What is the purpose of the ‘Bare Witness’ Cambodian Humanitarian Tour?
OTM is looking for “leaders.” This challenge is to discover those in the community who have the determination, creativity and commitment to initiate their own fund/awareness raising efforts. The “Bare Witness” opportunity is a reward for those individuals who raise the money, as this will be a transforming experience for both them and the children they will connect with in Cambodia.

When participants come back to the US, we will be choosing a leadership team that will help to continue to build the Off the Mat program. Your participation on this trip qualifies you to be considered for that team.

The purpose is three-fold:

To make a permanent significant difference through Seva in the lives of some of the world’s most impoverished children.

To find leaders in the yoga community who are capable of building a team of support. These leaders are people who our program, Off the Mat, will work with in the future to be leaders in the emerging social change movement.

To have an experience as a community of purpose, deep community and taking action.

What do I need to raise?
You need to raise or donate $20,000. You have until December 31, 2008 to do this. The journey takes place at the end of February in 2009. We will have bi-monthly conference calls to support you in the fundraising goal.

Ideas for you to think about include:

• create an event with live music, dancing and other arts
• create a product
• host a dinner party
• host a yoga marathon
• ask your local yoga studio to donate a portion of their proceeds on your behalf

How will the $20,000 that I raise be spent?

Each Seva Challenge participant who reaches the $20,000 fundraising target will be invited to join our Bare Witness Journey to Cambodia. For each traveler, we will pay the following expenses associated with the trip:

AIR TRAVEL
We will be organizing round-trip airfare out of New York, Los Angeles and London. You will be responsible for getting to one of these cities. Those individuals who are not located in one of these cities will be given up to $500 to get to one of the three cities for departure. Travel insurance will also be provided.

GROUND TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATIONS
Accommodations and all meals will be provided. In addition, transportation to and from the airport, all sightseeing trips, security, and daily transport to the orphanage, village and garbage dump will be provided.

YOGA AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING
There will be one yoga class each day, evening workshops, and additional leadership training.

SPONSORSHIP OF A CHILD

Each participant will be able to sponsor a child of their choosing. Normally this costs $100 per month for the length of the child’s stay at the Cambodian Children's Fund ("CCF") and pays for their medical expenses, food and education. However, sponsorship of a child will be offered to each interested participant free as part of the challenge. You will have the opportunity to create a relationship with this child, witness his/her development over the years to come, write letters back and forth, and even have independent visits to CCF to see the child in the future.

After these expenses, 90% of the remaining proceeds will be given to the CCF to help support their efforts in housing, feeding, treating and educating these children and their families. We estimate that our trip will impact the lives of a countless number of children and their families.

Off the Mat ® will retain the final 10%. We will use this money to support our charitable programs, which include paying a select number of yoga teachers in the United States willing to commit to volunteering to teach yoga to children in the inner-city educational system, juvenile detention centers, shelters, etc., once a week for one year. Our interest is to make teaching yoga in these environments more sustainable to the teachers.

How long do I have to raise the money?
From now until December 31, 2008.

If I am raising $20,000 with another person, do we both get to go on the trip?
No. Only one person per $20,000.

Can I contribute toward my own fundraising goal?
Yes. Any Seva Challenge participant may contribute toward their $20,000 target. However, participants who also contribute should be aware that they may not be able to deduct the full amount of their contribution, if they receive any return benefits, including the travel, lodging, and other expenses associated with the Bare Witness Journey.  Consult your tax advisor for more information about the deductibility of contributions.

What if I raise less than $20,000?
Seva Challenge participants will receive valuable premiums in gratitude for their commitment and efforts.

All participants will get a special package from the Cambodia Children’s Fund thanking you for your help in supporting the kids in that area. Additional premiums depend on the amount of money raised:  

$2500: You will receive a t-shirt, DVD, CD and also be included in a drawing for a free spot on an OTM training in the city of your choice.

$5000: You will receive all of the above, as well as be able to choose a CCF child to sponser for the duration of their stay at the orphanage.  This privilege is normally $100 per month.

$10,000: You will receive all of the above and be guaranteed a spot as our guest at any OTM training in the city of your choice.

Will donors receive tax receipts from the CCF/OTM for their contributions?
Yes. All donors will receive an acknowledgment letter for taxes that they give. The letter will be from the "Engage Network," as Off the Mat is a project of a larger effort to Engage people. Our 501(c)(3) is the Engage Network.  Please note that the acknowledgment letter will list any return benefits provided to the donor, including, for travelers on the Bare Witness Journey, the fair market value of travel, lodging and other expenses, and that any charitable deduction must be reduced by the value of these return benefits.  Each donor, including a Seva Challenge participant who makes a contribution, should consult his or her tax advisor to determine the extent to which their contribution may be deductible as a charitable donation or business expense.  We will also send you an email every other week updating you on who has donated and how much you have raised in total. This update will include all checks and online donations sent to date.  

