Cafe Ubuntu

Cafe Ubuntu

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Café Ubuntu

Nakuru, Kenya

Impact

“I am deeply passionate about enabling others who may not have hope, because my own life is a testimony that it is possible to rise from the ashes. After joining Ubuntu, my life was never the same again. I finally felt at home, after having been discriminated against in my native community because of my son’s condition. I have five children between the ages of 12 and 29. Mike, my 15-year-old, has special needs. Before joining Ubuntu, I worked menial jobs to earn some income. Then Ubuntu taught me to sew. I had no prior training in the trade, but over the course of one year, I learned. We created things from scratch. And I harnessed these new skills and it helped change my life exponentially. I became part of the growth and development of Ubuntu Made. I now have a great sense of purpose. I have a renewed hope for making a better future for my children.” – Alice Njeri, one of the Ubuntu Makers

400
people directly impacted
1,200
community members indirectly benefitting

Critical Need

Maai Mahiu town is located along the major tourist and trade route in East Africa.  This route is also known as the AIDS Highway due to the truck drivers who travel it propelled the spread of the disease. As adults become ill or die, they leave an ever-growing population of orphaned or abandoned children to fend for themselves on the garbage-strewn streets.  These hardships along with the communities roughly 80% unemployment rate makes it extremely difficult to build and empower themselves and those around them. The Ubuntu Team realized that lasting change begins with creating jobs, and building opportunities that empower the local community to take ownership of their own lives so that they can begin building a brighter future for their families and the wider community.

Our Involvement

Our ground partners, Ubuntu Team, empower communities and create jobs through social impact businesses in Kenya, including Ubuntu Made, Ubuntu Cafe, and Ubuntu School. Our corporate partners support Ubuntu Made and Ubuntu Cafe by incorporating a visit to the Cafe in their Kenya tours. Through intentional purchasing decisions, our corporate partners are helping provide a customer base for the Ubuntu Team, which, in turn, offers jobs for marginalized women in Kenya. Travellers enjoy a complimentary meal at Ubuntu Cafe and have the opportunity to shop for locally and internationally sold products as memorable and impactful souvenirs. These social businesses also support Ubuntu School, which addresses injustices affecting the community of children with special needs by providing therapy, education, and vocational training.

Related projects

Good Work Foundation
Moshi Mamas
Maasai Clean Cookstoves
Nyamirambo Community Tour
Read more

Mto wa Mbu

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Mto wa Mbu Cultural Tourism

Monduli, Tanzania

Impact

Mama Yusuphu and her family, including Aziza, pictured below, are cooks who host a meal that is part of Mto wa Mbu’s tour of the area. Visitors eat a traditional meal cooked and served at one of the host families in the village, allowing many households to benefit from the tours. The benefits from Mto wa Mbu’s community tourism initiative are invested back into community development projects like sanitation projects for the local schools. They also run a training program, where youth pursuing a career in tourism can shadow tours while they are studying at university.

475
people employed
2,380
community members benefitting

Critical Need

Nestled in the Monduli district outside of the Tanzanian city of Arusha is the community of Mto wa Mbu, meaning “river of mosquitos.” In a country where the unemployment rate hovers just above 10%, Mto wa Mbu Cultural Tourism Enterprises is providing jobs to locals, including women, in an innovative and sustainable way that celebrates local culture and heritage. Boosting the economies of villages and towns near national parks also increases the protection of the environment, biodiversity and curbs urban migration and loss of culture and heritage. The Mto wa Mbu people are successfully celebrating their heritage and people while protecting the valuable natural resources and wildlife alongside which they coexist.  

Our Involvement

Planeterra works alongside Mto wa Mbu Cultural Tourism Enterprises to monitor the positive effects of tourism on the village, which runs multiple experiences for travellers such as bike tours, cultural experiences, and delicious meals.

Along with empowering community members through employment and economic opportunities through an influx of visitors willing to purchase goods such as handicrafts, Mto wa Mbu also has a Village Development Fund. This means a portion of the funds raised through tourism are invested back into the area for improvements to schools, sanitation and water.

Related projects

Good Work Foundation
Moshi Mamas
Maasai Clean Cookstoves
Nyamirambo Community Tour
Read more

Life Monteverde

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Life Monteverde

Monteverde, Costa Rica

Impact

The majority of conventional tourist destinations displace farming culture. In the case of Monteverde, agrotourism has become an alternative to integrate the best of both economies. Life Monteverde is a local leader for this model of agrotourism. Agrotourism also facilitates commercializing specialty coffee at a fair price for Life Monteverde and 10-12 local coffee growers, which allows for a better wage and social services for seasonal and permanent staff. 

