Photo Credit: Pete Wongkongkathep

Aurora x EGBOK: The Expedition

In February and March 2014, I will embark on a photographic expedition to the Sierra/ Death Valley and Yellowknife, which sits on the edge of the Arctic Circle in Canada. Conditions will be tough — Yellowknife temperatures will average -30°C (-22°F) this time of year — but it will be all the more rewarding as a photographer.

The mission is to capture some of the most stunning phenomena and landscapes on earth, such as the aurora borealis (a.k.a. the northern lights), while raising funds for a worthy cause called EGBOK.

A video will be created from the footage obtained on this expedition, and through this I hope to showcase the wonders of this world with more people.

What is EGBOK?EGBOK 1

EGBOK, which stands for “Everything’s Gonna Be OK”, is a non-profit organisation that sets out to transform lives in Cambodia via 2 things: education and empowerment. Focused on severely underprivileged youths, EGBOK provides a comprehensive 1-year training programme that prepares students for a career in the hotel/hospitality industry. Upon completion of the programme, EGBOK connects students to a network of jobs and internships at leading hotels such as the Park Hyatt Siem Reap.

What’s the connection between the aurora expedition and EGBOK?
EGBOK 2
The theme for the Aurora x EGBOK Project is “Travel Transforms Lives”. By travel, we not only refer to the physical act of travelling to new places and gaining new perspectives, but also the type of life-transforming work to which EGBOK is dedicated.

Through a comprehensive training programme, EGBOK imparts the necessary skills to underprivileged youths to help them pursue a professional career in the travel industry. In doing so, EGBOK changes the trajectory of a life that would have otherwise been mired in a vicious poverty cycle.

It is this underlying mission of empowerment that this photography expedition hopes to share. Please support us in this worthy cause. 100% of the proceeds raised will go to EGBOK.

To learn more about EGBOK’s work and success stories, check out this page.

How Can I Be A Part of This Adventure?


Brands & Companies
We have a great track record working with world-class brands (such as Canon, Asics, GNC, and Air New Zealand, to name a few) on travel projects in the past. We are open to discussing specific ways that we can help your brand through the Aurora x EGBOK Project.

Additionally, all corporate sponsors will be fully credited with brand logos in the final project video and will be featured on marketing campaigns on multiple channels, including social media platforms. We accept direct donations to EGBOK and are also open to sponsorships for the photography expedition itself. For more details, please get in touch via email ([email protected]) or through the contact form here.
Individuals
If you are an individual, you can help by donating to EGBOK here. Every small bit goes a long way. For instance, $25 may be the cost of a simple dinner out in town for most of us, but to the average Cambodian it is equivalent to a whole month’s income. If you are based in Singapore, you can help transform lives today by sending a donation via PayPal to EGBOK’s email address: [email protected]

All donations are processed securely via PayPal. Donors will receive a receipt from EGBOK to officially acknowledge the donation. Receipts will be sent out around April, after the photography expedition has concluded in March.

If you’re residing in the US or anywhere outside of Singapore, donations can also be made directly to EGBOK through their donation page here.

Photos taken on the Aurora x EGBOK Expedition will be shared in an Image Gallery here on SwimmingCow.com and all donors will receive a postcard based on any image of their choosing.

Questions?
Feel free to get in touch by email ([email protected]). If you’d like to contact EGBOK directly, please email [email protected]

Join us for a fantastic photographic expedition and making a difference at the same time.

aurora borealis

Credits for Images in This Post
Aurora borealis: Pete Piriya Wongkongkathep and Tom Noppawat Charoensinphon
EGBOK photos: EGBOK Mission