What if going on vacation was your way of giving back?
WORLDWIDE - Planeterra
Planeterra connects social enterprises to the tourism marketplace by providing catalyst funding, capacity training, and a market link for small businesses supporting women, youth, and indigenous communities.
Planeterra helps women find meaningful employment for the first time in their lives.
Planeterra helps at-risk youth find long-term employment in the hospitality industry.
Planeterra helps rural and indigenous communities access the tourism marketplace.
SOUTH AFRICA - Endangered Wildlife Trust
The EWT is dedicated to conserving threatened species and ecosystems in east and southern Africa to the benefit of all people. Everything the EWT does is underpinned by 10 core values:
Protect Wildlife Tenacity
Compassion Develop conservationists
Lead by example Value Nature as the foundation of human well-being
Ethical and Accountable Value partnerships
Believe in justice and equality Proactivity
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EAST AFRICA - David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Best known for their work to protect elephants, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) operates the most successful orphan elephant rescue and rehabilitation program in the world. DSWT embraces all measures that complement the conservation, preservation and protection of wildlife including anti-poaching, safe guarding the natural environment, enhancing community awareness and providing veterinary assistance to animals in need.
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PERU - Parwa Community Restaurant project
Parwa is a restaurant owned by the Huchuy Qosqo Association, a community-based tourism enterprise developed by Planeterra. All income earned by the restaurant is used for investment in social projects for the community. The ingredients used in the restaurant are bought directly from the local farmers, providing a local market for direct sales. Parwa Restaurant has an average of 1,500 travelers per month. Employees have monthly salaries, health insurance, pension funds, and other labor benefits. Over 25 micro entrepreneurs received technical assistance and funds to establish new businesses to supply the Parwa restaurant or sell their goods to travelers who visit the Huchuy Qosco community.
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NEPAL - Sisterhood of Survivors
Nepal is a major hub for human trafficking with as many as 7,000 women and girls trafficked out of Nepal into India each year. There are an estimated 200,000 Nepalese women currently engaged in forced labor in brothels across India. SASANE works to combat human trafficking by training survivors as paralegals, making them the first point of contact for other victimized women through placements in police stations in the Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara, and the Sisterhood of Survivors sub-program runs a program to teach travelers how to make traditional momos (dumplings) and share a traditional thali lunch, which raises money.
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ITALY - Co-op Casba
Europe currently faces a great migration challenge as large numbers of people - mostly from North Africa - seek refuge from war, poverty, and political instability. More than 500,000 migrants have landed at Italian ports alone since 2014. Immigrants need job skills and a way to integrate with their new homes.
The Casba Co-op trains immigrants to be tour guides, with a main goal of trying to improve the lives of guides with employment and by helping them be accepted by locals. Travelers are exposed to the beauty created by a melting pot of cultures, languages, and religions living together harmoniously in Naples. Not only does Casba Co-op spread a message of integration and acceptance, but it also brings in much-needed revenue.
MOROCCO - Meknes Community Lunch
Despite advancements in women's rights in Morocco, rural women and girls still face challenges including: higher school drop out rates, high maternal mortality due to a lack of access to heath care providers, domestic violence, and discrimination in society.
Planeterra provided seed funding for the first hospitality program run by Moroccan partner AFER (Association Des Femmes et Enfants Ruraux) to develop the skills of rural women in Morocco and to develop a training program, provide funds to renovate their kitchen and dining area, provide kitchen equipment and resources,.
Travelers visit the rural village of M’hoya, for a delicious traditional lunch, and basic lesson in Arabic. This partnership helps support the long-term job development of a network of over 700 women and children.