Life Monteverde was started by three farming families in 1990, which later grew to create a union of 12 families dedicated to sustainable coffee production, agriculture and education on sustainability. With the growth of the association came the opportunity to benefit the larger community. Today, these 12 families benefit, but so do more than 15 families of permanent staff, more than 40 seasonal workers and the 12-15 neighbouring farms that are also part of Life Monteverde’s coffee production. In addition, 10 more families are involved in a homestay program for study abroad students.

Life Monteverde has a mandate to educate both the local and international community about their work. The organization provides tours free of charge to local school groups, and subsidized tours for Costa Rican university students. They also host thousands of international school groups and visitors each year. 

400
people directly impacted
1,200
community members benefitting

Critical Need

Rampant deforestation in the 20th century left Costa Rican farmers with infertile soil and terrible growing conditions. Recognizing the mistake of this deforestation, the government began implementing policies that encouraged conservation and the preservation of healthy ecosystems in the early 1970s. Later, during the late 80s and early 90s, Costa Rica also promoted a national system of conservation areas, integrating national parks and other protected forests with the surrounding community. As a result, Costa Rica is now known as a global leader in sustainability. 

However, climate change threatens to derail the hard work done to encourage organic agriculture, create national parks, and promote ecotourism. There exists a need for grassroots organizations and companies, like Life Monteverde. Life Monteverde works to promote conservation and the preservation of natural resources and educate locals, students and international tourists about the need for sustainable practices. 

Our Involvement

Through Planeterra’s partnership, we connected Life Monteverde to travellers who are now able to learn about sustainable practices and farming during their visit. This additional revenue for Life Monteverde has increased their income so they are able to grow their educational programs for local schools and students.

Related projects

Good Work Foundation
Moshi Mamas
Maasai Clean Cookstoves
Nyamirambo Community Tour
Read more

San Antonio Women’s Co-op

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

San Antonio Women's Co-op

San Ignacio, Belize

Impact

The San Antonio Women’s Co-op was formed by a local San Antonio Women’s Group made up of nine Mayan women, with a goal to “empower women and inspire the children.” The women started the cooperative to find a way to earn an income, learn new skills, and share their traditional knowledge not only with visitors but with the younger generation. 

The success of the tourism business has resulted in the cooperative employing nine more women and supporting 11 local artisans.  The cooperative created a community fund, to sponsor girl’s education and have since sponsored the education of two girls who have recently graduated from high school.

24
people directly impacted
144
community members benefitting

Critical Need

The village of San Antonio, a community of 3,500 people in western Belize, has its roots in Mayan traditions and currently practices subsistence agriculture. The average household has seven children, and as in many cultures around the world where resources are scarce, education for women is not prioritized. Girls often go without attending school beyond primary levels. Government support is not easy to access, and so mothers rely on other forms of income to help support their children’s education and send their daughters to high school. With little education, many girls and boys find themselves unemployed at an early age, perpetuating a cycle of poverty.

Our Involvement

Planeterra provided a grant to the San Antonio Women’s Co-op (SAWC), which allowed them to build an indoor workshop space. The new space has increased the centre’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.

While at the cooperative, travellers try their hand at ancient pottery-making techniques with a group of Mayan artisans, enjoy a delicious home-made lunch, and have a chance to purchase pottery and other crafts made by the women in the community.

A woman makes tortillas over an open stove

Related projects

Good Work Foundation
Moshi Mamas
Maasai Clean Cookstoves
Nyamirambo Community Tour
Read more

Bike with Purpose

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Bike with Purpose

Caye Caulker, Belize

Impact

“I am deeply passionate about enabling others who may not have hope, because my own life is a testimony that it is possible to rise from the ashes. After joining The Ocean Academy school opened in 2008 as the very first and only community high school on the island of Caye Caulker. As a result, more than 90% of students are enrolled in school. Many of the students are the first in their families to attend high school. Today, there are 125 students enrolled in Ocean Academy and 25 students 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.

22
people directly impacted
132
community members benefitting
Bike with Purpose_Planeterra

Critical Need

On the remote island of Caye Caulker, students often have to travel to the mainland to receive a quality education. This barrier leads many by the age of 12, to choose to quit school and join the workforce. Nation-wide, only 50% of secondary-aged youth are enrolled in school. Prior to the opening of Ocean Academy in Caye Caulker, only 35% of students continued past primary school. The local economy on the island was based on fishing and boat building and lacked other opportunities for the community. 

