Communities

Meet our Newest Community Partners

Tourism, when done right, has the potential to break down barriers and engage underserved communities in meaningful, life-changing ways. However, often, due to factors such as limited resources, language barriers, or other challenges, local communities miss out on the job opportunities and income that the tourism industry offers, even when they reside near popular destinations.

Planeterra is on a mission to change this situation by connecting these communities to the benefits of tourism. In line with this commitment, we are excited to share that we have established partnerships with the following community tourism enterprises over the past year:

GoodWork Foundation_planeterra

Good Work Foundation – Hazyview, South Africa

The Good Work Foundation (GWF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to training local youth in technology, conservation, Tourism, and Hospitality. It offers valuable opportunities within the tourism sector to young individuals residing in villages adjacent to the Kruger National Park. Each year, GWF provides complimentary training to 25 youths, facilitating their transition into employment opportunities within hotels and lodges in the region.

Learn more about their work, here.

Safi Kitchen_Jordan_Planeterra_P100

Safi Kitchen – South Ghawr, Jordan

Safi Kitchen is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving local culture and natural resources while promoting the southern region of the Jordan Valley (Ghawr) as a year-round tourist destination. The primary beneficiaries of this initiative are local women and youth who face limited financial opportunities within their communities. They actively engage in an authentic farm and meal experience, showcasing their traditions and culture through food.

Learn more about their work, here

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Yimsoo CafeBangkok, Thailand

Yimsoo Cafe is a social enterprise established to generate income to support the Universal Foundation for Persons with Disabilities to run its program that helps people with different abilities, empowers them and voices out through the community that they can do anything they set their minds to accomplish.

Learn more about their work, here

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Lady Tuk Tuk Driver Association – Siem Reap, Cambodia

Lady Tuk-tuk Driver is a non-profit organization, formed in 2022 to empower women to break stereotypes, to be more confident and be able to work in the tourism industry, providing local transportation called Remorque in Khmer” to improve their livelihood. The income from tourism allows this group of women to establish a sustainable business model and support themselves and their families.

Learn more about their work, here.

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Funtasia – Luxor, Egypt

Funtasia is a local NGO that focuses on developing life skills and social consciousness among young people in the West Bank of Luxor. As part of their efforts, Funtasia has developed an afterschool program that teaches art, communication, and social skills to youth. It particularly focuses on providing high school graduates during their gap year(s) before college with capacity building, income, and exposure to working in the tourism sector. The youth in the villages around the Valley of the Kings lead a bike tour experience.

Learn more about their work, here

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D’danau Homestay – Kota Belud Sabah, Malaysia

D’danau is a beautiful community homestay located in Kota Belud Sabah, Malaysia, an ideal place to get away from the hustle and bustle of big cities. They provide accommodation, cooking classes, a natural fish spa, and other activities. D’danau’s mission is to promote their culture and way of life, protect the environment and enhance their livelihood.

Learn more about their work, here

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Ban Ou Community Tourism – Luang Prabang, Lao PDR

Ban Ou is a small village comprising of 60 families whose livelihoods revolve around farming, fishing, and traditional crafts such as silk and cotton weaving, bamboo weaving, and blacksmithing. The village is situated between picturesque mountains and the Mekong River. Tourism helps them to improve the living conditions and job opportunities of local people.

Learn more about their work, here.

Zoológico Mágico

Asociación de Mujeres Artesanas Zoológico Mágico – Oaxaca, Mexico

This newly formed cooperative was founded by 13 women who want to preserve the Zapotec culture and the cherished artisanal process of creating alebrijes, a local cultural heritage. Their workshop is a haven of fantasy and art, where they breathe life into various animal creatures they can imagine. Each piece is meticulously crafted with their own hands, skillfully combining vibrant colors that enhance the beauty of the wood.

Learn more about their work, here

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Tinkuy Community Tourism – Cuyo Chico community, Sacred Valley, Peru

The Cuyo Chico community, situated in the Sacred Valley near the well-known city of Cusco, is dedicated to preserving its rich traditions. In a collective initiative, 12 families from the Ricchariy Association of Cuyo Chico joined forces to create Tinkuy. This local enterprise provides cultural experiences and valuable income opportunities, particularly for women who previously had to leave their families to seek employment elsewhere.

