Volunteering abroad, also known as voluntourism, is on fire. More and more, all kinds of people are looking for travel experiences where they can serve the under-served, globally. Who can disagree with such noble intentions? In fact, voluntourism is often hailed as one of the most constructive forms of tourism out there.

Voluntourism Economics

Like anything new and fast-growing, voluntourism can go awry. Opportunistic travel companies commercialize what should be kept in the non-profit sector, charging voluntourists a hefty premium. NGOs use voluntourists as a fundraising mechanism, taking more advantage of their willingness to pay than their willingness to work. As voluntourism gains scale in certain destinations, it can even affect local labor markets in ways the voluntourists never imagine. Rightly so, skeptics have started blowing whistles and calling for best practices.

Two Sustainable Bolivia volunteers paint a flagpole at Atendi. Photo courtesy of The International Ecotourism Society/Cynthia Ord.

The economics of voluntourism is a hot issue in the larger debate about voluntourism’s impacts. Where are voluntourist dollars going? How much stays with the coordinating organization, and how much enters the local economy in a meaningful way? If you’re thinking about volunteer travel, these are the kinds of questions that are worth asking. If you’re an organization that is coordinating volunteer tourists, these are the kind of questions that are important to answer. Transparency is key.

Volunteering with Sustainable Bolivia in Cochabamba

Sustainable Bolivia is a registered non-profit organization in Cochabamba, Bolivia’s third-largest city. Here, it partners with 28 local non-profit organizations to coordinate volunteer and internship opportunities for international students and professionals. The organizations span a number of fields of development: public health, the environment, education, human rights, and social services.

Volunteers choose which organization they would like to get involved with, depending on their experiences, educational background, and interests. With its diverse network of local non-profit organizations, Sustainable Bolivia is in a good position to match volunteer skills and resources with the places in and around Cochabamba that could use them the most.

Engineers who want to work on appropriate technology solutions find a good match with Energetica, which works on alternative energy sources in the rural communities of Bolivia. Doctors and health care professionals have a number of choices for applying their skills, like Atendi where they can work with kids with disabilities, or Centro de Salud Cerro Verde if their interest is in reproductive health. For creative types and performers, Sustainable Bolivia has an artist residency program and a partner organizations like Performing Life, which provides underprivileged youth with workshops to develop juggling and other circus show skills.

Screen shot of mini grant reporting on the Sustainable Bolivia website.

The Mini Grant Program at Sustainable Bolivia

In 2009, the administration of Sustainable Bolivia started thinking about how they could make volunteer impacts more transparent. They realized that volunteers were the ones who were working directly in the field, in close contact with local partner organizations. The volunteers could see firsthand the most pressing needs on site at their projects.

In February of that year, the innovative new mini grant system was introduced. It’s a system where volunteers can decide exactly how their money is used in the community, and Sustainable Bolivia has one more way to measure and report contribution its to parter organizations. How does it work? For each month that a volunteer works with Sustainable Bolivia, $75 goes toward a mini grant. So, a volunteer that stays for three months has $225 to use toward their volunteer project in the way they think is most appropriate.

In order to apply their mini grants, volunteers are required to fill out an application explaining their project plans and budget. Then, once it has been approved, the volunteer is also required to submit receipts. This process allows for an organization-level reporting system on how volunteer money is being spent.

In keeping with the transparency that Sustainable Bolivia values, it publishes all mini grant activity on its website. On this fascinating page, viewers can see what each volunteer has done with each local partner organization. You can see a short description of the project, the application form, and the receipts showing where the money was spent. More than an ingenious system that ensures transparency about volunteer funds, it’s an elegant composite portrait of the kinds of activities that volunteers can do at Sustainable Bolivia and what the organization is about.

Blogging and Hula Hoops

I applied to spend time at Sustainable Bolivia through their artist residency program, asking if online content creation counts as a form of art. They were happy to accept me as their resident writer. Once I arrived, I had a meeting with Michelle, the national director, about the best way to use my volunteer time. Their website blog had become a little neglected, she said. I loved the idea of helping bring it back to life. By the end of my three month stay, I had five new posts published on the blog.

Hula Hooping with Performing Life members in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Photo courtesy of The International Ecotourism Society/Cynthia Ord.

As my time there passed, I was looking for ways to apply my own mini grant funding. The mini grant program inspired me to close my laptop and get involved on the ground level. My first week there, I had seen a show put on by Performing Life, amazed by the talent of its kids in juggling, diabalos, and unicycles. Since I’m a circus hobbyist myself, I was especially impressed by 13-year-old Scarlet and her fire poi spinning skills. I wanted to learn from her. I noticed that the organization could use some hula hoops to make its circus equipment more complete, and I started planning a project for my mini grant resources.

With my mini grant money, I went to the massive La Cancha local market and bought everything needed to make high-quality, performance-level hula hoops. I found PVC tubing, connectors, duct tape, electrical tape, and even some shiny decorative tape to finish the hoops with color and flair. My mini grant funding went a long way in Bolivia. By the end of my time there, I had made 15 new hula hoops, which were a big hit with the Performance Life kids.

All the materials for hula hoop construction had only cost about $75. There was still more mini grant funding left. I wanted to donate it directly to Performing Life, but Michelle explained to me that it rolls over to the next volunteer working with Performing Life. In this way, they can keep things totally transparent and visible about how the funding is spent. It gave me another idea – maybe I’ll go back and be that next volunteer myself.

To apply for an internship or volunteer opportunity at Sustainable Bolivia, get in contact through the Sustainable Bolivia website.

My name is Markus Neuer and I lead the Tiger Trail team in Luang Prabang, Laos. Born in Germany, I always had a passion for adventure and travelling but, even more important, for other people. Through our Fair Trek in Laos projects, I have found a way to perfectly combine community work with tourism and bring people together from all over the world to work with Lao communities.

The views are spectacular on a half-day Tiger Trail mountain trek in Nong Khiaw, in the Luang Prabang province of northern Laos. Photo courtesy of Tiger Trail

Our team is international, yet all working and living in Luang Prabang. A big part of our company is regular interns, volunteers and students giving support. Our team members are currently from the US, Thailand, France, Germany and of course Laos. Tiger Trail was founded in 2000. I took over the company in 2008, and with the help of our incredible team it has become what it is today. We currently employ about 50 full-time staff members.

My Inspiration, Our Inspiration

I believe that the world is not fairly developed and even its most beautiful landscapes can be the stage for poverty and degradation. I aim to approach these problems by seeking a better way. We make an impact through an ongoing effort to care for the community and our environment, while enjoying the beauty and diversity of the world itself. If everybody would do this, we could have a better world, not just better adventures.

Tourists work alongside villagers harvesting rice near Huay Fai village (about 20 kilometres from Luang Prabang), Laos, during one of the Fair Trek tours offered by Tiger Trail. Photo courtesy of Tiger Trail

Fair Trek Is a Key Part of Our Adventure Travel Company

Fair Trek in Laos is an innovative community-based-tourism project aiming to assist in the development of communities in need. In return, it allows visitors to have access to remote villages by trekking, biking and kayaking, to learn and absorb different cultural experiences in Laos. Fair Trek is the first responsible-tourism project in Luang Prabang, and has been recognised widely as an example of community-based responsible tourism in the Mekong sub-region.

Fair Trek Was First Founded in 2007

I initiated Fair Trek in cooperation with local nongovernmental organisations and the government. It resulted from striking and obvious needs that I have experienced myself during normal treks through surrounding communities and in other countries. After the initiative had been started up, reviewed and adjusted, the operation of the Fair Trek project in Luang Prabang was transferred and is now partly run locally by the Provincial Tourism Department and a pool of operators, raising awareness toward development of tourism and community alike.

After years of development, Tiger Trail has continued to spread the Fair Trek initiative out to other areas of northern Laos, Nong Khiaw and Muang. Tiger Trail is also adopting the philosophy of “voluntourism” for an ecological school project, The Clay School Project, benefiting both the Fair Trek communities and volunteers.

Each tour that is within the Fair Trek project pays into a community fund! Depending on the setup, the funds are handled by local government institutions or the communities directly. The village funds are raised from each Fair Trek tour allowing each visitor to have an impact. Villagers are able to submit a request for needed financing, or propose their ideas on how to invest in improvements and development that benefits the whole community. A great side effect has been created through visitors who wish to assist more through donations. Through this the communities can achieve additional support through the awareness that Fair Trek provides to them.