Our Involvement

In partnership with Ocean Academy, Planeterra sought to create a student-led bicycle tour of the island, that is now called Bike with Purpose. Planeterra raised donations to fund needed bicycles and other materials. Planeterra also connected Bike with Purpose to our tourism partners, creating a constant stream of travellers. Bike with Purpose funds nearly 15% of the educational programs for the students at Ocean Academy.

Belize Caye Caulker Bike with Purpose_Planeterra

Related projects

Good Work Foundation
Moshi Mamas
Maasai Clean Cookstoves
Nyamirambo Community Tour
Read more

Mi Cafecito

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Mi Cafecito

Sarapiqui, Costa Rica

Impact

Mi Cafecito is a successful tourism and agriculture co-op which has created many employment opportunities for members of the community as well as connected local farmers and artisans with a market to sell their products, significantly improving the economic development of the community. Mi Cafecito continually develops new touristic experiences for their travellers. Nowadays, they also sell coffee and other artisanal projects online.

30
people directly impacted
90
community members benefitting

Critical Need

In 2009, San Miguel de Sarapiqui, Costa Rica was affected by a massive earthquake. The collapse of the main road left this community with no access to services or customers for several years. As a result, they were unable to access the opportunities that other regions were receiving from the growth of the tourism industry in Costa Rica. In 2011, the CoopeSarapiqui cooperative established the Mi Cafecito Coffee Tour to try to find ways for the coffee producers to earn more money. While it was a good idea, in theory, they did not receive enough visitors to sustain the business and were at the point of shutting down when Planeterra began working with them to develop a sustainable enterprise.

Our Involvement

Planeterra worked with a small community coffee cooperative to develop the Mi Cafecito program, which includes a meal experience at their on-site restaurant, and other related tourism services in San Miguel de Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. As the town’s main cooperative, Coopesarapiquí brings together more than 200 small farmers that produce organic coffee from the four regions of San Carlos, Sarapiqui, Heredia and Alajuela. In addition to the coffee tour, they farm fish for fresh lunches for their visitors. Through training and the connection to Planeterra’s tourism partners, the cooperative was able to triple revenues in the first year of operation.

Related projects

Good Work Foundation
Moshi Mamas
Maasai Clean Cookstoves
Nyamirambo Community Tour
Read more

Posadas Mayas

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Posadas Mayas

San Juan la Laguna, Guatemala

Impact

Through all of the tourism initiatives in San Juan La Laguna and the interconnectedness of all the activities, there are 47 families directly benefiting, but over 400 people indirectly benefiting from tourism. This translates into more access to education and scholarships, improving local infrastructure and training more people in the community in ways of doing sustainable and responsible tourism. The members involved with Posadas Mayas have developed an environmental education program that has been integrated into the local schools’ curriculum, benefiting around 2,000 members of the community.  Topics include waste management, reforestation, and community cleanups. As a part of this program, they plant around 2,500 trees every year.

47
families directly impacted
400
community members benefitting

Critical Need

95% of the 10,177 inhabitants of San Juan La Laguna are Indigenous Mayans of the Tz’utujil ethnicity. The local economy is based on the cultivation and export of coffee by private producers, with community members working as labourers. Most men practice agriculture, while many women work as weavers. Local employment opportunities are extremely limited and many people travel several hours to the cities to find work, many spending several days away from home to be able to provide for their families. This area of Guatemala has strong Indigenous roots and they continually strive to protect their culture and the environment. 

Our Involvement

Planeterra worked with the San Juan La Laguna community in Lake Atitlan to develop a homestay program and visitor centre for groups. This provides access to the tourism market for the small town that had traditionally lacked access to opportunities in tourism. Initiatives related to the homestay program include small businesses that support the tourism industry and the environment. 

These projects aim to increase income for the Tz’utujil people, conserve their cultural heritage and support the long-term health of the local environment. The program is now supporting over 100 additional people in related micro-enterprises that include a Mayan art gallery, multiple weaving co-ops managed by women, coffee and chocolate co-ops, as well as local honey producers.

Related projects

Good Work Foundation
Moshi Mamas
Maasai Clean Cookstoves
Nyamirambo Community Tour
Read more
Two women stand outside homestay

Puesta Del Sol

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Puesta del Sol

Ometepe, Nicaragua

Impact

Puesta del Sol has created new job opportunities which has strengthened the economy and quality of life of La Paloma. This has created access to formal education for the members of the Paloma community. They have also developed a series of training programs related to tourism and new tourism initiatives. The Association has created a community fund that allows them to provide scholarships, support the elderly and invest in community infrastructure (local school, local park and others).