Learn more about their work, here

How Planeterra Provides Support to Our Community Partners

Here are some of the ways in which Planeterra connects communities to the benefits of tourism:

  • Providing Grants: We provide financial grants to help communities kickstart or expand their tourism projects.
  • Training and Mentorship: Through training and mentorship, we empower community members with the skills and knowledge needed for success in the tourism industry. Members of the Global Community Network also have available resources from the Planeterra Online Learning Hub, which fosters continuous learning.
  • Infrastructure Development: In some cases, Planeterra funds the creation of new infrastructure and enhancements to existing facilities, preparing community tourism enterprises to host travelers effectively.
  • Marketing Partnerships: Through collaborations with our corporate partners, we facilitate marketing connections. This ensures that communities have a consistent income from tourism, making it a sustainable revenue source.

These efforts extend beyond profit; they are about fostering positive, enduring change. Planeterra is committed to making an even more significant impact worldwide in the future. The question is, will you join us?

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Unfolding Nepalese Women’s Entrepreneurial Journey

Written by Aayusha Prasain, CEO, of Community Homestay Network
Despite various challenges women in Nepal face, travel and tourism provide them with more opportunities for empowerment and entrepreneurship than any other industry, giving the sector increased responsibility for the advancement of women.

When we hear the word entrepreneurship attached to women in Nepal, the first thing that comes to mind is all the barriers they might have to overcome while pursuing, scaling and sustaining it. These are not just ideas that come to us subconsciously; access to resources and opportunities for women due to the patriarchal structure of society plays a vital role in shaping these thoughts. 

Although women make up 51.04% of the population in Nepal (Census Nepal, 2021), they are not considered equal workers in the economy. Sadly, women tend to be marginalized and discriminated against for access to education, employment opportunities, and property ownership. In addition, the legal framework and policies also affect the control of productive resources like land, forest, credit, and technology. 

According to Nepal’s 2011 census, only 19.71 % of women have asset ownership. Women in Nepal are often associated with subsistence agriculture or work with a huge pay gap. My experiences of working with the communities and the different studies have shown women facing difficulties rising above from the subsistence or lower-paying jobs to high-productivity sectors. 

Women are also disadvantaged because they tend to have inadequate time managing both the demands of their business with domestic tasks – and have lower literacy levels, particularly in developing countries like ours. Along with these challenges, the attitude towards working women creates more obstacles, and as a result, there are few successful women entrepreneurs in developing countries. 

The question is, how do we change that?

According to the UN Global Report on Women and Tourism 2010 by World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and UN Women, tourism also promotes women’s leadership more than other sectors of the economy. 

Since its establishment, Community Homestay Network has been one of the social enterprises in Nepal that encourages local women to take the lead in managing their enterprises (community homestays) while offering authentic experiences to travellers. 

Testimonies from the women running community homestays have shared that one of the benefits of interacting with travellers has been learning about different cultures. While they also emphasize the importance of paid work and their contribution to their families well-being, many women entrepreneurs within our network often mention gaining confidence through interactions with travellers. 

Women hosting travellers Panauti Community Homestay, Nepal

They have stated that running homestays have made them more aware of the hygiene and cleanliness of their homes and the surroundings. The hosts of Panauti Community Homestay, the first women-run Community Homestay of Nepal and the flagship product of Community Homestay Network, often express that the economic gain has helped almost every women entrepreneur in their community to strengthen their social networking skills as well as amplified their voices towards community development as a whole. 

Networking plays a crucial role in entrepreneurship. Compared to men, women in traditional societies have less advantage in building networks resulting in limited information about markets and NGOs or government organizations’ support mechanisms. This is probably caused by restrictions on women’s freedom of movement in the public sphere. In such cases, women with strong family support participated actively in requesting additional assistance from the organization, as well as demonstrated leadership abilities.

Another challenge women in (the rural areas of) Nepal face is the lack of access to credit and financial services. This often limits them to start and expand their businesses and also, according to Bushell (2008), creates a dependency on their male counterparts. 

We have been working with hosts of community homestays (mostly women) within our network to have bank accounts in their name to overcome such challenges. Along with our impact partners like ICIMOD and Planeterra, we are actively trying to encourage women entrepreneurs to break the biases. 

In Barauli, we were proactively engaged to establish the bank accounts in women’s names, although this created friction at the beginning due to the conservative mindsets of a few locals. Proper communication and opportunities that could be created through financial independence paved the way for change. 

Walking through the villages in Barauli Barauli Community Homestay, Nepal

As empowerment means different to different women, we should not try to put women in the same basket while unfolding women’s entrepreneurship. 

For some, it might be interacting with the travellers, but for some having a separate bank account, though shy to interact with outsiders, might be the first step to building confidence. In this sense, tourism has also provided women in developing countries the chance to engage themselves where they would not be directly forced into moving out of their houses to start something new to prove the notion of empowerment and success. 

