Pack For A Purpose: What is it and how can you get involved?

The Pack For A Purpose programme was devised by Rebecca Rothney and her husband Scott, who discovered their baggage allowance on a trip to Botswana far exceeded what they needed. When they looked into it in more detail, they realised they were regularly allocated a huge check-in allowance that was unused and going to waste. So, Rebecca contacted her safari company to ask whether they could bring some extra goods that would benefit the local school they were visiting.

Primed with a list of requested supplies, the couple were able to distribute stationery and footballs to the principal and teachers at a local primary school in Botswana. According to Rebecca, they were able to make "meaningful contributions to help meet the needs of the places" they visited.

It was from there that the Pack For A Purpose programme was born. Dedicated to assisting travellers who wish to give back effectively to the people they come across, Pack For A Purpose liaises with on-the-ground contacts in different communities and regions across the world, creating essential supply lists tailored to local needs. It then partners with accommodation, responsible tour operators and other local tourist businesses to provide convenient drop-off point for the goods.

As a result, local representatives can distribute supplies when convenient, and travellers are saved from having to carry heavy donations around during their trip. This provision for local communities can be hugely impactful in the most effective way.

How does it work?

Select your chosen destination on the Pack For A purpose website to be connected with accommodation and tour operator drop off points. You don't need to be staying at the accommodation or travelling with the tour operator to make the most of the service. From here, you can choose from a detailed list of product options needed in the specific area. Once you arrive in the destination armed with the goods, head to the drop-off point at the designated businesses and voila – your mission is complete.

Since it's launch in 2010, it's estimated that Pack For A Purpose travellers have supplied over 195,990kg worth of supplies to over 55 countries around the world.

Other ways to donate supplies

Responsible tour operators and community-run accommodation will be able to suggest a similar list of supplies. Different regions will require different supplies – whether clothing, educational utensils, books, hardware and health and hygiene products. The important thing is to carry products that are genuinely useful and can be shared out fairly among the community.

Once in the country, your tour guide will be able to share more about the supplies you have brought, highlighting why these products are so needed and where your donation will go. This gives you the opportunity to understand more about how the products are being used and the more pressing issues facing the region.

If you're not certain how to help, ask local guides or hotels for ideas once you reach your destination. They will offer an honest and realistic idea of what is most needed within the community, if anything at all. If you feel you missed something vital, you may be able to purchase items locally during your trip.

While giving back to the communities and places we visit can be done in many different ways, donating much-needed items is an impactful way to make a difference. Such donations can help to empower people to thrive in their own communities. So, next time you have some extra space in your luggage, consider looking up Pack For A Purpose and what might be needed in the destination you are visiting. Your help could go a long way.