The Villagers Also Benefit Directly

The villagers make an income selling food and accommodation, as well as traditional self-made handicrafts to the visitors. Individual villagers can earn from guiding around the communities and from helping out in tourism activities. Rental fees for land, blankets, cooking material and other assisting services also contribute to the local income. Our tours are not only “fair” in terms of money; they also preserve local culture and traditions. Having visitors gives the villagers an opportunity to spread and preserve their traditional performances and practices such as singing, dancing and playing local music.

Insider Tip

If you are coming our direction, give us a visit. Luang Prabang is a provincial capital city of Laos, where time still seems to stand still. Take a waterfall trek at Kuang Si and hang out on the Mekong to enjoy the stunning view. Also I recommend you visit Big Tree Café for a great photography exhibition and enjoy some locally grown coffee at either JoMa or Saffron Café, both engaged in social projects in the region. (Get more of the inside word on Luang Prabang.)

Volunteers work with locals to construct the foundation, columns and roof of the Clay School in Ban Naluang, near Nong Khiaw, in northern Laos. Photo courtesy of Tiger Trail

Attractions in and around Luang Prabang are diverse, including various waterfalls, caves, ethnic minorities, textiles and handicrafts, elephant rides and mahout elephant-care experiences. As part of the UNESCO World Heritage reconstruction plan, new buildings have been limited and old houses and streets received refurbishment to keep Luang Prabang a magical place. The most practical way to explore the city is by bike or on a walk. It’s really that small! On our various tours, selected sights and highlights can be combined on day trips and offer individual experiences with experienced and friendly guides.

For a short note on local weather: dry season lasts generally from October through April and wet season comes from the beginning of May to September. BUT I personally love and recommend the rainy season with its lush tropical green and powerful rain showers – it’s spectacular. Yearly average temperature is around 28°C, but it can fall to 15°C or 10°C during the cold season and even lower in the mountains.

The village ("ban") of Naluang, northern Laos, set amidst a stunning backdrop of karst mountains and lush jungle. Photo courtesy of Tiger Trail

View from Office Window

Well, there’s not much to see but at least we see most of the visitors as they fly into Luang Prabang airport, just about 300 metres from our office. We also have a decent view of a metal shop and a cement work space on the opposite side of the road.

Thanks to Markus for sending this through to us! If you’re interested in experiencing one of their fantastic trips, why not try Trekking in the Jungle or Living as a “Mahout” on an elephant sanctuary. Opportunities also exist for those interested in Volunteering in a Traditional Akha Village or Helping to Build a Clay School for a Small Village in Laos.

“For a long time most of the villagers have made a living from fishing. They have always fished the entire coast of Belize. Even those who don’t take part in the traditional lifestyle still make their income from the sea. With their close relationship to the reefs, Sartenejans quickly notice changes to the reef and fish,” says the narrator on an informative video put out by the Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development (SACD).

Out with a local fishermen in Sarteneja, Belize. Photo courtesy of Travel Off the Radar

The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System is impressive, covering 560 miles from Cancun to Honduras. In Belize, where the reef stretches for a remarkable 186 miles, a company called Blue Ventures has taken a creative and effective approach to conservation.

Beginning in January of 2010, Blue Ventures, already in its eighth year of operation, began a project with the Belizean community of Sarteneja, the Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development (SACD) and other organizations to understand the impact the local coastal communities have on the nearby reef.

Fishing and marine environments provide a huge source of income and nourishment for nearby residents, and while some are tempted to take extreme conservation measures, SACD clarifies in a video on the Blue Ventures website: “In this community, when people hear the word conservation, they think ‘no fishing.’ That’s not what SACD wants. Conservation can allow fishing to continue, but there are always better ways to do it. There are best practices to ensure the sustainable use of these natural resources.”

Working at the manatee rehabilitation program. Photo courtesy of Travel Off the Radar

For six weeks, volunteers with the Belize project are able to conduct research with Blue Ventures and their partner organization, the SACD. The mission behind the research is to eventually develop a sustainable environmental management plan for the region that not only increases the quality of life for the residents of Sarteneja, but also increases and sustains a healthy level of marine biodiversity.

Depending on schedules, volunteers undergo 7-15 days of their science training program, learning techniques of monitoring and identifying species. If you have not received your PADI certification, courses for PADI Advanced Open Water certification are given within two weeks of arrival.

Sign up for a spot on one of the trips they have coming up in November; more dates are also available in 2012. Blue Ventures also has training and volunteer programs for their research sites in Madagascar. If you aren’t sure which would be the best fit for you, read about each one on their website.

Local craftsmen in Ghana have been trained by Bamboo Bikes Limited to manufacture quality bicycles with bamboo frames. Photo courtesy of the SYTO

Meanwhile, in Kumasi, Ghana, one operation, called Bamboo Bikes Limited, has blossomed from its small-scale experimental beginnings into a large-scale producer of just what SYTO volunteers need: bikes made out of bamboo. SYTO is therefore a proud supporter of Bamboo Bikes Limited and uses this local producer to supply what it needs for volunteers headed places that are all but inaccessible by public transport.

Bamboo Beginnings

Bamboo Bikes Limited came about as part of the Millennium Cities Initiative of Columbia University. First, the Bamboo Bike Project at the Earth Institute of Columbia University assembled a team of engineers to design a prototype and then provided technical training to local people in Ghana. The idea was to create a light, strong, affordable bicycle constructed entirely of local material and able to be assembled using local labour.

At the Bamboo Bikes Limited headquarters in Kumasi, Ghana, four finished bamboo bikes are ready for shipping. Photo courtesy of the SYTO

Now, two years later, Bamboo Bikes Limited is operational and growing. During a two-week training program earlier this year, it began the production of 750 bikes for a test run. Its ultimate goal is to put 20,000 bikes per year on the road, which would go a long way toward meeting the transportation needs of Ghana’s rural communities.

Benefits of Bamboo

Bamboo bikes are beneficial in a number of ways. First, the primary material used is biodegradable, which is easier on the environment than other materials used in building bikes. Second, the bikes are manufactured locally by trained community craftsmen, thereby creating employment for the local people. The bikes are most useful in rural areas, where vehicular transport is not common and roads are poor, especially during the raining seasons.

French volunteer Magali Comte grins as she rolls up to her host family's house on her project site in the Walewale area of Ghaana via bamboo bike. Photo courtesy of the SYTO

Local people find many uses for bamboo bicycles. Students travel to school with them; merchants carry goods to the market; farmers transport agricultural produce to and from their land; and health workers deliver much-needed medical supplies to and from clinics.

Volunteers’ Experiences

At SYTO, foreign volunteers are trying these bamboo-framed bicycles out for themselves, excited by how unique and comfortable they are.

As Doug Switzer, a volunteer from Ireland, observes: “I ride my bamboo bike to work every day and to town to buy stuff I need. I enjoy riding it because it’s smooth and well built. This bike is great. It’s useful to me and my colleagues, who also enjoy it because I see a number of them riding their bikes to work.”

A few volunteers from Canada World Youth/SYTO discuss issues with locals on their bamboo bikes in Paga, Ghana. Photo courtesy of the SYTO

That said, the bamboo bikes still need some mechanical fine-tuning. The pedals, for example, are not the most durable and usually the first part to have problems.

Volunteer Sarina Thiel from Germany points out another kind of complication. “The bikes are good, but the only problem is that they attract unnecessary attention from the community every time I am using it because the bikes are so unique!”

SYTO and Bamboo Bikes Limited look forward to the day when this sustainable form of transport is less of a head-turning novelty item and more of a norm.

If you would like to arrange a volunteer experience or internship in Ghana, get in contact with SYTO Ghana. Also stay tuned for bamboo bike tours through M&J Travel and Tours, the whl.travel local connection in Northern Ghana.

Now imagine if you had a story about actually getting to drive a rickshaw. Yes, today it is possible to get your hands on the steering bar of this ever-popular mode of transport. In which case it’s game over: Your tale wins, hands down.

A good personal rickshaw report is important for two other reasons: First, ‘rickshaw’ is a cool word that’s fun to say. Try it. With conviction this time. Rickshaw. Second, rickshaws come in many varieties and are common transportation in many countries. If you’ve never encountered one, a small part of you hasn’t lived.

Even if you ride one daily, though, there are probably plenty of facts you may not have considered. For instance, the word ‘rickshaw’ is Japanese in origin (jinrickisha means ‘human-powered vehicle’) and refers to two-wheeled carts pulled by a person and often carrying a member of the social elite. Nowadays, the three-wheeled bicycle rickshaw or, more commonly, auto rickshaw has largely replaced the often-outlawed human-powered version. Also, there are many other names by which a rickshaw may be known: tuk-tuk, trishaw, tricycle, bajaj, motortaxi, auto-remorque…

Get ready to tell the best stories about your time as a rickshaw pilot, because we’ve found the top five rickshaws that you are actually allowed to drive.

