After a long wait due to Chile’s strict travel policies during the pandemic, we’re thrilled to announce the successful completion of our second trip to Patagonia! This trip marked a major milestone as we celebrated the launch ceremony of our educational community garden, located at the same school where we established the region’s first-ever recycling point in 2020.

We’re honored to celebrate two incredible individuals who have contributed to Trek Relief’s mission in unique and impactful ways.

First, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Will Weber for his exceptional service as Board Secretary over the past three years. His dedication, expertise, and countless volunteer hours have been instrumental in guiding Trek Relief’s operations and ensuring our nonprofit thrives. While Will’s term as Secretary has concluded, we’re thrilled that he will continue to contribute to our Board as an Emeritus Member. Thank you, Will, for your unwavering commitment and leadership!

Next, we’re excited to welcome Steven Wong as our new Board Secretary! Steven brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the role, and we’re confident his contributions will help Trek Relief continue to grow and make a meaningful impact.

After nearly two years, we’ve completed our first trip since the pandemic began, carefully following the principles of conscious travel that guide all Trek Relief programs.

This trip marked a significant milestone: the long-awaited School Handover Ceremony, originally scheduled for April 2020, was finally held—19 months later. As Nepal reopened its borders and lifted quarantine requirements, the dire need for jobs and economic stimulation became clear. Restarting our trips was a step toward supporting Nepal’s struggling tourism economy.

“I felt a huge shift in Trek Relief’s direction here,” shared Candice Young, our Founder and Executive Director, after attending the COP26 Climate Change Conference in Scotland.

Originally a disaster response movement, Trek Relief is evolving to address one of the most significant drivers of natural disasters: climate change. Candice’s experience at the conference underscored the urgency of global action, especially after attending a powerful panel discussion featuring Nepalese climate advocates.

This year, our Annual Board Retreat brought together 10 of our core team members to discuss the future of Trek Relief and how we can resume our international trips in a thoughtful and conscientious way during these pandemic times.

After the challenges of 2020 and the cancellation of last year’s retreat, this gathering was an opportunity to reconnect, reflect, and reimagine how we can continue to fulfill our mission while prioritizing safety and responsibility.

Just over a month ago, we concluded our Covid Relief Campaign and Fundraiser for Nepal, and we’re thrilled to share the progress your generosity has made possible. Together, our incredible community of supporters raised $25,728, surpassing our $25,000 goal!

Thanks to your contributions and our ongoing partnership with The Small World Nepal, we’ve already completed the first phase of the relief efforts, providing critical resources to Nepali communities during these challenging times.

The Covid-19 pandemic has touched every corner of the globe, and Trek Relief was no exception. While our ability to engage directly with global communities has been limited, our mission to create meaningful change has remained steadfast.

As Nepal battles a devastating second wave of COVID-19, the need for urgent support has never been greater. At Trek Relief, we believe in stepping up for the communities that have welcomed us with open arms, and this moment is no exception.

At Trek Relief, our mission to create meaningful change continues, no matter the challenges we face. While the pandemic has limited our ability to run trips in Patagonia due to border restrictions, it hasn’t stopped us from moving forward with our transformative projects.

Thanks to the support of our community, our Board of Directors approved $10,000 in funding to keep the Patagonia program thriving. With our dedicated Patagonia Program Director, Sarah Nguyen, safely quarantining in the region, and the collaboration of local partners, the work is advancing seamlessly.

Jay’s passion for service and dedication to creating positive change have already made a lasting impact. As a generous donor, a participant in our inaugural Patagonia trip, and a standout fundraiser, Jay has proven himself to be an invaluable part of our community.

In early 2020, Trek Relief launched a transformative project in Chilean Patagonia, bringing sustainable development and environmental stewardship to the Villa Cerro Castillo community. Despite the year’s challenges, the results have been nothing short of inspiring. Here’s a recap of the incredible progress made through our “Clean Point” recycling infrastructure at Liceo Rural School.

Even though we’re not traveling right now, Trek Relief’s impact is still making waves abroad. Our Patagonia sustainability project is thriving, thanks to the development and startup investment made during our last trip in March.

For now the reopening will come with restrictions and mainly be limited to those seeking to to climb or trek its famous peaks. Foreign visitors are a major source of income for Nepal and the closure has impacted the estimated 800,000 people who work in the tourism industry.

With a deep sense of care and responsibility, we’ve made the difficult decision to postpone our second trip to Patagonia. While extended border closures played a role, the well-being of our beneficiaries, whose remote location has helped keep them safe, guided our decision.

During the #GivingTuesdayNow movement, Trek Relief highlighted The Midnight Mission and volunteering to make personal protective equipment for the frontlines as ways to support local emergency efforts. In addition, it offered its platform as a support vehicle for initiatives made on the individual level.

In response to COVID-19, we’ve made the difficult decision to postpone our Nepal School Handover Ceremony and Mongolia program until 2021. This step prioritizes the safety of our beneficiary communities and supporters while helping to limit the spread of the virus.

As Chile moved to limit international travel with a state of emergency, we successfully completed our first Patagonia trip and officially launched the Sustainable Community Development Program in the Aysén region.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this year’s Party with Purpose III Fundraiser an unforgettable evening!

We were inspired by the generosity and enthusiasm of all who attended, from those who donated their time and talent through performances to everyone who came out to celebrate and show their support. The night was filled with uplifting moments, community connection, and meaningful conversations.