Running community homestays has also helped them use the skills and knowledge (household management) that they have been doing for years to manage the enterprise. This would build confidence in women and help them receive direct financial benefits. 

Despite advancements for women, the tourism industry cannot blindside the persisting inequality inside its sector. Women are paid less, engage in work that receives less money, and are underrepresented in certain tourism occupations and management levels. The issue of overtaking the enterprise once it is successful has also been one of the bottlenecks for women to foster in their entrepreneurial journeys. 

Although the legal registration of the enterprise is in the woman’s name, there is also a tendency to take over the enterprise when it starts to become more successful. Regarding this phenomenon, Brenda Bushell, in one of her studies, has cited women as surrogate entrepreneurs.  

For the economic development of any country, the government, private sector and other relevant stakeholders cannot just capitalize on half of its human potential. Various studies show that organizations that include women on their boards or as decision-makers have their staff performing better in terms of profitability, creativity, and sustainability. Hence, the prospect of a gender-equal society as a whole is promising. 

As a social enterprise, we are doing our bit to change the overall entrepreneurial environment for women. Still, meaningful partnerships among and between relevant stakeholders play a crucial role to develop and strengthen women’s entrepreneurship and leadership.

Aayusha Prasain, CEO- Community Homestay Network

About the author:

As the CEO of Community Homestay Network (CHN), Aayusha is working towards strengthening the organization while streamlining and scaling the impact of tourism across communities. Along with her team at CHN, she also works towards bringing local actors into the tourism value chain and promoting responsible and inclusive tourism. 

Visit www.communityhomestay.com to learn more about CHN’s work.

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Planeterra’s work in 2022

Planeterra continued to be at the forefront of community tourism in 2022. As travel restrictions were lifted, we were thrilled to receive images and videos from our partners as they welcomed back travellers after shutting down due to the pandemic. But the road to recovery has not been easy for everyone and a great part of our work in 2022 was focused on ensuring that communities are able to benefit from tourism once again.

We continued supporting community tourism enterprises through our Global Community Tourism Network (GCTN). In 2022, our team hosted several Community Hours and monthly Webinars, both in English and Spanish, and we continued providing ongoing support and mentorship for community tourism enterprises through our Learning Hub.

To date, 450 community members from 77 different countries are part of the GCTN🌎

One of the major highlights of last year was the launching of the Global Community Tourism Fund. This is a grant program that supports growth and recovery for community tourism enterprises within the GCTN through small grants and mentorship. Each of the recipients received a flexible grant to support initiatives such as infrastructure upgrades, equipment purchases, marketing, training and more.

Read more about the first projects supported by the fund, here.

Over the past year, our team collaborated for the first time with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in the ‘Sustainable Tourism and Protected Areas in a Post-COVID World’ project, funded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The goal of this project was to bridge the gap created by the pandemic on tourism and develop a more crisis-resilient and sustainable landscape in and around protected and conserved areas. The focus was also on building back better for the people, wildlife and ecosystems, as well as improving the ecological and social aspects of tourism.

Planeterra and IUCN worked in the Río Abiseo National Park and Amarakaeri Communal Reserve in Peru and Cuc Phuong National Park and Van Long Nature Reserve in Vietnam. Our team in the field first worked with community members in each protected area to understand the current situation of tourism, provided training in topics such as ecotourism, health & safety, and marketing and deployed a series of initiatives, one of them being the cash for work activities, to benefit community members. 

Read more about some of the outcomes of the project in Peru and Vietnam.

Dos de Mayo Community, Río Abiseo National Park
Dos de Mayo Community, Río Abiseo National Park

Planeterra closed 2022 granting wishes with our annual holiday campaign, The Wish List. This year, the goal was to help our community partners fully recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and to support them in getting ready to welcome travellers once again and benefit from tourism. 

To create more impact, the Wish List focused on uplifting five critical areas:

We are thrilled to announce that the Wish List campaign was a success and it surpassed our goal of raising CAD 50,000! Thank you to everyone who donated and supported us throughout the campaign. Without you, none of this would have been possible.

To close off, we would like to celebrate the awards and recognitions Planeterra received in 2022. Our Global Community Tourism Fund, through which Planeterra provides small grants to help local entrepreneurs and communities worldwide benefit from tourism, was recognized in Condé Nast Traveler’s first-ever Bright Ideas in Travel list (read more about it, here). We were also humbled to receive the Meaningful Tourism Award 2022 in recognition of our commitment to creating a new approach to tourism (click here to learn more about it).