On a Rickshaw Challenge in India, the first order of business is to decorate your vehicle (and yourselves) and think up a great name for your team. Photo courtesy of Rickshaw Challenge

Rickshaw Challenge in Southern India

Since 2006, the Rickshaw Challenge has been serving up rickshaw driving trips for adventure-seekers in India. The first route was from Chennai to Kanyakumari in southern India, crossing an area of the country somewhat off the trodden tourist trail. Since then, this route has been adapted into the Classic Run, which is one of four routes offered as a Rickshaw Challenge.

Get a group together and start planning an outrageous design for the customisation of the auto rickshaw that you (yes you!) will be driving. There is no limit to the amount of insane creativity and detail that participants put into pimping their rickshaw rides, but matching costumes are certainly recommended. Sign up for the 11-day Classic Run, the nine-day Malabar Rampage, the nine-day Deccan Odyssey or the 14-day Mumbai Xpress. Details about dates and prices are available on the Rickshaw Challenge website.

These two Lanka Challenge contestants are about to embark a raucous 12-day trishaw adventure of a lifetime in Sri Lanka, where their driving and tree-planting skills will be put to the test. Photo courtesy of Large Minority

The Lanka Challenge in Sri Lanka

The wildly successful 2011 Lanka Challenge came to an end earlier this month. Organised by LARGE minority as the first event of its kind in Sri Lanka, this race is as much about teamwork, mastering the trishaw (especially at its eye-watering speeds of 50 kph), dressing up in zany costumes and a race across breathtaking landscapes as it is about giving back and scoring points for the earth. In addition to funds raised for social projects (US$26,000 in 2011), each team faces cultural and ecological challenges along the way, such as planting fruit trees.

Check out the fun facts and amazing memories from 2011 as inspiration to start planning for the 2012. The 12-day ride ride (August 31 to September 11, 2012) is slated to be a bigger deal than ever before.

Cambo Challenge contestants are ready to race to the finish line on their decked-out auto-remorques, the Cambodian version of the motorised rickshaw. Photo courtesy of LARGE Minority

The Cambo Challenge in Southern Cambodia

In Cambodia, an auto rickshaw is called an auto-remorque, a ‘motorcycle-meets-carriage mishmash,’ as described by the people at LARGE minority, the organisation behind the Cambo Challenge adventure trip. What better, awkward, irrational and more absurd way could there be to try your hand at driving an auto-remorque than 11 days and 1,350 kilometres of non-stop rickshaw madness. Keen for a thrill? This year’s event is coming up, from November 6-17, 2011! It’s not too late to join.

As with the other LARGE minority initiatives, the Cambo Challenge is an awesome hybrid of fun and positive-impact travel. In 2011, funds are being raised to support a water-supply pipeline project for the Chambuk Eco-tourism Community. Help them reach their goal of US$20,000.

The Three Tinned Tigers are one of the lucky teams to compete in The Adventurists' famous Rickshaw Run adventures. Photo courtesy of www.facebook.com/MongolRally

The Rickshaw Run in India

From the same people who organise the fantastical Mongol Rally across the ‘stans of Central Asia and the Mototaxi Junket through South America comes perhaps the most well-known three-wheeled adventure out there: the Rickshaw Run in India. The Adventurists have gained such widespread fame and popularity for their extreme transportation trips that landing a spot on a tour takes some doing. They launch three Rickshaw Runs a year, all of which sell out within hours of opening registration.

The Adventurists established the elements of a good drive-your-own-rickshaw adventure as: customised vehicles, ridiculous costumes, big parties and good causes. This fun-loving bunch is also out to save the world. It has a network of charities that each adventure supports and teams that sign up for adventures are asked to raise £500 for their adventure’s Official Charity plus a further £500 for another charity of their choice.

In the highly anticipated Rickshaw Run Southeast Asia, which The Adventurists will be premiering this October 16, there will surely be the usual mix of tattooed tuk-tuks, parties, chaos, confusion, costumes, crises and top-shelf fun. Photo courtesy of www.facebook.com/MongolRally

The Rickshaw Run in Southeast Asia

The Adventurists describe their newest rickshaw tour through Southeast Asia as “the sweatier, junglier cousin of its Indian namesake.” Starting on October 16, 2011, this ambitious journey will take about two weeks to blaze a trail – by auto-rickshaw, of course – from Jakarta, Indonesia, to Bangkok, Thailand.

In this exclusive first expedition of the Southeast Asian Rickshaw Run, only 30 positions were available. They sold out in under a minute! Even though the number of participants who will make it to the finish line is yet to be seen, the next tour is already scheduled for March of next year and is sure to sell out just as quickly.

“Load up quick, bad weather, come very quick!”

These are the last words you ever want to hear when you are a passenger in a tiny 20-seater plane flying into the rainforest. As the engines whirred into life, I wondered for a split second whether or not I’d bought enough supplies to last a trek to the nearest village should the plane crash. Risky or not, the flight into the interior of Sarawak only served to highlight the nature of the trip that was to come – remote and, at this point, reckless.

Ceremonial first tree planting of the project "Picnic with the Penan" in Borneo. Photo courtesy of Picnic with the Penan

Last month I headed out on a tiny plane into the interior of Borneo to spend 10 days with the Penan. The Penan are one of the indigenous peoples of Sarawak and were, until recently, the only people to live a nomadic lifestyle within the rainforest. Today, most Penan have settled in villages where they primarily cultivate the land yet still utilize their hunter-gatherer skills to supplement their diet.

I visited two villages that are part of a project called Picnic with the Penan (PWTP). PWTP is a community tourism project that is run by the Penan, and which helps to fund a tree-planting project in areas that were badly burnt in El Nino fires in 1998. In the summer mass fruiting of 2009, there was a once-in-10-year opportunity to easily collect thousands of seeds to plant – knowing that this was coming, the villages sought outside help to fund a nursery and labor costs.

Penan elder making a blow pipe. Photo courtesy of Picnic with the Penan

They realized that by planting species of Meranti, Kapor and some Shorea species, in the future they would be able to selectively use some of the new trees for building, therefore leaving untouched the rare old-growth forest that still exists further from the villages. This project has gone from strength to strength and many saplings are now ready to plant, but the longevity of the project depends on consistent funding and PWTP is still seeking help to ensure the success in this project.

The PWTP projects are facilitated by volunteers who live outside of the villages and have access to the internet and phones, completing administrative tasks that cannot be done in the villages due their remote location. However, all the money that is spent goes directly to the Penan themselves, meaning that you pay your guide/porter/host directly rather than through a middleman. What is interesting about this initiative is that it is run as a co-operative; there is no hierarchy and all decisions are made in village meetings whereby each villager has an equal voice. This serves to create a sense that the project truly belongs to everyone.

One of the many perks of this particular trip is that it remains off the beaten track. With the PWTP program, it is unlikely that you will cross paths with any other travellers for the duration of your stay. Travellers should keep in mind that tourism is new to this area, so if you are expecting five-star amenities, think again! However, if you can approach this unique experience with an open mind, and are willing to make do with relatively basic conditions, then you will surely find it to be enriching and extremely enlightening.

My plan was to enjoy this trip solo, although I did have some concerns about travelling to this remote place on my own (getting on the aforementioned plane didn’t help). However, as soon as I arrived in the village and was greeted by my guide and porter, I realized that I had nothing to worry about. Even though they spoke only a bit of English, my friendly guides successfully managed to make me forget my initial trepidation about our adventurous 3-day trek to the villages.

The Penan may be quite shy when you first meet them, but based on my experience they will open up after a few hours. Soon they will be proudly showing you around the local forests, demonstrating their incredible span of knowledge. In fact, during one of our hikes, I was shocked to find out that my guide had never walked the route we were taking before – he seemed to know where the trails were even when there was no discernible track to follow!

My guide, Paul, was very eager to show me the medicinal plants used by the Penan and it seemed that they were everywhere – almost every small shrub we walked past had some use. It’s not surprising then that the Penan do not see the forest as a monetary resource so much as their whole life, their larder and their hospital. As such, the forest must be kept intact so that future generations and their culture can survive. In a much wider sense, this need to preserve the world’s rainforests can be extended to all of humanity.

