As travel evolves, the experience of simply skimming over the surface of a destination and seeing it only through the eyes of a traveller is no longer enough. Spending longer in a destination and participating in responsible community initiatives can add a highly insightful and rewarding dimension to your travels. Whether you a are travelling on your own or with your children, understanding the challenges faced by people living in the places you are visiting - or the threats posed to the ecosystems there - engenders deeper connections, and has the potential to make your sabbatical a truly life-changing one.
INDIA
Support street children in Delhi
The Salaam Baalak Trust has been supporting street children in India’s capital city for over 30 years, with initiatives ranging from shelter homes, day centres, mobile schools and other educational activities. You could choose to join a volunteer programme at one of Salaam Baalak’s centres, but if you are only planning a short visit to Delhi you can still play your part by joining a city walk guided by former street children. Guides are adolescents who used to live on the streets of Delhi but are now fully trained in guiding - and are desperate to improve their communication skills. They will show you hidden corners of Delhi far from the tourist trail, explain the important work of the trust - and all profits generated by the walking tours directly support Salaam Baalak’s work.
VIETNAM
Improving life in rural Vietnamese communities
Daily life in rural Vietnamese communities can still be incredibly challenging, and sometimes a relatively small gesture can make an enormous difference. Our local team support a number of initiatives across the country where you can learn about traditional ways of life in rural Vietnam, and support a family with a gift that will make a meaningful improvement to their future livelihood. In Hue, for example, donate a cow to a family of farmers in a community where cattle play a vital role in providing milk and working the land. Or, in the Mekong Delta, donate a sampan riverboat to a family which will provide a sustainable livelihood for years to come. Families without a sampan in these rice farming areas find themselves completely cut off from daily life, unable to transport goods to market or ferry their children to school; during your visit to the community you will be able to witness first-hand the difference your gift will make.
SOUTH AFRICA
Conservation in action
In the Eastern Cape of South Africa, the Kwandwe Rhino Conservation Trust plays a vital role in the protection and recovery of the black and white rhino population in the region. Visitors to the Kwandwe reserve can join a dedicated rhino conservation safari programme, during which they can learn about the threats facing rhino populations across the country, from large-scale poaching to the disappearance of natural habitats. They can also assist the conservationists in their rhino tagging activities, clipping tail hair for DNA, taking blood tests and learning more about the vital work carried out by the anti-poaching team.
In the Madikwe Reserve, similar hands-on conservation activities can be arranged as part of Morukuru’s ‘safari with a purpose’ programme. On an average day you may observe elephant collaring, rhino notching, big cat tagging or visit the local school in Molatedi village and perhaps participate in an interactive project with the children. All of these activities complement the classic safari programme that is already included in your stay.
PERU
Children’s education in the Andes
Located in picturesque heart of Peru’s Sacred Valley of the Incas, a beacon of light delivers a brighter future for children living in extreme poverty. The Sol y Luna Foundation was set up in 1998 with a view to providing care and education to children living in impoverished conditions in the Sacred Valley. Having spent the first ten years of the foundation’s existence supporting local schools, founders Petit and Franz decided to set up their own school. Since then, their passion and dedication for the project – as well as income generated by the Sol y Luna hotel – has enabled the school to go from strength to strength, and it now educates over 150 children from remote corners of the valley, as well as providing them with nutritious meals, medical and dental care, clothing, shoes and counselling services.
The school was later followed by Paqari, a centre for disabled children, as well as the Sol y Luna home, an orphanage for children coming from a background of abuse or violence. Guests visiting the Sol y Luna school can choose to help out in the classroom with activities and games with the children. Alternatively, they can simply enjoy a tour of the school and its beautiful location, perhaps making a small donation to support a child’s meals or education. Longer volunteer programmes are also available.
BRAZIL
Jaguar conservation in the Pantanal
Widely regarded as one of the most successful conservation programmes in Brazil, the Onçafari programme - run in partnership with the team at Caiman Lodge in the Pantanal - was recently featured in the David Attenborough narrated documentary for the BBC. Running since 2011, the programme follows the principle of developing ecotourism as a means of protecting precious natural habitats of endangered species, generating income, raising awareness and promoting conservation. Over the years the project has thrived in a remarkable way, with Onçasafari now operating scientific research programmes as well as educational activities across Brazil, all playing a vital role in the conservation of jaguars and their natural habitats. Guests visiting Caiman lodge can join a dedicated Onçasafari programme and follow the team in their work tracking and monitoring the rehabituated jaguar population in the area, as well as learning more about their vital conservation work.
NEPAL
Support women and children from marginalised communities
To the south of Kathmandu in Dhanushadham municipality, an inspiring NGO called SAATH carry out a wealth of outreach projects and initiatives designed to provide education, empowerment and vocational training to those living in the region’s marginalised communities. If you have skills to share, visits to the communities can be arranged where you can lead workshops for women or children on anything from basic household repairs (such as changing a lightbulb) to self-defence or business skills such as how to create a PowerPoint presentation. Those not looking to be quite so hands-on can still support SAATH in a variety of other ways, from the purchase of sewing machines, backpacks and education materials for school children to the sponsorship of a variety of vocational workshops.
MALDIVES
Junior marine biologist programme
Observing the kaleidoscopic underwater world of the Maldives’ dazzling atolls and reefs is enough to capture the imagination of any child. At Six Senses Laamu, however, this enthusiasm in the young is being channelled in a very clever way to make marine conservationists of the future. During sessions with the Maldives Underwater Initiative, young visitors can conduct science experiments and participate in guided snorkelling activities, designed to educate in a lively and interactive way. If their imagination has been truly captured – or if you would like to engage your children before they even arrive – time at the resort can be complemented by a 10-week online programme which offers mentoring and plenty of engaging activities, designed to deepen understanding, develop skills and lead to a qualification as a Junior Marine Biologist at the end of the course.