18
people directly impacted
300
community members indirectly benefitting

Critical Need

Job opportunities are scarce on the island of Ometepe, which forces many people to emigrate to find work and be able to support their families. The Puesta del Sol community association was founded by women in the community to provide more job opportunities and better the quality of life for the people on the island.

Puesta del Sol received funding from foundations previously in order to develop a homestay program and a community center in their village. However, there were never enough customers to sustain the businesses. Community homestays are often in remote areas and lack the ability to market their services, resulting in little revenue. 

Our Involvement

Planeterra Foundation worked with the community of La Paloma on Ometepe Island to strengthen the homestay program and visitor center for groups. This provides a stable income to a small village that has traditionally lacked the opportunity to benefit from tourism.  Planeterra helped introduce Puesta Del Sol to tour operator G Adventures to help provide a steady stream of travellers. 

Puesta del Sol Association Ometepe, Nicaragua

Related projects

Good Work Foundation
Moshi Mamas
Maasai Clean Cookstoves
Nyamirambo Community Tour
Read more

Mesilou Atamis Homestay Association

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Mesilou Atamis Homestay Association

Kundasang, Borneo, Malaysia

Impact

The Mesilou Atamis Homestay Association is managed primarily by the young generation in Mesilou who have returned home to create income from tourism. The program not only provides a new source of income, it also highlights sustainable projects locally, like the organic fruit orchard and the aquaponics farm. Through the regeneration of this tourism experience, and connection to a customer base of international travellers, the community feels they are able to shine again after many years of not having the opportunity to share their culture.

23
families directly impacted

Critical Need

Mesilou Atamis Homestay Association was registered in 2014 with 20 homestay families. Located at 1600m above sea level, the homestay is popularly known as the “The Highest & Coldest Homestay in Malaysia.” In the past, Mesilou Atamis Homestay showcased unique traditional and cultural activities to guests, but over time became more like a home rentals service through demand from the domestic tourism market. A homestay once created as a way to showcase their local culture had lost its connection to cultural celebration and immersion. 

Our Involvement

Planeterra provided a catalyst grant for Mesilou Atamis Homestay (MAH) to undergo a training program by BEST Society, a Malaysian non-profit that has expertise in community development. MAH received training to improve their homestay operation, with a focus on creating new tourism activities that allow travellers to experience and connect with the local culture. 

Related projects

Good Work Foundation
Moshi Mamas
Maasai Clean Cookstoves
Nyamirambo Community Tour
Read more

!Khwa ttu San Cultural Centre

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

!Khwa ttu San Cultural Centre

Cape Town North, South Africa

Impact

The ||Kabbo Academy takes on approximately 30 students per year for their seven-month program, with a combined total impact that spans approximately 150 dependents across a number of countries in Southern Africa. The implementation of the sustainability training into the ||Kabbo Academy has helped the graduates learn practical skills that they can implement at home. Having international travellers and a new educational tour has also given the graduates and !Khwa ttu staff the opportunity to interact with more international travellers, and practice their English and public-speaking skills.

40
people employed
400
community members benefitting

Critical Need

There are currently around 113,000 San scattered across six countries in Southern Africa, whose ancestors are the earliest visible inhabitants of Southern Africa. The San are increasingly thinking of themselves as ‘First People’ or ‘Indigenous People’, a step that aligns them with the histories and empowerment of ‘First Peoples’ around the world.

Like many other ‘Indigenous People’, the languages, cultures and home ranges of the San are under very considerable threat from the fast changes to their world. They are now amongst the most marginalized and poverty-stricken peoples in Southern Africa.

Our Involvement

Planeterra worked with their partners at G Adventures to help the staff at !Khwa ttu and their trainees at the ||Kabbo Academy to develop a one-of-a-kind tour which will not only educate travellers about San culture and language but will also include information about how the training program is changing lives. Planeterra also provided !Khwa ttu with a grant to be used to enhance the organization’s “Green Team”, adding additional sustainability training into the ||Kabbo Academy, which graduates can implement in their home regions.

Related projects

Good Work Foundation
Moshi Mamas
Maasai Clean Cookstoves
Nyamirambo Community Tour
Read more
Contact
19 Charlotte Street, Toronto, ON
M5V 2H5, CANADA
+1(416)263-4671
More info
Social media
Newsletter sign up

Canada Not-for-Profit Corporation Number: 793488-2, US 501 (c)(3) public charity, EIN 83-1619668