Punting down from the Penan village. Photo courtesy of Picnic with the Penan

In this regard, PWTP has empowered the villages, and increasingly there is a real sense that they can do something about their own destinies. PWTP has provided these two villages with an income, which means that in time, there will be more of an incentive for the younger generation to stay in the villages and maintain the traditional connection the Penan have with the rainforest.

Though they have lived a subsistence lifestyle for so long, money has become a necessity in recent years. Ironically this may be the resource that allows the Penan to maintain their way of life. With the funds from the ‘community fee,’ the villagers can decide together how to improve their lives, whether be by replanting hardwoods in areas of damaged rainforest or creating wet rice paddies to provide a stable food supply.

After many years of hearing disheartening news about the Penan, it is really encouraging to see that this Penan-run project is bringing about positive changes that will, in time, provide the stability needed to continue their traditional way of life for future generations.

Projects in Kenya, Peru, Sri Lanka and Brazil have been announced as the winners of the first travel2change idea challenge. Over 500 members joined the travel2change online community since its launch in late April 2011, and submitted around 60 innovative project proposals. The submitted ideas were evaluated based on creativity, effectiveness, impact, feasibility and sustainability.

The children participating in the travel2change project in Oyugis, Kenya, were shown and then practiced how to wash hands properly with soap in order to prevent the spread of germs and diseases. The children were trained as role models, who will then replicate the idea in the wider community, starting in their own homes. Photo courtesy of travel2Change

The four winning projects were named on July 17, 2011, by a jury of experts and will be realized in the coming months, thanks to the support of the travel partner Kuoni. Each winning project receives financial support as well as the help of volunteer travelers, who will collaborate with the local communities to bring the projects to life.

Travel2change First Challenge Winners

SEP – Soccer, Education and Prevention (Oyugis, Kenya)

In Oyugis, Kenya, travel2change, together with the Society Empowerment Project (SEP), hosted a four-day football event for around 300 children. Along with teaching life skills, teamwork and football skills, volunteer travelers will now train the children in proper hand washing techniques and the importance of basic hygiene. The production of soap from locally sourced materials will also be part of the program.

300 children from all over Kenya participated in the SEP Football Tournament in Oyugis where they learned about life skills, teamwork and the importance of basic hygiene and hand washing with soap. Photo courtesy of travel2change

Getting Kids Pumped for School (Horana, Sri Lanka)

The aim of Getting Kids Pumped for School is to connect a local school to its well so the children have access to running water for drinking and sanitation, which will help improve the children’s health, thus reducing the risk of dengue and other communicable diseases. This will be achieved by installing pumps, water tanks and pipes, as well as expanding the depth of the well. Visiting travelers will contribute to the project by assisting with the installation of pumps and water tanks.

AmazonArt at the Combu Education Centre (Combu Island, Brazil)

AmazonArt aims to employ music and the arts to inspire the children and local community. Its goal is to create awareness and understanding of the importance of protecting the rainforest, river and its local communities. Together with the staff of AmazonArt, travelers will assist with music and art classes and provide English lessons along with a cultural exchange to local children. Travelers will have a chance to improve the infrastructure of the school through basic construction projects and educate the children on the importance of safe drinking water and hygiene.

Travel2change will assist local staff from WAVES for Development in running a number of activities to create life-enriching experiences in the coastal community of Lobitos, Peru. This will be done through education programs that help develop youth into healthy and empowered adults, and of course surfing and swimming lessons. Photo courtesy of travel2Change

WAVES for Development (Lobitos, Peru)

WAVES for Development aims to create life-enriching experiences through education programs to develop healthy and empowered adults. The traveler will join local staff to teach local children water safety, beach management and environmental conservation among other things, and of course, surfing classes. Cultural exchange through activities to increase healthy living and teaching skills for life is another great benefit of the program.

All travelers will provide frequent updates to give all community members the opportunity to monitor the realization of the projects.

Are You Ready to Travel2change?

Travel2change is now offering the chance for you to participate in the Sri Lanka project and the Peru project this fall (September-October 2011). Travelers will play an active part in carrying out the activities to help successfully implement the goals of these projects. To learn more about the Travel2change Join This Trip Contest and to apply, please go to review the contest details here.

Bringing Laos alive for travellers is Tiger Trail, a leading sustainable adventure organisation that, for more than 10 years, has been promoting local development through tourism. Now, through its Fair Trek initiative that supports community-based tourism, Tiger Trail has has added a Clay School Project to its portfolio of projects benefiting local communities.

Kids gather under a stilt house (this style is very common in Lao-Lum and Khmu communities) in a Lao village where a clay schools will be built. Every time the Fair Trek team visits and works in the village, the children always gather nearby to play and watch. Photo courtesy of Fair Trek

Clay School Project

The Clay School Project aims to bring in international volunteers to support the construction of clay-brick schoolhouses. Construction efforts are initially planned in two remote Lao communities where Tiger Trail has a strong presence through a steady flow of international volunteers.

The first school is currently under construction in the village of Naluang, located in the Luang Prabang District of Nam Bak Province in northern Laos. In Naluang village, the sole existing school building is a bamboo hut only large enough for the youths from four to eight years of age. Now, in early July 2011, Fair Trek, along with community members and international volunteers, began construction of a three-classroom structure to accommodate the approximately 100 school-age youths in the area. As of the time of writing, the building’s foundation is complete, as are the adobe bricks needed for the walls. The project is expected to take two to three months.

Fair Trek team member prepared a Lao lesson of the blackboard, while the only teacher from the village was standing in the middle and trying to gather intention from the little kids. Photo courtesy of Fair Trek

The second clay-brick structure is planned for the village of Honglerk, in Khua District, Phongsali Province. Construction is scheduled to begin in November 2011.

Promoting Ecological Sustainability

For thousands of years, clay, mud and adobe have been used for the construction of buildings, particularly in parts of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. However, this practice is less common in Laos.

Although the use of sun-dried bricks made of clay soil, sand, hay and water is a novelty in Laos, for Fair Trek, the benefits of using these materials are four-fold. First, the construction materials are all natural. Second, the building will be climate-appropriate for this tropical, humid and hot region. Clay walls help to control humidity and keep heat and sound outside, resulting in a cool, quiet and comfortable learning environment. Third, the materials will be locally sourced as much as possible, and the project will rely on volunteer support, keeping construction and labour costs to a minimum. Fourth, local villagers – leaders, men, women, children and volunteers – can be involved in clay construction because there is no need for intensive training or skilled labour.

A Fair Trek team member (grey top) joined an adobe workshop at Baan Rangnok in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The seven-day workshop taught how to build a small adobe building, of around 15m2, including every step of adobe construction, from making mud bricks to painting. Photo courtesy of Fair Trek

Because of the non-traditional materials used for building the schools, obtaining government approval for construction has presented challenges, which have been turned into opportunities to promote environmental building practices. Winna Boonkham, Responsible Tourism Manager at Tiger Trail, who has participated in an earthen building workshop in Thailand for this project, interfaced with government officials. “I had to draw all benefits for them to see, including financial, environmental, social, educational benefits,” she explained.

Approvals having successfully been received, Boonkham looks forward to using Tiger Trail staff experience and training in mud building to promote a new sustainable form of construction. Local community members will naturally learn the clay building methods as part of the project: “So in the future, they may not even need us or anyone to help them build something – a library for example!” says Boonkham. At least the school “can be the model for the next mud school in Laos.”

A front view of the proposed clay-brick school, which will contain three classrooms, each with one door and four windows. The footings, foundation, columns and roof support will be concrete, but the walls will be filled with sundried-mud bricks (adobe). Standard roof tiles will be applied with wooden supports. Courtesy of Fair Trek

Broad and Beneficial Community Participation

Villagers’ participation and support of the project is central to its success. As a vital first step to realising this project, Fair Trek worked with the communities and their leaders to set up village funds, which are financial accounts created to support community initiatives. Community members then identified their most pressing needs, and with each Tiger Trail tour to the community, some of the tours proceeds are added into the account. From this first step, Fair Trek created a shared commitment with the villagers to achieve their main goal: improving educational opportunities for youth.

While the village fund will be a key source of financing for the project, another essential contribution will be the volunteer construction labour, primarily from villagers sacrificing some working hours in the field. But construction can be shared by all community hands; for example, when the men are working in the fields, the women and children can participate in the mud construction. Villagers will also provide accommodation and food for volunteers who come from abroad to help build.

