There’s no denying that traveling to another country can be a life-changing event, especially when you’re young. I know I’ll never forget my art-history-themed senior trip to Europe, for example. It was an amazing and humbling experience to realize how big the world outside of America is. First, though, you need to get a passport.

A new organization, the Passport Party Project, seeks to help teenage girls (and younger tweens) get over that first obstacle by providing them with access to passport services and paying their fees. According to their website, the organization plans to secure passports for at least 100 girls over the next 18 months.

Tracey Friley, the founder of the project, explained the motivation behind it to the San Francisco Chronicle: “I hope that by girls getting their first passports, they view themselves and their place in the world in a whole new way. I hope they continue to learn and teach tolerance of other cultures both at home and abroad. I hope they see the change that is needed in the world and then consider how they might help.”

The Passport Party project held its initial party in Oakland, California in June. The girls got their passports, went bowling and competed for titles like “best passport photo.” To expand the project, they are looking for help in the form of donations and publicity. If you’d like to pitch in, you can donate here and share the link with others.

If you’re getting a passport for your teenage girl, remember to apply early. Even if everything goes smoothly, passport applications can take at least six weeks to process. Expedited passport services are available from the Department of State for an additional $60, but be aware that it can still take three weeks for the passport to arrive.

If you need your passport more quickly, you have two options: make an appointment at one of the country’s 24 passport agency offices, or use a private passport company like RushMyPassport. We’ll personally take your passport application to the Department of State, for processing in as little as 24 hours with no need to make an appointment or wait in line.

For quick, convenient passport services, contact us today!