We would also like to give a shout-out to our partners who received recognition for their inspiring work:

And with this, we come to the end of some of Planeterra’s work in 2022. In the next couple of months, we will be releasing our 2022 Impact Report, so do not forget to subscribe to our newsletter to be the first one to read it. Also, follow us on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to learn more about our work and all the exciting things we have in store to continue using community tourism to change lives in 2023 and beyond.

As we look forward to the new year, we are excited to be celebrating Planeterra’s 20th Anniversary! Twenty years of working to uplift communities and to show that tourism, when done right, can truly be a force for good.

Stay tuned for more exciting announcements about our anniversary. If you would like to be part of the celebration and have visited one of our partners over the years, share your favourite #PlaneterraMoment with us by tagging @planeterracares on Instagram or send us a message with the link to your post.

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Environmental Protection

Did you know that over 70% of Planeterra’s project partners invest a percentage of their profits into environmental protection ensuring income from travel positively impacts local conservation efforts?

Around the world, communities are working to protect their surrounding ecosystem which serves as both a resource and a home. Planeterra believes that tourism should help improve environmental well-being for the benefit of communities instead of degrading or misusing their natural resources.

Responsible tourism has proven to have the potential to support conservation efforts, mainly by creating awareness and providing communities with resources, helping them to move away from engaging in environmentally-destructive activities such as logging or illegal hunting just because they cannot find other means to survive.

Planeterra supports programs that positively impact their communities by conserving the natural environment for future generations to enjoy, such as our program with Soa Zara.

Soa Zara seeks to protect Madagascar’s natural environment while empowering its people, and the result is the reforestation of the area around Ranohira.  They work with the local community on a number of environmental initiatives, such as the  “energy tree” project, which encourages locals to grow and use trees solely for the purpose of firewood and charcoal (like fast-growing acacia and eucalyptus) and to discourage the cutting of forests. This will lead to a renewal of habitat for species like endangered lemurs, and also expand the current ecosystem within Isalo National Park. 

Planeterra has partnered with Soa Zara on a tree-planting activity for travellers staying at the ITC Lodge. They also create awareness by giving visitors the chance to learn about this reforestation project.

Soa Zara Ranohira, Madagascar

Along with this steady stream of income from the tree planting experience, we are also helping to support Soa Zara’s current washbasin project to protect the nearby river from pollution. For this, they work with the local women’s cooperative, the goal is to create a washbasin station and water filtration system in Ranohira, which will allow the community to do their laundry in a safe environment without polluting nearby water systems.

Another interesting environmental initiative is Mi Cafecito, a tourism and agriculture co-op in Costa Rica. They have used the production of delicious organic coffee, amongst other local root vegetables and cacao, to create employment opportunities as well as connect local farmers and artisans with a market to sell their products.

Planeterra supported the development of the Mi Cafecito program, which includes a coffee tour and a meal experience at their on-site restaurant, and other related tourism services in the area. Hosting travellers has been an opportunity to make their business sustainable.

Over the years the cooperative has obtained several certifications, all of them showing their commitment to improving the environment, taking care of the land, using organic fertilizers, supporting farmers and fostering entrepreneurship.

Mi Cafecito Sarapiqui, Costa Rica

Like Soa Zara and Mi Cafecito, there are many community tourism businesses working to protect the environment, however, COVID-19 made it difficult for them to have the necessary resources and facilities to continue hosting travellers.

This is the case of Osmose, a non-governmental organization dedicated to the environmental preservation and the socio-economic development of the Prek Toal area, located in the Tonle Sap UNESCO Biosphere reserve in Cambodia. They created several floating structures: a Saray water hyacinth handicraft workshop, an environmental education school, and a community restaurant all connected by a floating bridge to welcome travellers, but they need maintenance and repairs.

Having no income from tourism due to COVID-19, they had to use their savings for emergencies and there was not enough left to pay to repair the floating structures. Planeterra has supported the renovation of some of the various platforms. However, the community is in need of additional resources to complete these repairs so that it is safer for staff and visitors to the area.

Osmose Prek Toal area, Cambodia

Part of building a sustainable future for all includes being mindful of the decisions we make today. We support communities by providing the mentorship, training, and skills they need, in addition to facilitating the market connection for their projects to be successful. 

We want to continue giving them the tools to protect the places they call home and that we all love to visit. If you’d like to support our work, consider donating to Planeterra today.

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New Paths for Youth

Did you know youth in many parts of the world still have limited access to formal education and fewer job opportunities?

You probably did, but why is that a problem? Young people help build the present and shape our future. Whether this future is sustainable or not, will depend on the decisions made not only by our generation but also by the next. Needless to say, we have to give youth the tools and support they need to create positive life paths and unleash their power.