A meeting between the Fair Trek team and Naluang villagers in Laos was held to introduce and demonstrate adobe construction. The result was that the villagers were interested and happy to learn and support whatever they can for the construction of this mud school. Photo courtesy of Fair Trek

The community has necessarily been at the heart of project planning too. “Since the start, they had to agree about what we are building and when, what they will have to do, what we will have to do, such as managing the space for the activities. This project will make the village so busy and full of people for the time… and they accepted that,” Boonkham said.

The Clay School Project provides a win-win experience for both the villages and volunteer travellers. More than 50 volunteers from the United Kingdom are expected to participate in the school construction in the village of Naluang to the benefit of both the communities and the volunteers: Communities receive fundraising support and extra labour power in building improved educational facilities, while volunteers receive a unique and meaningful travel experience through the opportunity to be part of the locals’ traditional rural lives and lend a hand in a community development project.

The school land and chief of Naluang village, Laos. The land is right in front of the community, and has been intended for a school for many years. The chief was proud and happy that finally the children soon will have a new school. Photo courtesy of Fair Trek

Promoting Local Culture in Laos

The clay school project is just one of the many ways Tiger Trail brings Laos’ unique culture to international visitors and supports destinations through community-based tourism.

Other include volunteering in a northern minority Akha village, participation in hospitality promotion and lodge construction projects; promotion of fair trek tourism in Luang Prabang; and support for the protection and care of endangered animals, including elephants in Luang Prabang or tigers in Phou Loi Nam Et.

Thinking of going to Laos? Contact Teamworkz, the whl.travel local connection in Luang Prabang and throughout Laos, for tours, accommodation and a load of the kinds of hints you could only get from a local.

Responding to a growing interest in independent, experiential and local travel, the Geotourism Development Foundation aims to cultivate community, cultural or environmental projects that link to tourism and derive revenue from visitors. The Geotourism Development Foundation focus on ‘win-win-win outcomes’ – sharing the beneficial results of projects with all stakeholders (local communities, travellers and the travel industry) – by championing undertakings that increase the share of benefits to locals and create new types of tours that result in better, sustainable and more unique connections between hosts and travellers.

“The Geotourism Development Foundation… is both for tourists to have great travel experiences and for tourism to bring more direct benefits to people and places in the destinations visited,” not offshore travel companies, commented John McKenzie, the entity’s president, who spoke at length about the foundation in an interview published yesterday on the Local Travel Movement. With an eye on fostering a fairer, safer and more prosperous world, “GDF therefore funds and supports local projects and initiatives that improve lives and habitats in the places travellers love to go.”

Creating Meaningful Connections

The Geotourism Development Foundation presently works primarily, but not exclusively, in the developing world, where tourism is a major source of revenue and employment. In doing so, it helps generate revenues and jobs for the poorest, while also taking a lead role in efforts to conserve culture and the environment, promote tolerance and understanding between peoples, and broaden minds.

According to McKenzie, the key to the Geotourism Development Foundation’s approach is how it “facilitates three-way partnerships between itself, commercial tour operators and local social entrepreneurs” that benefit both hosts and travellers.

Recent evidence suggests that travellers are increasingly keen to find such connections, to be part of unique, homespun initiatives, especially those that make special contributions to the local communities. “A growing number of independent travellers and those travelling in small groups want more than just a holiday; they want an experience,” said McKenzie.

A farmer in Boracay, Philippines, ploughs his fields using the traditional method of the caribou cart. Even many Filipinos have little knowledge of traditional rural life in their own country, something that a local project supported by the Geotourism Development Foundation is working to change.

For that reason, the Geotourism Development Foundation’s inaugural projects include community initiatives in southern Malawi (read more about it here); homestays in Darjeeling, India (read more about it here); education and agricultural activities in the Ecuadorian Amazon; and traditional farming in Boracay, Philippines.

Through programs like these, travellers find that they gain real insight into the places they visit and often forge personal and enduring bonds. When given a chance to help, travellers are also generous in the support they provide, both on the spot and once they have returned home. This is meaningful to their hosts, who are eager to share their knowledge and stories, showcase aspects of their lives and benefit from the revenue that tourism can bring.

Joining Helping Hands

The Geotourism Development Foundation steps into a space in which it sees several opportunities.

“Many large tour operators and travel companies show their desire to do good by setting aside part of their profits to donate to community, environmental or cultural projects. Now, working with GDF, they can link some of this giving back to their core business… a step that will enhance their brand and add to their customer travel experience, as well as provide the supported project with long term income,” urged McKenzie.

Accordingly, the Geotourism Development Foundation is reaching out to travel companies, charitable foundations and businesses for support and funds. These collaborators assist not only through grants, but also by drawing the attention of a broad community of generous travellers who can contribute directly through the Geotourism Development Foundation website or through customisable donation widgets that will be placed on all partner organisation’s websites.

In the foothills of the Himalayas near Darjeeling, a villager collects and carries tea from the fields. This fair-trade branded tea is distributed to international markets. The Geotourism Development Foundation is working with a homestay network in the vicinity.

The next step is ensuring that the funds raised are put to good use. Fortunately, since, as McKenzie remarked in the Local Travel Movement interview, “Accessing funding for projects is usually a big issue; securing donations and grants can be uncertain,” the Geotourism Development Foundation has “a great opportunity to help complement existing funding channels with loans and with expertise in connecting product to mainstream tourism to ensure additional and regular income from tourism.”

A process has been established that begins with identifying a local partner “doing something that generates social, cultural or environmental benefits, adds to the geographical character of the place and could potentially engage travelers,” as described in the company’s website page about How It Works.

“Trusted locals are the key,” emphasised McKenzie. “A key local partner is a proven and established local tour operator. These local tour operators both understand the tourism market in their region and the marketing and distribution channels that need to be tapped. They in turn know and work closely with local communities and other social entrepreneurs and so join the dots needed to create a win-win outcome and a product which will sell.”

This partner applies for Geotourism Development Foundation funding for a proposed project, which, once approved, becomes eligible for a loan, not a grant. “Inspired by the micro-finance approach, GDF hopes to share in the longterm income streams of its beneficiaries, whilst adding value to their initiatives,” concluded McKenzie. “If we lend to viable projects and help them to derive income, then it is natural that they should repay the loan. Over time, this businesslike approach not only ensures effective use of funds, but also influences the way that the projects are run and care for their customers.”

To learn more about the Geotourism Development Foundation, including its current project, visit www.geotourismfoundation.org.

Organised rugby in Laos gives children, boys and girls alike, a chance to participate in competitive sports. Often, it reaches kids that are institutionally excluded from such opportunities. Photo by Jacob Cawthorne

I started playing rugby in 2003. It was my first year at Princeton University and I missed being a part of a team. I had always been drawn to contact sports and played American football and ice hockey in school. Rugby brought together the elements of those sports I loved: contact, teamwork, communication, intensity and non-stop action.

At Princeton I was a part of a successful squad that made it to the US national collegiate semifinals twice during my run. Though we didn’t take home the title, we won big games along the wa, and used our teamwork, communication and smarts to beat out stronger opponents from universities twice or three times our size. Now my journey with rugby has brought me to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, where I am Operations Manager at the Lao Rugby Federation (LRF), which oversees the sport and provides a valuable community outreach service.

A Short History of Rugby in Laos

The French brought rugby to the region in the 1960s and the sport was quickly taken up in major Lao institutions such as the National University of Laos and the Lao Army, whose squads were able to achieve success on the regional stage, beating the national team of Thailand and touring sides from Hong Kong. While rugby activities then went dormant during periods of domestic unrest in the 1980s and early/mid-1990s, a motivated group of Lao and expat rugby lovers put the sport back on the map in the late 1990s. They started games of touch rugby open to the community. As interest and participation grew, the games eventually turned into contact rugby, which, in order to compete in tournaments throughout the region, eventually led to the formation in 1988 of the Vientiane Buffalos rugby club.

In response to burgeoning interest in the sport, in 2001 the Lao Rugby Federation was founded to provide a formal framework for all rugby union activities taking place in the Lao PDR, whether in the context of school, community or domestic and elite international rugby development. Now in its 10th year, the LRF has seen tremendous growth, not only in programming and capital, but also in the local capacity to administer the sport to a high international level. The LRF is a full member of the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) and an associate member of the International Rugby Board (IRB). Most importantly, the LRF has achieved full recognition from the Government of Laos and the National Sports Committee.

Local Inroads and Enthusiasm

The local response to rugby has been a warm one. Of course, it is challenging to introduce a new sport in an area where football (soccer) is king, but the unique aspects of rugby (scrums and line-outs, rucks and mauls) are interesting to the public, and the social nature of the sport at all levels resonates well with the Lao ethic of community, friendship and fun. As school and community rugby outreach activities have taken place over the course of a decade, and as the LRF hosts more international tournaments and events, the sport has attracted a solid following and now boasts widespread support from individuals, Lao institutions, local businesses and the government.

