Travel That Changes You: Highlighting Chair The Hope and a Life-Changing Trip to Egypt & Ethiopia
If you’ve been following along with our travel blogs, you know we love to share the fun, the food, and the adventure. But sometimes, travel is more than just sightseeing — sometimes, it changes you.
My assistant recently returned from one of those trips — a journey that started in Egypt, full of culture and history, but became something far deeper in Ethiopia, through the work of an incredible nonprofit called Chair The Hope.
We knew we had to share her experience, not just to spotlight beautiful destinations, but to highlight how powerful it is when people come together to help others — across borders, backgrounds, and circumstances.
Egypt: History, Heat, and Humbling Sights
The trip began in Cairo, Egypt — and true to form, it was packed with bucket-list moments. From sailing down the Nile River at night, dining on traditional Egyptian food with city views all around, to exploring the ancient Pyramids of Giza, the trip was a whirlwind of history, culture, and (let’s be honest) extreme heat.
One of the most unforgettable parts? Climbing inside the Pyramid of Khufu — a workout in itself — to stand inside the ancient King's Chamber. It’s one thing to see the pyramids in photos, but being there, feeling the scale and the history, is a whole different experience.
But as breathtaking as Egypt was, the heart of this trip was still to come.
Chair The Hope: “The Gift of Mobility”
From Cairo, the group flew to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — where the real purpose of this trip unfolded. My assistant joined Chair The Hope, a nonprofit organization that provides wheelchairs to people around the world who otherwise wouldn’t have access to them.
The story behind Chair The Hope is powerful. It started with the Ogden family, after their father, Nathan Ogden, was paralyzed in an accident that left him a quadriplegic. That life-changing moment sparked their mission: to give others the gift of mobility and independence.
Since then, Chair The Hope has traveled to countries like Peru, Mexico, and throughout Africa, distributing wheelchairs and changing lives in the process. This trip to Ethiopia was no different — but hearing about it firsthand made it all the more real.
Ethiopia: Serving, Learning, and Gaining Perspective
Over the course of a week, the group visited multiple towns and cities throughout Ethiopia — and with each stop, they delivered more than just wheelchairs; they delivered freedom, opportunity, and hope.
They started by feeding over 5,000 people at a local homeless shelter — a humbling, emotional experience. From there, they began the wheelchair distributions, focusing especially on children whose families couldn’t afford this life-changing equipment.
By the end of the week, over 250 wheelchairs had been given out.
The trip wasn’t just about service — it was about perspective. Seeing how these communities live, with so little by material standards, yet so rich in happiness and gratitude, was a powerful reminder that joy doesn’t always come from circumstance — it often comes from within.
These families, these children — they weren’t just receiving mobility, they were receiving access: to education, to community, to the simple ability to move through life with more ease and dignity.
Why It Matters
It’s easy to get caught up in our routines, our daily stress, or even the glamor of travel. But trips like this remind us what’s possible when people come together to lift one another — literally and figuratively.
Chair The Hope is a testament to how one family’s hardship turned into hope for thousands. Their mission continues, with 4-5 trips a year to places where mobility isn’t just limited — it’s impossible without help.
Hearing these stories, seeing the photos, and watching my assistant return with a whole new sense of perspective? It’s hard not to feel inspired to do more, to give back, and to remember how far even small acts of kindness can ripple.
The Best Trips Change You
Yes, Egypt was beautiful. The Nile, the pyramids, the history — unforgettable. But it was Ethiopia, the service, and the work with Chair The Hope that made this trip life-changing.
If you’re looking for ways to travel with more purpose, or to support organizations making real impact, consider learning more about Chair The Hope. Their work proves that sometimes, the most meaningful journeys aren’t about where you go — but who you help along the way.
XOXO — STYLE Nation