Developing skills to work in industries such as tourism and hospitality provides them with exciting opportunities and empowerment. Planeterra is proud to support programs that help at-risk youth develop new skills and create a better future for themselves and their communities. 

Take Bike with Purpose, a student-led bicycle tour of Caye Caulker Island, Belize, for instance. We developed this project in partnership with the Ocean Academy, the first and only community high school on the island that opened in 2008 to give students a decent education. Before the academy opened, the youth had to travel to the mainland to study, so by the age of 12 many have chosen to quit school and find work.

Today there are 125 students enrolled in Ocean Academy and 25 of them are directly involved in the Bike with Purpose project. As the local economy of the island has shifted to aquatic sports, tourism and hospitality services the youth involved in the project develop the skills and training needed for future employment opportunities. Further, the project has reduced the school dropout rate. 

Bike with Purpose Caye Caulker, Belize

To support Bike with Purpose, Planeterra raised donations to fund needed bicycles and other materials. We also connected them to our tourism partners, creating a constant stream of travellers. Nowadays, Bike with Purpose also funds nearly 15% of the educational programs for the students at Ocean Academy.

Another great example of youth empowerment is  City Walk run by Salaam Baalak Trust, an organization that provides safe housing, counselling, education, and support to over 5,000 children in New Delhi, as well as managing five safe homes across the city.

India has the highest concentration of street children in the world, with more than 18 million kids living on the streets. Without adequate shelter and care, children often suffer from malnourishment and do not have access to formal education and medical treatment. Likewise, without support from family, they are left to fend for themselves, entering the labour market at an early age. Many are vulnerable and forced into child prostitution, drug trafficking, or resort to begging to earn an income for their exploiters.

That is why Salaam Baalak Trust’s work is so important. Through City Walk, they give youth the opportunity to gain a new set of skills, improve their communication skills (including learning English) and boost their self-confidence. 

Youth lead tours and show travellers a different perspective of Delhi. At the same time, the interaction with visitors from across the globe exposes them to different points of view. Since its inception, over 33 guides have been part of this program. Eighteen former guides have completed their higher studies from universities in India and the US with scholarships; and today are entrepreneurs, working in travel companies, interning at the Indian Parliament and Indian railways, and studying to be development sector professionals. 

City Walk New Delhi, India

Planeterra helps the City Walk program by connecting them to the tourism market, allowing them to have a reliable stream of income to support their education and social service work. This is crucial since funds from the City Walk program are used to provide scholarships and job placements for youth, as well as resources for the shelters. 

Our wish is to continue supporting programs like City Walk and Bike with a Purpose. We can’t do it without you! Donate today and help us build a sustainable future for youth through community tourism.

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Conserving Cultures

Did you know that lack of awareness can contribute to the loss of invaluable cultural heritage?

The cultural diversity of our world is one of our greatest treasures. However, we have sadly seen how traditions, languages and cultural practices are being lost because indigenous and rural communities are oftentimes forced to change their ways of life.

Losing this heritage would mean losing invaluable knowledge that has shaped our identities and ways of relating to people and the environment for centuries.

Tourism can help preserve traditions, foster cultural awareness and strengthen identities and sense of belonging. Responsible travel experiences broaden our horizons because we interact with people from different backgrounds and learn about their ways of life. At the same time, by travelling, we can help improve the quality of life of many communities worldwide.

Planeterra supports programs that recognize the unique offerings that indigenous and rural communities have for tourism. We help to create meaningful connections between travellers and indigenous people through social enterprise. 

Over the years we have seen that conserving cultures through tourism is possible and it can empower local people to improve their livelihoods by sharing their heritage. 

The Ccaccaccollo Women’s Weaving Co-op, for instance, is a great example of how communities can use tourism as a tool to protect and preserve natural and cultural resources while expressing, sharing, developing, and pursuing traditions.

Ccaccaccollo is an Indigenous community located in the Andean region of Cuzco, Perú. Despite being close to a popular tourist attraction, Machu Picchu, Ccaccaccollo did not benefit from tourism. Also, like many communities around the world, women were frequently excluded from educational and economic opportunities.

Ccaccaccollo Women's Weaving Co-op Sacred Valley, Perú

Planeterra funded training programs to help bring back the weaving traditions that had been lost over the previous generations as there wasn’t a way to earn a significant income. When we first developed a partnership with the women in the Ccaccaccollo Community, the cooperative was run by only 3 women – today, the cooperative is owned by 46 women. 

Through our partnership and a connection to travellers, the Ccaccaccollo Women’s Weaving Co-op has been able to contribute to their families’ income. The women who have been with the project since the beginning report that all of their children study at university. Those involved in the cooperative are the first generation to be completely literate in Spanish. 