Of particular value to the LRF is the coaching it has been doing in nine schools in and around the capital city of Vientiane, as well as at the National Drug Rehabilitation Centre. This is an exciting time, as new generations are graduating from school and passing through community rugby projects to make an impact on rugby as players and leaders in local clubs and on national sides. In 2010, 54 percent of the Men’s Senior National Team, 75 percent of the Women’s Senior National Team and 87 percent of the U20s Boys Junior National Team were graduates of the LRF’s school and community rugby development projects.

Grinning Lao boys give their all to keeping the rugby ball in motion. Photo by Jacob Cawthorne

More energy and resources will continue to be put into outreach initiatives targeted at Lao institutions such as the Institute of Physical Education, Lao Army, Lao Police and the National University, with an aim to develop more domestic clubs, a key criterion for full membership in the International Rugby Board.

Rugby and the Community

The heart of the LRF’s community programming is Champa Ban Rugby, which works to counteract the exclusion of children from recreational sporting activities by providing safe, fun and secure environments for participation in rugby union. Sadly, a significant portion of the Lao PDR’s youth population has no access to learning about the importance of healthy living and fitness, or life lessons such as teamwork, trust, respect, discipline and communication through recreational sporting. The capacity of many teachers to deliver quality physical education is low, especially in rural areas. Only the most athletically gifted are given the opportunity to play organised sports, and the play is highly competitive. Moreover, there are also especially few sporting opportunities available to young women.

In response to this, the LRF provides girls and boys with the chance to play, be healthy and form friendships through sport, whilst realising personal development opportunities to the fullest. This is accomplished through weekly in-house rugby training sessions at nine schools and the National Drug Rehabilitation Centre, bi-monthly community rugby sessions held on weekends at a central location in Vientiane, weekend-long summer residential camps and the Champa Ban Rugby League – all of which are organised, administered and coached by local Lao staff.

Rugby teaches young Lao girls the importance of healthy living and fitness or life lessons such as teamwork, trust, respect, discipline and communication. Photo by Jacob Cawthorne

Travellers and Volunteers Welcome!

Travellers are warmly invited to get involved in the LRF’s activities. Events are advertised on the LRF Facebook page and the Lao Rugby Federation homepage, as well as in the Vientiane Times, and travellers are always welcome to attend training sessions and competitions. Anyone who would like to have a run with LRF teams should contact the LRF office, which will connect them to the Buffalos, Wild Hogs or Lions club teams.

The LRF even welcomes travellers as short-term volunteers when hosting events such as the Vientiane International 10s, a club rugby tournament that draws men’s and women’s teams from across the region. The LRF is equally keen to partner with travellers who have expertise in specific areas such as graphic design, videography or sports medicine, to name a few.

Finally, I encourage visitors in Vientiane to stop by our office and meet the staff. Donations can be made at the office, where official LRF merchandise can also be purchased. The proceeds of all merchandise sales go directly to grassroots rugby development in Laos.

The Rugby-whl.travel Local Connection

Teamworkz, the whl.travel local connection in Laos, has long been a supporter of rugby development in the Lao PDR, not only as a sponsor but through financial contributions that helped the LRF develop enough administrative capacity to facilitate rugby’s expansion in Laos.

The co-ed group of young Lao athletes that make up Vientiane's community team cheerfully gather for a group photo. Photo by Jacob Cawthorne

There’s also a strong personal commitment. Lee Sheridan, General Manager at Teamworkz, is a long-time member of the Lao PDR Men’s National Team, while Mouksy Vongsouvath, who works on the booking staff for Teamworkz, is a well-established member of the Lao PDR Women’s National Team and President of the Vientiane Lions Women’s Rugby Football Club.

Both Mr. Sheridan and Ms. Mouksy have made great contributions to the sport in their home country. As a member of the Lao PDR National Team, Sheridan has seen victories in the Mekong Cup Series titles versus Cambodia in 2009 and 2010, and won the HSBC Asian 5 Nations Regional Tournament in 2009 and 2010 with victories over Cambodia and Brunei.

Ms. Mouksy has taken home the bronze medal for Women’s Rugby 7s at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) and is a trailblazer in women’s rugby in the Lao PDR, leading her team, the Vientiane Lions, to success in major competitions in Thailand, Cambodia and in Laos.

I made personal acquaintance with Sheridan through the LRF. He started playing rugby in school, retired due to injury when he was 18 and was one of the people who started the contact rugby games in the early 2000s that led to the establishment of the LRF.

“There are few structured sports opportunities for youth in Laos outside of elite competition,” says Sheridan. “The LRF has been doing a great job through their schools and community outreach programs to engage young Lao people and not only promoting rugby, but also the health, fitness, teamwork, cooperation and respect that is associated with the game.”

[Several months ago] I traveled to Egypt with Dr. Kristin Lamoureux of The George Washington University to examine the potential for volunteer tourism in Cairo and Aswan and offer strategic recommendations for its development. Our trip was sponsored by the Cultural Programs office of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo. We participated in a series of volunteer tourism workshops, consultations and media-outreach events across the country from November 2-4, 2010. The goal of the program was to energize people in government, the non-profit and private sector about how they might directly implement the concept of volunteer tourism in Egypt.

The benefits to a destination from volunteer tourism have been hotly contested for some time. Bloggers were recently debating the topic again after the Human Research Science Council published a report about how short-term volunteer projects do more harm than good. However, we believe there is still an important place for volunteer tourism, if carefully planned, monitored and managed. If this is accomplished, it can promote meaningful cross-cultural exchange and bring economic benefits to both tour operators and local people. On our trip for example, we learned from a representative of a prestigious international adventure tour operator that incorporating a meal with local Egyptians into an existing adventure itinerary had resulted in word of mouth marketing valued at $5 million additional revenues to the company.

A few of the organizations we visited, which offer some potential for volunteer tourism, are profiled below.

Making Paper in Cairo

El Nafeza is a paper-making center in Cairo, where it is possible for small groups of visitors to learn the paper-making process and meet and interact with the women who work there. The paper is made using an environmentally friendly process: agricultural byproducts including rice hay and natural fibers are recycled into the paper; all colors and patterns are hand mixed, matched and printed. Although not an official offering for tour operators, interested visitors can contact the Center to arrange a visit: elnafeza@gmail.com.

Microfinance for Women

The Association for the Development and Enhancement of Women is an organization that arranges micro-finance loans for small businesses. It was the first NGO in Egypt to identify women as ‘head of household’ and establish a micro lending program using a group lending methodology for this target group. Nermean Foad, a representative from the association, said they would welcome skilled business volunteers who might support their internal operations; additionally there is the potential that interested volunteers might work with the individual micro-finance recipients: adew@link.net.

The Recycling School for Boys

At the Spirit of Youth Association for Environmental Service/Recycling School for Boys in Mokattam, we learned about the Zaballeen community, whose people collect approximately 4,000 tons of trash each day from Cairo’s nearly 8 million people. The Zaballeen earn some money from the city and some from recycling projects with corporate sponsors, such as Proctor&Gamble. We met with Ezzat Naem, who grew up in ‘Garbage City’ and now leads a school funded by revenues from trash and recycling collection. For the full history, scroll to the second article here: ‘Garbage City Teaches Recycling’.

As explained on the group’s Facebook page, the boys at The Recycling School learn how to sort and safely recycle plastic shampoo bottles. They receive a small income every month from sending these back to the shampoo factories. Through the process, children are taught the principles of recycling and the importance of safety precautions such as suitable clothing, gloves and masks. They also learn about hazardous waste materials, such as those from hospitals; they are encouraged to share this information with their families so that the entire community can learn. A documentary called ‘Garbage Dreams’ was made about this community.

Although no formal program for volunteer tourists is in place, interested visitors can contact the community and inquire about volunteering with the kids or on other projects at the school: spirit.oftheyouth@yahoo.com.

Nubia Museum

Further south, our team met with Ossama Meguid, Director of the Nubia Museum, and visited the Gharb Sehel village. The village and the museum are located in a region known to ancient Egyptians as the Kingdom of Kush; it encompasses southern Egypt and northern Sudan. Many Nubians migrated to the city of Aswan after Lake Nasser swamped much of their traditional homeland when the Aswan Dam was constructed in the 1960s.

