Ellen Mai and her husband form Developing Opportunity to help out. By ALEJANDRA MOLINA STAFF WRITER

For Ellen Mai, distance is not an obstacle. Even if it's thousands of miles.

Mai and her husband Evan have formed a nonprofit group called Developing Opportunity, which provides educational and vocational opportunities to people in developing countries, like Afghanistan and Colombia.

On Aug. 17, the Laguna Hills resident will travel to Afghanistan for 10 days to check up on various group-funded projects. These include visiting a school and a computer lab.

Developing Opportunity renovated a 38-year-old school so that it could better serve 1,400 students who range from 7 to 17 years old.

It also contributed about $20,000 to help convert old army barracks into a computer lab. Classes in computers, social sciences, geology and literature are held at the facility.

In addition, the organization is starting an English language school in Balkh Province of northern Afghanistan. While on her trip, Mai will meet with representatives of the Ministry of Education to discuss teacher salaries.

To Mai, it just makes sense to reach out to Afghanistan.

"I think there's a lot more programs available here (in the U.S.) already that are doing a lot of wonderful things," she said. "Things over there are so limited because it's a dangerous place and there are a lot of charities that don't want to go."

"So little money goes so far over there," she added.

Mai is an executive producer for Blue Field Entertainment. Her first trip to Afghanistan was six years ago while working on a documentary with CNN and the Travel Channel.

"I spent a lot of time with the local Afghans…they were such warm, generous and giving people even though they had nothing to give," she said.

Through her time spent there, Mai has built many friendships.

Through those ties, Mai feels comfortable knowing that donation money will go to meaningful projects.

"All they want is just to be normal they just want a roof over their heads they want to go to school they want food on their tables," Mai said.

For more on Developing Opportunity, visit www.DevelopingOpportunity.org. DEVELOPING OPPORTUNITYDirector of Developing Opportunity Ellen Mai, 36, surrounded by photographs from her trips she makes with her non-profit to help educate the people of Afghanistan.

MARILYNN YOUNG, THE REGISTER