And with the success of the Co-op, they have also grown their enterprise and opened a Community Homestay.

Another inspiring initiative is the San Antonio Women’s Cooperative. This project was born from the desire of the women in San Antonio village (Cayo District, Belize) to preserve the Mayan Yucatec culture and revive aspects like the language that was being forgotten. They also wanted to find a way to earn an income, empower women and inspire the children and youth.

Planeterra provided a grant to the San Antonio Women’s Co-op which allowed them to build an indoor workshop space. The new space has increased the center’s capacity to host many more travellers and has given them added space to safely house their products. This space also resulted in the cooperative being able to add a training program for unemployed youth in the community so that they too can benefit from tourism.

When travellers visit the San Antonio Women’s Cooperative, they learn about corn grinding and tortilla making and get a chance to try their hand at ancient pottery-making techniques.

The women in San Antonio are proud to share their traditional knowledge not only with visitors but with the younger generation. Their great work was recently recognized as the best “Cultural Experience of the Year” by the Belize Tourism Board.

San Antonio Women’s Co-op San Ignacio, Belize

We want to see more projects like the Ccaccaccollo Women’s Weaving Co-op and the San Antonio Women’s Cooperative thrive. Nevertheless, with challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic arising, the barriers are higher (yet with your support, not impossible!).

This is the case of the Lusumpuko Women’s Club in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. They started as a group of chicken-rearers who also occasionally cater to church and local community gatherings. With Planeterra’s help, they’ve shifted into also hosting a cooking class for local travellers. 

This has allowed them to rediscover their cultural history as they create dishes from their memories with their parents and grandparents. Likewise, it has given them the chance to continue learning about tailoring, catering, and animal husbandry, traditional trades that were reserved for men, creating income for their families and communities while empowering other women to build and launch their own businesses.

But they suffered the same fate as many tourism businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Having no travellers visiting them meant no income to continue implementing much-needed improvements to the equipment they use to prepare food, the core of their business.

For the Lusumpuko Women’s Club to continue providing delicious meals for travellers and locals, we need your support to help them with renewals and repairs to their stoves and other equipment. 

If you’d like to “get a taste” of what it is like to be hosted by the vibrant women at Lusumpuko, you can see them towards the end of this video, at the 10 minutes mark. Fun fact shared by Evie, Planeterra’s Regional Program Manager AMEE:

This is Lusumpuko every day, they are so vibrant and happy to receive travellers. It also helps that their food is amazing!! Especially the caterpillars

Lusumpuko Women’s Club Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Planeterra wants to continue seeing projects like Lusumpuko Women’s Club improving the livelihoods of their communities while celebrating and conserving their culture. If you feel the same way, consider donating to Planeterra today.

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Women’s Empowerment

Did you know that although women make up over half of the tourism workforce, they are often underpaid and have limited opportunities to move into higher positions in their jobs?

At Planeterra, we work to change that by empowering women to take the lead in the development and growth of tourism experiences. Over the years, we have seen how the work of women has not only had a positive impact on their lives but also on the well-being of their communities. This, as a result, contributes to creating more stable and just societies.

We are proud to have supported inspiring projects that seek to empower women all over the world. One of them is Women With Wheels, in New Delhi, a project that is challenging cultural norms and paving new paths for women across India. Our ground partner, Azad Foundation, works with disadvantaged women from resource-poor urban areas across India to empower them to become professional commercial drivers.

Women with Wheels New Delhi, India

A few weeks ago, we hosted the Women’s Leadership in Tourism webinar. Towards the end, we had the honour to hear Bubblyi, one of the drivers the program has supported, talk about her experience. When she started the training seven years ago, she was scared as she was not aware of the routes in New Delhi. Looking back to her first day, Bubblyi remembers crying when it got dark because she felt she was not going to be able to find the way back home.  

Fast forward to today, Bubblyi now drives with confidence, even at night. Travellers have complimented her skills several times as they can see first-hand how challenging it is to drive on India’s chaotic roads. Bubblyi also became a team leader, with responsibility for ten women under her watch and she even drives to other cities (this is a huge deal!). 

Bubblyi takes pride in what she does and her ability to financially support herself and her family. Moreover, she has inspired other women from her community to join the training and become drivers as well. 

Our wish is to see more projects like this thriving and to have more women taking on leadership roles in their communities. But what do we need? For instance, a change in mindsets and opportunities.

By providing life-changing access to education, job training (both in business acumen and soft skills) and mentorship, Planeterra has been able to provide women with opportunities in the tourism sector. But in addition to that, there are other needs for women-owned businesses to succeed.