Here, we toured the Museum and learned the role it is playing in developing community-based and volunteer tourism to the region.

Mr. Meguid has written extensively on the subject of tourism in the region; to read more click here, where we have re-posted his article: ‘Community Based Eco-Tourism Concept, Characteristics and Restrictions Gharb-Sehel Village, Aswan, Pilot Project’.

As Meguid notes, “Nubian villages surrounding the Aswan City urban area such as Gharb Sehel are a regular stop for foreign tour groups, on half- or full-day boat and bus tours of the Pharaonic, Christian, Islamic and modern landmarks of Aswan. The Gharb Sehel village represents the look and feel of a village of Old Nubia when compared to the government-built concrete homes in New Nubia.”

Although tourism is necessary in this region, Mr. Meguid argues eloquently for careful resource management and small group visitation. An article from the Somali press about the region is available here.

Volunteer Tourism in Egypt is still in its nascent stages; good people to start with if you are researching a trip to Egypt that stretches beyond Pharaonic bounds include Gateway to Egypt, Wild Guanabana and Ashoka.

For even more local travel opportunities, contact the whl.travel local connection in Egypt, with expert knowledge of accommodations, tours and activities, and lots of local hints.

Mineral Spring, seen above from Darjeeling town, India, is located at an lower elevation low and warm enough to enable the growth of various agricultural produce

Two of these values are commitments to traditional agriculture and to protecting the region’s incredible biodiversity. This vibrant ensemble of small farms has been producing high-quality and certified organic Darjeeling tea since 1998 – even competing successfully against large corporate tea companies – without losing sight of the health and long-term preservation of their local environment. All of this is particularly important given the adjacent Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary, whose resident birds and wildlife such as rhesus monkeys, barking deer and Himalayan flying squirrels know no borders.

Ever mindful of the difficulties involved in maintaining traditional ways of life and protecting nature, local farmers have also started harnessing the power of community-based tourism as an opportunity for additional income. The Himalayas and the people who inhabit them have long been powerful magnets to adventurous travellers, particular those interested in rural lifestyles and culture. Now, in Mineral Spring, homestays with locals have been set up, satisfying the desires of both mindful travellers and responsible hosts, the latter eager to share the unique character of their village and local environment.

It’s a win-win situation that brings greater economic prosperity to Mineral Springs and emboldens local efforts to ensure the vigour of the environment.

Foreign visitors enjoy Mineral Spring delicacies as just part of the local hospitality during a farmstay near Darjeeling, India

Homestays in the Himalayas

The Mineral Spring homestay initiative was lauched by Tathagata Journeys, a local tour operator that aims to promote socially responsible and sustainable tourism, and specialises in off-the-beaten-path travel experiences. Born and bred in Darjeeling, the owners are brothers Pravin and Navin Tamang, who are joined by media and marketing manager Yogita Ranapaheli.

“We are all from diverse fields but have one thing in common – love for travel and love for the region,” Pravin explains. “This enables us to work closely together as a team bringing in our own expertise to this wonderful world of travel and remote-community tourism with the participation of local farmers.”

Their goal is to offer travellers overnighting in Mineral Spring some intimate insight into the challenges of daily life in this agricultural community. One important byproduct of visits is to see firsthand how tourism can make a positive difference, so hosts encourage their guests to participate in community activities during their stay. For example, travellers with an interest in agriculture can lend a hand on the farm by harvesting organic produce and learning about permaculture. Others can enjoy cooking traditional dishes at home with the family, or teaching English at the village primary school. Still more options abound for those who wish to take in the scenery during yoga classes, local hikes or down time amongst friendly faces.

Homestays in Mineral Spring. Gallery instructions: + Click on a thumbnail to open a preview. + Click the photo itself to close the preview. + Use the arrows to navigate through previews.

Three traditional village homes and a two-cottage farmstay (the latter operated by Tathagata Journeys) currently host travellers in mountainous Mineral Spring; all accommodations feature private rooms for travellers with Western-style bathroom facilities. In all cases, there is direct involvement with locals interested in participating in the project and benefiting from it.

“I feel proud to be a homestay member letting travellers explore our village,” explains Jangbeer Chettri, a local host and community representative. “We have been part of the premier, organic, small-farmer group since 1998 and a number of buyers from abroad have visited our village, but we did not have proper facilities to accommodate them. Although this idea of a homestay was new, the number of travellers who have come here and stayed with us have experienced a very different rural life in Darjeeling. Their visits and the income they generated have helped us sustain our family, farm and community.”

Plans for the Future

Building upon the success of the Mineral Spring homestays, a new local initiative is targeting the development of infrastructure needed for long-term sustainable tourism in the area.

This new undertaking is one of four projects selected for support by the Geotourism Development Foundation, due to launch later this month, and will receive additional assistance from Tathagata Journeys. The aim is to promote the village as a responsible travel destination sensitive to the needs and qualities of both the local community and environment.

The Mineral Spring Community Collective. Gallery instructions: + Click on a thumbnail to open a preview. + Click the photo itself to close the preview. + Use the arrows to navigate through previews.

Much remains to be done before tourism can begin generating additional revenue for the villagers. In addition to the need for more guest rooms, improvements are required to maintain the local environment, including investment in ‘green’ facilities such as environmentally friendly toilets, solar-powered lighting and water-heating systems, black- and grey-water management systems and rain-water harvesting. Investing in a biogas facility is also being considered; created through the fermentation of biodegradable material – such as manure – biogas is a renewable fuel used to run heating and cooking stoves.

Other important tourism developments underway in Mineral Spring involve training local youth as guides able lead treks and inform guests about local traditions and wildlife; promoting activities such as bird- and butterfly-watching; and getting the word out about volunteer opportunities, permaculture courses, yoga retreats and opportunities for meeting local families.

“The project will promote the people and the place by emphasising the sustainability of actions undertaken and the historical, cultural and biodiversity attributes of the place,” says Navin. “It will build on and supplement the work that is already being undertaken and it will help in improving and further diversifying local livelihoods, creating awareness regarding biodiversity conservation, and appreciation and pride in their natural and cultural heritage.”

The Geotourism Development Foundation (GDF) is a not-for-profit organisation committed to elevating travel as a force for good. It fosters a fairer, safer and more prosperous world by promoting projects that enhance the distinctive aspects of places to the benefit of both local residents and visiting travellers. The GDF funds local community, environmental or cultural projects that link to tourism and derive revenue from visitors. Through tourism development, it aims for ‘win-win-win outcomes’ – sharing the beneficial results of projects with all stakeholders (local communities, travellers and the travel industry) in a manner that enriches better, sustainable and more unique connections between hosts and travellers.

Cynthia Ord can fit her home and office into this suitcase and work from anywhere with an internet connection. She has a few ideas about long-term travels to come.

The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting the principles of ecotourism. Each year, TIES names 10 people as Travel Ambassadors, people selected to spread the word about tourism as a force for positive change.

For the 12 months of 2011, Cynthia Ord has been designated a TIES Travel Ambassador. Ord works with the WHL Group’s media and communications team as managing editor of The Travel Word newsletter. She also oversees Advantage Plus premium website services for the WHL Group.

Ord is happy to take on the mantle of a TIES Ambassador. “I see it as a great framework for action and a great community of people with shared values.” Ambassadors flex their muscles by updating their own wiki pages, contributing to the TIES online publication Your Travel Choice and using other online media tools to spread the word about ecotourism in all its many guises.

On the connection between her dual roles at WHL Group and as a TIES Ambassador, Ord sees nothing but favourable overlap. “I have a passion for travel and I get excited about sharing its benefits with others, including future generations. In both roles, the task is to communicate the tourism ideas and principles we all care about. The goal is to reach people.”

Travel Ambassadors come from all over the world and have a variety of different backgrounds and interests. They’ve all come to understand the relationship between tourism and sustainable development in different ways. One person got involved in ecotourism through a conservation organisation; another already has career experience in destination management and promotion; yet others, including Ord, have recently completed advanced degree programs in tourism and environmental studies.

“I first became interested in sustainable tourism as an industry and a field of study because of what I saw firsthand as a traveller,” says Ord. The experiences that influenced her the most were when she volunteered at an ecolodge in Peten, Guatemala and visited a tourism-funded chimpanzee refuge in Zambia. “In some places, the impacts of tourism become very much a part of the travel experience, for better or for worse. I’ve seen examples of tourism revitalising local economies and creating incentives to conserve natural environments. I’ve also seen cases of tourism gone wrong, even irreversibly. It really can cut both ways.”

