Passport Project Makes Girls' Dreams Come True

Globe-trotters often take their passport for granted, thinking of it merely as a packet of papers they can't forget when traveling outside the U.S.

But Tracey Friley, founder of the Passport Party Project, has a different view. She sees the passport as a key to gaining access to the world, broadening one's cultural horizons and, for young girls in particular, even building self-confidence.

Friley, a San Francisco-based wanderlust, also blogs at OneBrownGirl.com and is executive director of OBG Adventure Camps for girls.

"Through my camp program, I found that 80 percent of girls don't have passports, which are required to travel in my program," she told Santa Monica Patch. "I looked into statistics and found that only 30 percent of Americans have a passport."

To that end, she has launched the Passport Party Project, a multi-faceted adventure through which girls ages 11 to 16 can learn about and acquire the critical document.

Friley guides girls and their parents through the passport process, helping them complete the application and collect the necessary documents. For some kids, the process isn't so easy, especially if they have an absent parent or a parent who doesn't want them to get a passport.

"I live my life in service of giving girls a worldview," she said.

Following a successful pilot party in San Francisco in early June, Friley was in Santa Monica on Saturday to kick off an 18-month nationwide tour, during which she is meeting with groups of 10 girls in 10 cities. Not coincidentally, Saturday was also the annual Passport Day in the USA, when citizens can get their passport without an appointment.

The daylong "party" was eclectic, with Friley having the participants learn about each other, facts about passports, and the importance of the environment and stewardship.

Saturday began with the 10 girls meeting at for . They then migrated to to get their passport photos taken, and traveled to the to eat lunch (and talk and giggle).

After that, the girls learned about the neighboring and set up camp at the nearby , where they shot video tesimonials of each other talking about their dream destinations.

"They all know where they want to go—and the reason why," Friley said.

Her point was proven during lunch, when many of the girls were eager to share their aspirations with Santa Monica Patch.

"I've traveled before, but not as much as I'd like," said one program participant, Breana. "I am excited to travel to South Africa."

Another participant, Chauntel, said she wants to go to Canada.

"Coming to this program allowed me to learn more about passports, which will allow me to broaden my horizons in the future," she said. "I've always wanted to travel, but I didn't know I needed to get a passport."

Learning about travel isn't just a bonus in the Passport Party Project: Friley requires that, by the end of the day, each girl tell her five facts about passports. While doing the various activities, she tells them what happens if you lose your passport, what to do if it expires and other key information.

While future tour dates have yet to be locked in, Friley is planning parties in Atlanta, Austin, Denver, New York and other major cities. She'll continue selecting groups of girls through social media and other outreach efforts.

Friley is confident that, "As word continues to get out, by end of the 18-month campaign, people will be clamoring for the next one."

One of her goals for the tour is to ultimately see some of the girls actually use their new passport. She hopes to attract a travel brand to sponsor 10 girls to travel outside the U.S. If Friley can secure a sponsorship, she would stage an essay contest, through which one girl from each of the 10 groups would be selected.

"Airfare is going to be a big challenge, but if the parents or kids fundraise as well, I think it's doable," she said.

She hopes that, throughout her tour, the girls will be from "a rainbow of cultural backgrounds."

During the party on Saturday, the girls expressed a diversity of perspectives on travel.

"Passports can take you places you never thought about going or ever experiencing," Maddison said.

"I learned where I can go to meet other people, through programs and camps," Lyric added.

Nyla seconded that notion.

"I learned that I can travel now, and I can go where I want, and I can embrace myself and learn about other people's cultures," she said.