Projects > Travelers' Philanthropy Pioneers

In this section, Travelers' Philanthropy would like to recognize several tourism operators who have become worldwide leaders in destination philanthropy, and who stand as examples to us all of the power of organized giving. Following are summaries and interviews highlighting their philanthropic efforts to date.

Intrepid Foundation

Q: Why did Intrepid Travel first become involved in destination philanthropy?
A: Since Intrepid Travel began in 1989, we have always had a commitment to giving back to our destination communities. The establishment of The Intrepid Foundation (a separate entity) in 2002 was a way of bringing our many philanthropic activities under one umbrella. It was also to help our travellers support overseas projects they learn of while travelling with Intrepid; to increase the support to these projects; to give clearer accountability and transparency; and to give more consistent community support a step removed from the business.

Q: How much do you raise each year for Philanthropic goals?
A:$140,000 - $290,000 a year.

Q: What has been your greatest philanthropic success? What is your company most proud of?
A: The response to some of our special appeals has been extraordinary. Our Asian Tsunami Appeal raised AU$225,000 and our Indochina Appeal for Mike raised AU$60,000 for 5 children's charities in Indochina, in memory of former Intrepid group leader Mike Matsushita who was tragically killed in the London train bombings. We're also proud of many of the achievements of the Community Project Fund - such as the difference our English teaching project at the base of Mt Kinabalu has made for the vocational opportunities for local people; for the training of many former street kids in hospitality and life skills at KOTO in Hanoi; and for the 270 young Chinese girls who dropped out of school that have been able to return to primary school for 3 years through the Spring Bud Plan. These are just 3 examples of how funds raised by the Intrepid Foundation have brought success.

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America Share, Micato Safaris

www.micato.com

America Share was founded by Micato Safaris as a way to give something of lasting value to the poorest children in East Africa. Micato’s guests have for years proven themselves as more than just tourists on holiday: they have turned America Share into an organization that currently assists over nine hundred children in orphanages East Africa. With their donations of clothing, new shoes, infant care items, medicine, blankets, school supplies, and toys, these committed travelers have given hope, joy and increased opportunity to generations of East African children.

Fully funded by Micato Safaris so that 100 percent of all donations go directly where they are needed, America Share has now designated five institutions for their support. America Share has recently expanded their operation to allow Micato’s guests an even more personal involvement, with a sponsorship program to underwrite the cost of school fees, school uniforms, room and board for the neediest children who have demonstrated a commitment to rise above the devastation into which they were born. The remarkable children are placed in reputable boarding schools in Nairobi and, for the first time in their lives, begin to thrive both academically and emotionally.

With the increasingly obvious difficulties for developing countries in today’s world, Micato and America Share feel more than ever the need to give something back, to make a positive difference for people living in the areas where we bring visitors.

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Friends of Africa Foundation

www.friendsofafricafoundation.org

“Ultimately conservation is about people. If you don't have sustainable development around these (wildlife) parks, then people will have no interest in them, and the parks will not survive.” - Nelson Mandela

Africa’s wilderness areas and the wildlife they sustain are precious, but endangered resources. Conservation programs and responsible ecotourism play a role in preserving them, a vital purpose in Africa’s future and the prosperity of its people.

But for conservation to succeed, the needs of rural communities must be met, so that conserving the wildlife that surrounds them becomes an invested interest whereby all community members are responsible and all play an imperative role.

Friends of Africa Foundation’s (FAF) goal is to improve the lives of rural communities bordering conservation areas in Southern and East Africa. FAF’s purpose is to bring together an international community of individuals interested in conserving Africa’s wildlife heritage through empowering its people. Formed in 1999, FAF is a tax exempt 501 (c) (3) organization, offering its donors this benefit.

FAF carries out its mission utilizing the capabilities of Africa Foundation who are based in South Africa and whose purpose is completely aligned.

Africa Foundation was founded by - and works closely with - partner Conservation Corporation Africa (CC Africa), in the communities surrounding the conservation areas where they manage over 35 eco-tourism camps and lodges, in Southern and East Africa’s wilderness areas.

CC Africa is committed to the principles: “Care of the Land, Care of the Wildlife, Care of the People”. Thus, for 14 years, Africa Foundation has been implementing many successful community empowerment projects in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Kenya and Tanzania. Separate to the work of Africa Foundation, CC Africa has many independent staff focused betterment programs, some of which include: Positive Health (a program designed to prevent the increase in HIV/Aids infected staff members and to promote general well-being) and the employment and up-skilling of individuals from the communities alongside the reserves, whereby many of their families benefit from the ripple effect it causes.

Many of these individuals are trained in hospitality management and many have gone on to become award-winning chefs and expert rangers.