One of the most memorable ecotourism experiences Cynthia Ord has had was visiting a chimpanzee refuge in Zambia. It was incredible to see how tourism was helping this organisation.

Ord believes that the best part of the Ambassador role is serving as a reference for people making travel decisions. “People approach me with travel questions all the time. They want to know more about positive-impact travel. I think the most common question I get is about volunteer travel and how to find the kind of great experiences abroad that I’ve been able to find myself.”

Through the work that she does both with TIES and WHL Group, Ord has more and more answers for would-be travellers. “My inbox is always open. Ask away!”

So far, in addition to what she has written for The Travel Word, Ord has contributed three articles to Your Travel Choice:
+ The Tattooed Bunker: Colorful Repurposing in Shkoder Albania
+ Last Chance Tourism? Vanishing Destinations and Tourism’s Role in Saving Them
+ The Happy Planet Index as Travel Guide

Ord also maintains a blog about the impacts of travel and tourism at www.cynthiaord.com.

The field operations of Earth Train, an international youth leadership organization, are located in Panama in the Mamoní Valley Preserve. The preserve is a remarkable area in the center of the Americas on a land bridge teeming with biodiversity and where the separation between the two great oceans is at its narrowest. It is a crucial battleground for the protection and smart use of rainforests for future generations.

Morning fog in the Mamoni Valley Preserve, Panama

“It’s more than just ecotourism,” remarks founder Nathan Gray. “Earth Train hopes to build solid mentorship and guiding models as the foundation to our future endeavors.”  Nathan refers to the mentorship models that are being built in partnership with O.A.R.S, an international river-adventure company. Through this unique partnership, O.A.R.S. guides are providing Earth Train with hands-on training. This past summer, Pierre Lemarchand, Director of Adventure Learning, spent three months with O.A.R.S., learning the technical as well as logistical skills guides need. “You need to be able to make good decisions as a guide on the river, as well as think through details such as setting prices, acquiring the right equipment, meeting customer expectations, transportation logistics, providing customer support. O.A.R.S. brings so much knowledge and experience to the table.”

Graviel, a local hunter, who knows the jungle like the back of his hand, and the Kuna Toniel Edman, co-Director of Adventure Learning, at the Cangandi put-in

Recently, O.A.R.S. guides visited Panama to scout the Cangandi River and map out possible routes for future rafting trips offered by Earth Train. Nathan sees these guides as ‘multipliers.’ “Their potential as a role model is huge – they are multipliers in the sense that what they pass on will be replicated by our guides who will continue to pass on their knowledge to present and future generations.”

The unstoppable determination and passion behind the O.A.R.S. team allow for Earth Train to build on the experiential learning process. “We want to develop inspired and capable guides that unlock the potential of a guest, who are able to evolve with the situation.” Earth Train empowers these future tribal leaders and provides skills that will allow them to preserve and take advantage of what nature has gracefully draped across their lands, to sustain the future of their people as well as other populations. In addition to scouting future routes, Earth Train tested out several extremely lightweight (6 lbs vs. 30 lbs) inflatable kayak prototypes that were built especially for Earth Train by Sheri Tingey, founder of Alpacka Rafts.

George Wendt, owner and founder of O.A.R.S., has seen the loss of many natural resources over the years; it is in part what inspired him to create O.A.R.S. and to partner with Earth Train. “The only way to save these areas is to get enough people going in, who are or will become communicators and champions for these places, to preserve something that otherwise might get sacrificed in the name of progress.” George continues, “Panama is largely focused on logging and converting land into cattle grazing country, however large indigenous people groups own most of the land – it makes sense to train them to become leaders because future generations are at stake.” Pierre remarked, “They say you only protect what you love. We want people to fall in love with the jungle. After living such an incredible experience with Earth Train we hope they will be flabbergasted enough to protect it. If they already have that passion we want to give them the skills to create the change necessary.”

Kayak crafted from local wood sources

For more information visit Earth Train’s website. Earth Train is always interested in hearing from entrepreneurial people with the initiative to further Earth Train’s work; contact them to learn more about their volunteer and internship opportunities.

An exciting opportunity is coming March 13-20, 2011. Earth Train has partnered with Outside Adventure Film School to bring in students interested in learning how to capture the beauty of dynamic landscapes and thoughtful depictions of the local indigenous communities. Read more and sign up here.

You can also donate or become a Forest Guardian.

For even more local travel opportunities in Panama, including handpicked accommodation, tours and activities, contact Panama travel experts Les Tucayettes, your whl.travel local connection.

One major destination in the Golden Triangle is the historic city of Chiang Mai, Thailand. The second-largest city in the country, it is a vibrant gateway to the spectacular northern region. Sitting comfortably at 316 metres above sea level, it is also a vital hub at the heart of a mountainous territory perfect for anyone seeking a cooler climate and opportunities to experience the rich and diverse cultures of the many ethnic minorities who reside in these hills.

Bamboo rafts along the river are one of the many modes of transport offered on tours around Chiang Mai, Thailand

Hilltribe Holidays

As the number of visitors to the Chiang Mai region grows, though, the availability of responsible and sustainable travel options – those looking out for the welfare of local cultures and environments – is a growing concern. Fortunately, there is a broad selection of hotels and a number of tours in Chiang Mai available to conscientious travellers who really want to travel locally.

One such outfit, Thailand Hilltribe Holidays, was established in 2007 by partners Pat and Mel to meet the needs of mindful visitors keen to step into the lives of the tribes that have resided in the area since 300 AD… and to do so in a way that both is an enriching experience for the visitor and makes a beneficial contribution to the local communities.

Pat and Mel (centre), the cofounders of Thailand Hilltribe Holidays, pose with a couple of volunteers

The Thailand Hilltribe Holidays tour along the Mae Song Hon Loop, for example, is a five-day four-night journey that hits the highest point in Thailand and takes in the remote villages of the Lawa and Karen hill tribes. Other highlights include the ancient pagodas and sacred sites of Vispasana and Theravada Buddhism, home-cooked Thai meals, several waterfalls and breathtaking views of the region.

Alternatively, those with less time can indulge in a two-day Undiscovered Hilltribes of Chiang Mai tour, during which travellers live with a hill tribe and visit the amazing sites that form part of the culture.

For travellers passing through the northern Thai city of Chiang Rai, perhaps en route to Laos, the Real Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai tour covers the distance by 4WD, elephant, bamboo raft and ox-driven cart. In the span of only three days, journeyers make their way through scenic mountains, pause at an opium museum and learn about local culture during visits to the towns bordering Myanmar and at an Akha hill tribe community-based tourism project.

Beautiful sunsets like this are part of the daily routine in the mountain hills around Chiang Mai, Thailand

Sustainable Adventures

Just as important as the tours offered by Thailand Hilltribe Holidays is their proven commitment to giving back to the local communities. Care is taken to ensure that every trip makes a positive impact on the places they visit – purchasing locally made products and educating travellers about proper cultural and environmental practices – and several programs are now in place to support the tribes’ own sustainable tourism initiatives, all of which are important additional sources of income for the locals, the poorest of which have particularly enjoyed a marked increase in living standards as a direct result.

Through Hilltribe Homestays, for example, many village families now welcome visitors to stay with them. Their guests become truly immersed in their everyday lives as part of a cultural exchange that is immensely rewarding to both visitors and hosts. Pat and Mel of Thailand Hilltribe Holidays have also organised a Local Youth Tour Guide program through which young aspiring tour guides accompany experienced leaders and learn the values of responsible tourism.

A volunteer English teacher in northern Thailand has a great time at a local school with his eager students

On top of these worthwhile undertakings, Thailand Hilltribe Holidays can organise volunteer opportunities for travellers who wish to work as English teachers in local schools. The children benefit immensely from their exposure to other cultures and a chance to practice their English. Through the growing network of former volunteers and tour guests, the company has even raised funds for rural kids to continue their education.

When asked why they do all this, Mel simply says: “Because we have both experienced how tourism can negatively impact locals and communities. As tourism brings with it tourism dollars, the traditional values of once-peaceful communities started to erode. In particular Pat has seen these negative impacts on northern Thailand, his homeland, and this inspired him to try and change this. We saw how tourism, if managed responsibly, could be channelled in such a way that it would positively and directly help local communities. We are proud of northern Thailand and its beauty and aim to share with travellers this warm and friendly way of life.”

Visit the Thailand Hilltribe Holidays website for more information about their tours and sustainable travel programs in and around Chiang Mai. For accommodation and tour bookings, as well as more information about Chiang Mai, check out www.chiang-mai-hotel-link.com.