Take the example of Princess Sewing Cooperative, a women-run business that focuses on tailoring services in the Victoria Falls township of Mkhosana, Zimbabwe. Planeterra provided extensive business training as well as lobbying for the cooperative to become a laundry supplier for local tour groups visiting the area. 

Providing laundry services made it possible for women in the cooperative to increase their income, meaning they could afford school fees for their children, complete their studies and lead an above-average economic life. However, COVID-19 slowed down their business tremendously as there were no travellers in need of their services. In addition to this, they are in need of new equipment including water tank pumps to store water for laundry due to water shortages in the township, and a dryer.

Princess Sewing & Laundry Co-op Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Help women-led businesses like Princess Sewing Cooperative prosper and benefit from tourism again. Consider donating to Planeterra. Your support will allow us to continue empowering women all over the world.

Together, we are building a more sustainable future for women!

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Tourism Recovery

Did you know that while travel is steadily returning, the impacts of COVID-19 on communities involved in tourism are still being felt?

It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic put a hold on tourism worldwide. Having no visitors for months, and in some cases years, meant tourism businesses had to look for alternatives to survive because let’s face it, bills still needed to be paid.

For Planeterra, it has been difficult to see the projects our community partners started with so much enthusiasm coming to a halt. The return of travellers brings hope to communities all over the world. Over the last few months, we’ve seen travellers having cultural immersion tours in Baracoa, Cuba or enjoying the hospitality of the community at Hill-Tribes Trek in Thailand once again (learn more about our partners who have welcomed travellers this year, here).

However, this is not the same fate for all of our community partners. AFER Women’s Association HomLunch in Morocco, for instance, began the construction of a kitchen before the pandemic started. They hoped to use it to prepare and serve a delicious traditional lunch for locals and travellers. Sadly, when COVID-19 hit, they had to stop the construction and prioritize expenditures in other areas. Having the kitchen construction unfinished means travellers cannot visit them and thus, the community can no longer benefit from tourism.  

AFER Women’s Association HomLunch M’Haya, Morocco

Our partners Puesta del Sol, an association led by women in the community of La Paloma, Nicaragua, are facing a similar situation. While they’ve put efforts into their community homestay program, the fact that they had to close for almost three years due to COVID-19 has prevented them from investing in much-needed equipment to better host travellers, such as new mattresses, and sheets, among others.

These are only two of the many examples that showcase the need to focus on getting communities “back on their feet” so they can build a stronger, more sustainable, and resilient tourism economy. In other words, before we can invest in the future of tourism, we need to invest in the recovery of our community partners. 

We need to make sure they have all the resources and facilities they need to welcome travellers again, and also provide mentorships and facilitate access to training material so they feel confident and empowered to get back in the game.

Puesta del Sol Association Ometepe, Nicaragua

Planeterra’s wish for this holiday season is to continue supporting the recovery of projects like AFER Women’s Association HomLunch and Puesta del Sol. We want to see them enjoying the benefits of tourism as they did before the COVID-19 pandemic, do you also feel the same way?

Donate to Planeterra’s Wish List today. With your continued support, the potential is infinite!

Click here to learn more about the Wish List.

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The Wish List 2022

Web - The Wish List

Planeterra believes that community tourism, at its very best, can break down barriers to engage underserved communities in meaningful, life-changing ways. It is our wish to see our partners and local communities benefit from tourism, but there are still challenges to overcome, especially after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With travel steadily returning, we are hopeful for the future of tourism and all the opportunities it will bring. For that reason, Planeterra has launched its year-end giving campaign, the Wish List, to raise funds for community enterprises around the globe.

Planeterra’s holiday wishes for 2022

Women’s Empowerment

Women make up over half of the tourism workforce and yet they are often underpaid and have limited opportunities to move into higher positions in their jobs. 

We wish to see women thrive in their communities, redefining their roles in society and having the financial freedom and opportunities that they deserve but so rarely get in the tourism industry.

Learn more, here.

AFER Association HomLunch
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Conserve Cultures

Lack of awareness can contribute to the loss of invaluable cultural heritage. Creating meaningful connections between travellers and local communities through social enterprise helps preserve cultures.

We wish to support Indigenous and rural communities who want to show the world their unique offerings and use tourism to celebrate and protect their culture rather than harming it.

Learn more, here.

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New Paths for Youth 

Youth in many parts of the world have limited access to formal education and fewer job opportunities. 

We wish community tourism enterprises working to create new paths and opportunities for at-risk youth in their communities are uplifted for years to come.

Learn more, here.