Who should the checks be made out to?
Please make checks payable to the Engage Network.

What if I receive a cash donation?
It is much more preferable to receive a check or an online credit card donation for tracking and tax purposes. However, if you do receive a cash donation please take it to your local bank or post office and get a cashier’s check or money order made payable to ‘The Engage Network.’ Write your name and ‘from small cash donations’ on the memo line. Please do not put the cash into your own checking and write a personal check. 

What do I do with the money when I collect it?
Keep a record of what you have raised and send the checks to our P.O. Box:


Make sure that if a check is from another person that YOUR NAME appears on the bottom left hand side of the check. The accountants there will be keeping a tally and depositing the money into an account. You will receive an email when we get the check and a monthly chart of what you have raised each month.

Where should I send the money?
See note above. You or the donors you recruit will also be able to donate online as of February 1st through our website at: www.offthematintotheworld.org

Do I need to create my own bank account?
No. Just send the money to the Engage Network, which is a 501(c)(3). 
Please make the checks payable to the Engage Network. Or as of February 1, your donors can donate online at offfthematintotheworld.org!

When will the checks be cashed?
Within one week of receipt. You will also get an email each week letting you know of what checks we received. You will get a note with your tally to date at the end of the month.

What will the SEVA fieldwork experience in Cambodia encompass?

HANDS ON WORK WITH CHILDREN, SAVING LIVES
For the 12 days that we are in Phnom Penh we will be volunteering our time at the Cambodian Children’s Fund (www.cambodianchildrensfund.org) and working at one of their five local orphanages housing as many as 400 children. These children have all been rescued from Steung Meanchey, an 11-acre garbage dump where they have lived and worked (collecting metal and plastic for recycling); often suffering from extreme poverty, malnutrition, illiteracy, abuse and exploitation. We will visit this dump on at least five occasions – meeting the children and their families, providing food and soymilk and working with CCF to find children that can be removed from the dump and brought to the orphanage.

We will also be working at the CCF community center that has been recently erected at the dump to provide shelter for the children, deal with domestic violence issues and provide food and water for the children and families that reside at Steung Meanchey. Each day we will also work at the orphanage, observing the children in their classrooms as they learn reading and writing skills and receive computer and vocational training. In addition, we will have the opportunity to see examples of their cultural arts such as dance and theatre.

USING INDIVIDUAL CREATIVITY TO BRING LOVE AND JOY
Each participant can elect to teach a short class with the students on any subject or theme the participant desires. This could be yoga, dance, art, music, Frisbee throwing, etc. We will be able to speak with the children, share meals with them, read and play.

WORKING AS A GROUP TO LEAVE A LEGACY
As a group our trip will leave a significant legacy in the lives of these children. Our team will also be erecting a water will in a nearby village that does not have access to clean water. As lack of clean water is a major threat to the lives of these communities, we will literally be leaving a legacy of saving lives in two ways – through allowing the work of the Cambodia Children’s Fund to continue and through the water well.

Where will we be staying in Cambodia?
We will be staying at a five star premier hotel in Phnom Penh.

What will we be doing while we are in Cambodia?
Besides working in the orphanage, we will learn about the Cambodian culture, specifically the genocide that took place and how that event affects the future of Cambodia today. We will visit the Killing Fields, where thousands of Cambodians were murdered and the S-21 prison camp where they were detained and tortured before they were brought to the fields. There will also be time to explore other Cambodian points of interest, including Wat Phnom, the Royal Palace, the National Museum and a boat ride on the Mekong River.

How much yoga will I do? What will a typical day look like?


Are there any vaccinations that I need to get in order to go to Cambodia?
Please click here to see a list of recommended vaccinations for individuals who are planning on traveling to Cambodia.

When and for how long will the trip take place?
The trip will last for 14 days, and will take place Feb. 20th to March 5th, 2009.

Does OTM provide any fundraising support?
Yes, we have two ways to support you!

You will get fundraising tools when you sign the Statement of Intention.

You will be able to participate in bi-monthly conference calls that will begin in February. The conference calls will be recorded and each participant will receive a follow-up email with notes from the call.

Can I link the OTM website and use your logo to help promote my fundraising efforts?
Yes

Is anyone able to go?
As long as your complete the challenge to raise $20,000, can do the physical work required and a background check is clear of any charges of harm to children, YES!

How do I join the trip?
Click here to sign the Intention Statement and you will receive a full packet of information to support you in your leadership challenge as well as a welcome call from our team.