driving on a highway, tourists
might encounter a landscape of vivid colors
— only to realize it is an infinite sea of colored cardboard boxes, like Pepsi and Coca-Cola cartons, sprawling into the distant
horizon, shelter for thousands of people,
including children, living in slums.
The GAA’s Tar Heel Travel program is
teaming up with nongovernmental organizations run by Carolina alumni addressing
that poverty to give visitors a fuller view of
the country. In the Mystical India trip,
about two dozen travelers not only will
experience the mainstream culture of India
but also meet children who live in the
slums. Joy Mischley ’07 (MSW) helps run
Seva Yatra, which advises companies, foundations and individuals on philanthropic
and service activities in India; and Hitesh
Gupta ’ 95 (MPH) and Jaimala Gupta ’99
(MPH) founded Vatsalya, which focuses its
efforts on helping destitute children.
That is one of three trips with humani-
tarian components planned for 2011.
Classic Safari: Kenya & Tanzania will
include visits to Carolina for Kibera, co-founded by Rye Barcott ’01, and the
Tabitha Medical Clinic, which are based in
the Kibera slum of Nairobi and tackle myriad issues stemming from poverty. The GAA
recognized Barcott in 2006 with its
Distinguished Young Alumnus Award, and
the Review profiled him in 2004.
Cuba Today will involve Carolina
exchange students at the University of
Havana and the Bringing HOPE Foundation,
the fourth time the GAA travel program
has offered a humanitarian trip to Cuba.
Bringing HOPE is licensed to travel to
Cuba by the U.S. government to deliver
humanitarian supplies to an independent
charity. On past trips, alumni travelers have
delivered such items as over-the-counter
medications, books, paper and supplies for
rural schools.
“There are humanitarian and cultural
A Broader View
Tar Heel Travel program offering
three trips with humanitarian aspects
THINKSTOCK
The Classic Safari: Kenya & Tanzania trip will include the vast plains and green-covered hills of Masai Mara, where travelers might
encounter traditional tribesmen, elephants and zebra, but they also will visit the slums of Nairobi to see efforts to combat poverty.
immersions in these countries with ties to
UNC alumni,” said Ann-Louise Aguiar ’ 76,
manager of alumni education and travel.
“You see what life is really like, with con-
nections and exposure to what’s happening.”
Travelers will get to experience a special
connection with alumni and Carolina
exchange students working in these places.
“This all ties in well with Carolina’s out-
look of service for the world,” Aguiar said.
“A person takes what they learned here
from this great University back into the real
world to help others.” ;
— Katie Lubinsky
Mystical India With Ranthambore Tiger Preserve
Feb. 13–March 2
Visiting Delhi, Jaipur, Sanganer, Ranthambore,
Kalakho, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra, Khajuraho and Varanasi
(optional post-tour extension to Nepal)
Humanitarian organizations:
Seva Yatra and Vatsalya
2011 Humanitarian Trips
Cuba Today – A Humanitarian Project
April 7–15
Visiting Havana, Pinar del Rio and Trinidad de Cuba
Humanitarian organization:
Bringing HOPE Foundation
FRANCESCO BROLI
Rye Barcott ’01, founder of Carolina for
Kibera, plays soccer with a young friend.
Classic Safari: Kenya & Tanzania
Sept. 14–30
Visiting Nairobi, Masai Mara, Amboseli National Park, Tanzania, Ngorongoro, Serengeti National
Park and Lake Manyara National Park (optional post-tour extension to Zanzibar)
Humanitarian organizations: Carolina for Kibera, Tabitha Medical Clinic
ONLINE: For more information regarding these trips, call (877) 962–3980, e-mail
alumni_travel@unc.edu, or visit
alumni.unc.edu/travel.
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September/October 2010
