Hi, I’m Nicole. I have had a few people reach out after my recent posts asking how to help from back in Europe, so I’ve started this go fund me page for the remaining 10 days I’m in south east Asia if people choose to give a little. Even a couple quid would go miles

A bit about my travels and where your money is going:

I’ve spent around 90% of my travels volunteering in poor schools, nurseries, orphanages and community charities across Thailand and Bali — because once you see you can’t unsee. Once you know you can’t unknow.

In Thailand, I met disabled children, care-leavers with no accommodation or government support, and young men and women/ children trying to survive alone. Some children do have parents who love them — they just can’t afford to keep them safe, or their parents are no longer here. Some families are trying their absolute hardest with nothing. Some children being refugees from war countries, seeing more than any person should ever never mind with young, vulnerable eyes.

In Bali, I learned about rape survivors with very little support, mothers forced to give up their babies if born out of wedlock , financial difficultly, risk of being abandoned by their family — one charity’s youngest mother was only 12 years old.

And there are moments I’ll never forget — like the 8-year-old begging alone outside a street market at night, while tourists, including myself, sat eating more than we needed in places built on hidden poverty. I sat with the boy who was looked past by tourists walking past enjoying their night, I shared a smoothie each with him before me & a friend gave him enough money to be able to return to wherever his safe haven was for that night which cost between us probably less than £15.00.

Or the tears shared and moments with the other amazing volunteers as we witnessed these beautiful souls so eager to learn and listen to us teach despite their difficulties. Their laughs, appreciation, ambitions and dreams they still hold onto tightly. And their gratefulness for us and an education. A privilege we’ve all taken for granted.

So instead of vacationing, I’m dedicating my time here to buying food, nappies, formula, hygiene items and school essentials and delivering them directly to the children and families who need help right now.

And truly — even £5 goes so far here.

The equivalent can buy heaps of porridge, super noodles, rice, fruit, teething biscuits and other essentials because these items cost pennies in local currency. What feels small to us can feed a child for days.

100% of donations go straight to supplies.

I’ll share photos, receipts and updates so you can see exactly where your support goes.

Even the smallest donation can change someone’s day — and sometimes their future.

The only difference between us and them is geographic luck. We might not be able to help every child in every country but for a small cost to us we can help the ones here without financial impact or strain to ourselves due to the luck of our currency and pay difference.

Thank you for reading

— Nicole