We are committed to making a positive impact in the communities we serve and beyond. This is reflected in our support for our own agent community, local charity projects in every destination where we host our annual conference, and our long-term charity partner Pencils for Kids.
1. Supporting Our Agent Community
We are deeply touched by the supportive spirit within our Travel Agent Next Door Community, especially during challenging times when our own agents need assistance. Whether it's providing Christmas dinners during the hardships of the pandemic, contributing to agents’ fundraisers, assisting with bookings or invoices in case of a family or medical emergency to always offering a helping hand when needed- we are in this together!
2. Supporting Local Communities, We Visit
Each year, our annual national conference takes place in a new destination, and each year our commitment remains the same: to leave the destination better than we found it. We dedicate significant time and effort to research and identify local projects that our community of attending agent partners, supplier partners, staff, and media can actively support. This extends to those who choose to stay home, generously contributing to our collective goal of giving back.
3. Pencils for Kids – Our Charity Partner of Choice
In 2016 Robin Mednick, the President and Executive Director of Pencils for Kids was the Keynote Speaker at our annual national conference. Addressing a room filled with travel agents, Robin recounted the heart-warming story of how Pencils for Kids began. As her story unfolded, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Touched by her remarkable journey and the impactful efforts of Robin and her team in benefitting the children of Liboré, Niger, The Travel Agent Next Door agents unanimously chose to champion this cause.
What does Pencils for Kids do?
It began with 30 kids sharing a single pencil. Pencils for Kids strives to build a world where every child has access to education by building schools, supplying classrooms with essential materials, establishing libraries, implementing skill-building programs like sewing and horticulture, and creating income-generating activities for women in farming.
What we have achieved together
Thanks to the generous contributions from our esteemed agent and supplier partners over the last years, we were able to successfully raise over $270,000 CAD. These invaluable donations have empowered Pencils for Kids to:
- Build four new kindergarten centers following a tragic fire that claimed the lives of 40 children under the age of five in their previous straw facilities.
- Sponsored the secondary education of three girls, all of whom have gone on to pursue postgraduate studies.
- Assisted Farmers of the Future Gardens by providing agricultural tools and offering training to women in advanced farming techniques.
- Supplied laptops, sewing machines, and knitting machines to support girls' education. Fully funded a 2-year education program for 15 children.
Without these kindergartens, essential tools, and training opportunities, children and women would have no access to education.
This year, The Travel Agent Next Door’s agent partners, supplier partners and supporters have raised more than $70,000 CAD for Pencils for Kids. These funds will support the tuition fees for a 2-year horticultural program, benefitting 15 more students.
If you wish to contribute to this cause, kindly make a Donation.
Our Projects of the Past Years:
2023 – Supporting Manos de Apoyo y Vida, Mexico
Our supplier, agent, media and staff volunteers planted a vertical garden and all participants were able to donate backpacks full of school supplies, clothing and shoes for the children.
Charity 2023 2021 – Supporting St. Christopher's School, Caribbean
St. Christopher's School is the only school for deaf children in the Caribbean. The Travel Agent Next Door, Travelbrands and World of Hyatt (formerly AMResorts) donated school backpacks and other much needed items to support kids learning experience.
Charity 2021 2019 – Supporting La Casa Clu, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
La Casa Clu is a civil association and recreation and learning center where the children can play, create, teach, learn, share, laugh and grow. Travelbrands and The Travel Agent Next Door joined forces to build a garden, plant trees and paint walls. Filled backpacks with learning resources were donated.
Charity 2019 2018 – Supporting a Local School, Dominican Republic
Backpacks with much needed learning supplies were donated and our volunteers spared no energy to paint a basketball court and to install a new playground that was generously donated by TravelBrands and The Travel Agent Next Door.
Charity 2018
Robin Mednick, President of Pencils for Kids received the Meritorious Service Medal
Robin Mednick, the founder of Pencils for Kids, was honored with the Meritorious Service Medal by the Governor General on December 7, 2023, in recognition of her outstanding support for Pencils for Kids. Her efforts have garnered attention from governments and international bodies, bringing the urgent needs of the region to the center stage.
If you have the opportunity to meet Robin in person, you will undoubtedly recognize her kind and humble personality. Robin has dedicated all her energy and life to Pencils for Kids. One reason the administrative fees are as low as 3-5%, allowing 95-97% of donations to directly support the cause, because she covers her flight and hotel expenses from her own pocket every time she visits Niger. Robin and her team have empowered children and women in Niger, giving them a voice, and we cannot thank her enough for letting us be a part of her journey alongside the wonderful children, women, and volunteers in Niger.
We couldn't be prouder of you, Robin. Your dedication has made this cause tangible for all of us!