Expedia, Inc. partners with Free The Children to adopt a village in Verdara, India

BELLEVUE, WASH. - Expedia, Inc. and Free The Children, an international charity and educational partner, announced the launch of a multi-year partnership. Through this collaboration, Expedia, Inc. will address poverty in the rural community of Verdara in northwestern India, by supporting Free The Children's Adopt a Village program, a holistic and sustainable international development model that empowers rural and marginalized communities to lift themselves from the cycle of poverty.

Expedia, Inc.'s support in Verdara will address all five pillars of Free The Children's Adopt a Village model: access to education, clean water and sanitation, agriculture and food safety, health, and alternative income. There is no single solution to end poverty, but a holistic approach incorporating all of these pillars can transform the lives of community members and provide families with sustainable resources – the key to ensuring they never need charity again.

Expedia, Inc.'s global employees will have the chance to visit a rural community within the Udaipur district of India and see first-hand how these five pillars can work together by fundraising for Free The Children or volunteering at an organization of their choice. To further amplify their efforts, employees can take advantage of Expedia, Inc.'s matching gift and volunteer hour benefit.

"We've seen the work Free The Children does and the tangible results their development model brings for the most rural of communities," said Dara Khosrowshahi, Expedia, Inc. President and Chief Executive Offer. "We want our employees to see first-hand the impact they can make and our service trip to India is a perfect way to get them involved through fundraising and volunteering at home, then on the ground in India."

"Like Free The Children, Expedia believes in the power of people helping people to make a difference," said Craig Kielburger, Co-Founder of Free The Children. "It's for this reason, and many others, that we are incredibly excited to announce this partnership and begin working together to support the people of Verdara, India on their journey in becoming a sustainable community."

sourced:traveldailynews.asia