Africa Foundation’s projects are identified through needs analysis studies and community-generated proposals. Africa Foundation provides project management, administration, donor relations, implementation expertise and monitoring and evaluation for Education, Health Care and Income-Generating Programs.

CC Africa, FAF and Africa Foundation share the belief that the wisest utilization of our wild places is through the development of sustainable ecotourism with reciprocal benefits – both for our guests and for the rural communities living in and alongside our rich wildlife heritage.

Africa Foundation is an independent registered non-profit organization in South Africa and has Public Benefit Organization (PBO) status. They are governed by an independent Board of Trustees, and have been audited annually by KPMG since our inception.

“On the one hand we were devastated to see the deprivation that still exists in many rural communities ten years into South Africa’s democracy, on the other, we were delighted to see that something is being done about it, through Africa Foundation." - Archbishop Emeritus Desmond, Patron of Africa Foundation

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Lindblad Expeditions

www.expeditions.com

Galapagos Conservation Fund (GCF): Since its inception in 1997, the GCF campaign has raised over $2 million in donations from Polaris guests for priority conservation projects. The GCF has addressed a number of initiatives such as the eradication of feral pigs, the establishment of an environmental education center for local populations and maintenance of the National Park's only patrol boat to protect the marine environment from illegal fishing.

Teachers Aboard program in Galapagos: In conjunction with the Charles Darwin Research Station and Metropolitan Touring, Lindblad Expeditions initiated a program to bring all local teachers in Galapagos on board Polaris voyages. This enables the teachers to experience the various islands outside their local community and learn about the role tourism plays in education and conservation.

Alaska Whale Foundation (AWF): In 2000, Lindblad Expeditions launched a campaign to support Alaska Whale Foundation research on the humpback whale population in Southeast Alaska. The campaign has raised more than $125,000 in donations for AWF, and Lindblad gave in-kind support plus 10% of sales from Randy Puckett whale sculptures.

Oceanites: In an effort to bring active scientific research into the guest experience in Antarctica, Lindblad Expeditions established a working on-board relationship in 2000 with the non-profit foundation Oceanites (pronounced Ocean-eye-tees). Nearly $200,000 has been raised for Oceanites from our guests.

Opening Hearts Project: On Lindblad Expeditions voyages to Copper Canyon, the Opening Hearts project was initiated in 1997 to support a very remote village of the Tarahumara Indians. The project has successfully built a school dormitory so young Tarahumara students in the region can participate in a basic education program and also regularly delivers medicine and other supplies for survival to this isolated region.

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Myths and Mountains

www.readnepal.org

In 1987, Dr. Antonia Neubauer founded Myths and Mountains, a cultural travel company with a sense of global responsibility. After a trek in Nepal, Toni asked her Sherpa guide what he would do for his village if given the opportunity. "Build a library," he responded. In 1991, a team of porters carried 900 books and a card catalogue over 11,800-foot Lamjura Pass and READ-Rural Education and Development-opened its first library. Since then, READ, a 501(c)(3) corporation, has built 35 libraries from one end of Nepal to the other, with five more in progress during 2005.

What started as a simple library with a support project has evolved into a network of self-sustained community centers with libraries at the hub that have become a nexus of village life. Through a proven, innovative approach to micro-funding and community development, these READ centers encourage independence rather than dependence on foreign aid, generate income that not only supports the library but funds other community activities, provide jobs for local people and revitalize local communities.

The project is community generated and community owned. With technical assistance from READ's Nepali operations staff in Kathmandu, the villagers form a library management committee, raise at least 20 percent of the necessary funds, and select an income-generating project to sustain library operations. For about $30,000, READ designs, builds and furnishes a library; stocks it with 3,000-5,000 books (mostly in Nepali), builds a children's section, trains the librarian and funds the sustaining project. These projects include ambulance services, furniture factories, storefront rentals, computer training, and even a rickshaw service. Some projects are successful enough to support other community activities, such as pre-schools, dental clinics, adult literacy programs and scholarships for poor children. Funds for the libraries are raised primarily from individuals and private foundations with an interest in Nepal.

Because of READ, nearly 500,000 rural villagers now have access to Nepali magazines, newspapers, books and learning tools, and modern, comfortable facilities in which to enjoy them. READ has established the Nepal Community Library Association, so that librarians and villages can network among themselves and stay current with the world. The program is also increasing literacy rates among women, helping rural students pass school leaving examinations and building a market of readers for Nepali writers and publishers. The project is carefully monitored and has been evaluated and praised by the Nepali government.

READ Nepal is a beta site for those who would like to establish similar programs in other parts of the world. READ would be happy to consult with interested parties and share the "best practices" that it has tested and proven over its 14-year existence.

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