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Environmental Protection

Around the world, communities are working to protect their surrounding ecosystem which serves as both a resource and a home. By supporting programs that positively impact the environment, future generations can also get a chance to enjoy our planet’s natural resources.

We wish to see a travel industry filled with community enterprises with access to the support they need to protect and conserve their ecosystems through responsible travel.

Learn more, here.

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Tourism Recovery

While travel is steadily returning, the impacts of COVID-19 on communities involved in tourism are still being felt. 

We wish for our community partners to receive the grants they need to recover from years without an income so that we can make sure communities aren’t left behind as tourism restarts.

Learn more, here.

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Thank you for helping Planeterra grant wishes this holiday season! 

The Wish List Campaign kicks off on #GivingTuesday (November 29, 2022) and officially ends on December 31. This year, Bruce & Roula Poon Tip have generously offered to match donations up to $25,000 to create double the impact!

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The transformation behind a donation

Written by Julia Pitcher – Communications and Development Coordinator

Planeterra is proud to have such an amazing base of supporters contributing to ensuring tourism dollars remain in the hands of local people. With thousands of donors over the years joining us in protecting the environment and empowering women, youth, and Indigenous and rural communities.

If it wasn’t for our network of supporters we wouldn’t have been able to help develop 100 community tourism enterprises and get them ready to enter the international market with our partners. We wouldn’t have been able to give over 500 communities access to our one-of-a-kind online training resources and facilitate peer-to-peer learning.

In 2022, we wouldn’t have been able to start our Global Community Tourism Fund which saw grants going to 7 communities needing a hand up as they got ready to welcome travellers. Donations over the last year have enabled our team and partners to join forces yet again, helping community tourism enterprises recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and continue turning travel into impact.

It feels amazing to be able to share the transformation behind these donations. In the last year, our donors have enabled our team and partners to join forces, helping community tourism enterprises recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and continue turning travel into impact. Here are just a few examples of what supporting Planeterra looks like on the ground. 

In collaboration with The Mongolian Down Syndrome Association, No Limits Cafe provides job skills and employment for young adults with down syndrome and their mothers.

In the past, they were left out of skill training and shunned due to societal norms, leaving them unable to access employment opportunities. Planeterra has been able to provide training and equipment upgrades, increasing the Cafe’s reach even more.

With the new equipment, the cafe can now host and gain an income from travellers, providing coffee and homemade snacks. Planeterra shared technical training resources helping the mothers and youth feel more confident than ever in their abilities.

We are so excited for when they will receive their first travellers from our partner, G Adventures, bringing in sustainable income for their inspirational work.

No Limits Cafe
Zoológico Mágico

Zoológico Mágico, an Indigenous, women-owned-and-run cooperative is celebrating the Zapoteca culture in Oaxaca, Mexico.

In the area, there are 24 traditional artisans who make authentic Alebrijes, a traditional wooden figure. Unfortunately, fake copies of the art are on the rise at shops in the main tourist hub, increasing the risk of losing this traditional skill in favour of the more abundant and cheap alternative.

With contributions from our supporters, we are all working to strengthen the preservation of Alebrijes and provide employment opportunities for Indigenous women fighting against the commodification of their culture. 

This includes grants to be able to improve their workshop facilities, not just as a storefront, but to host travellers for an authentic handicraft experience. Through one-to-one mentorship, Zoólogico Mágico was also able to further develop their business and connect to the international market.

This support means that travellers will soon get to experience the cultural heritage of famous Oaxacan artisans and know that their visit is bringing long-term sustainability to the women-run cooperative.

The Museo Comunitario Isla Maciel is a community group of teachers, students and parents supporting community development and well-being in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  

Our donors have helped make sure Planeterra is able to partner with this inspiring organization working together to achieve their goals of breaking the stigma associated with their neighbourhood. While providing youth with opportunities to gain skills in tourism and connecting them to the global marketplace. 

Through investing in the development of a new kitchen, training programs and the group’s ‘Paint Your Island’ project, Planeterra increased the capacity of local infrastructure to host travellers. Now, visitors will be taken on a community tour with newly trained youth guides showcasing beautiful murals painted by local artists, and hear the inspirational story of how they are working together to better their community while combatting social discrimination. 

We love sharing the positive impact our supporters have on the development of sustainable livelihoods around the world, it goes to show that when we work together, the potential is infinite. Community changemakers like No Limits Café, Zoológico Mágico, and Museo Comunitario Isla Maciel are just a few of our partners that donors have supported.

Our Global Community Tourism Network has now connected over 500 communities just like them, all working hard to use tourism to change lives. 

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