Libaran Island Community Tourism

Libaran Island Community Tourism

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Libaran Island Community Tourism

Sandakan, Borneo, Malaysia

Impact

This tourism experience on Libaran Island is led by women who had never worked outside their homes. As they gain new income through tourism, they are also becoming more confident in speaking with travellers. The tour on Libaran Island highlights unique aspects of the community’s culture, environment and handicrafts, allowing the community to celebrate their culture and share it in a new way with guests.

10
community members employed
1,200
community members indirectly benefitting

Critical Need

Libaran Island is known as Borneo’s “Turtle Island” because thousands of Green and Hawksbill sea turtles return to nest here every year. To protect the turtles, the  FOSTER project, which stands for “Friends of Sea Turtles Education and Research”, was initiated on the island.  Being so remote, there are few economic opportunities for locals. Given that it is a nesting site for endangered species,  it is important that local people have the ability to earn an income that allows them to be stewards of this fragile environment, rather than taking advantage of it.  Tourism that fosters conservation as well as economic opportunities were needed to help this community thrive.

Our Involvement

Planeterra provided a catalyst grant to BEST Society, a Malaysian non-profit that has expertise in community development, to build the capacity of community members in Libaran village with the help of staff from a local resort. Community members learned how to improve the quality of their souvenirs made from ocean plastic waste, as well as how to use local plants like the pandanous leaf for weaving and cooking.

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AidChild’s Café & Gallery

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

AidChild’s Café & Gallery

Kayabwe (Equator), Uganda

Impact

In 2002, AidChild was chosen by USAID, the Uganda Ministry of Health, and the CDC as a model for pediatric HIV/AIDS care for the continent. Through this model, AidChild has served thousands of children, and has graduates and students in the fields of education, medicine, pharmacy, fine arts, cosmetology, and engineering. By supporting A.L.I’s businesses, travellers are having a direct and positive impact on the lives of the youth and children in their care.

52
HIV positive youth benefitting

Critical Need

There are approximately 130,000 children under the age of 14 living with HIV in Uganda. These HIV-positive children and youth are in need of support, medical care, and education that enables them to live long, healthy lives—and to transition from “vulnerable” to powerful. The AidChild Leadership Institute (A.L.I.) provides tutoring, leadership coaching, job-skills training, language development, music education, nutrition and wellness support to the older children or “interns” in the organization’s care. AidChild’s Human Development Centre (H.D.C.) is a creation of the organization’s senior interns at A.L.I., offering psychosocial support and innovative pedagogy in early childhood education for 30 babies and children daily.

Our Involvement

As much as 70% of the A.L.I. budget is covered by the businesses under their corporate label, including AidChild’s Café and Gallery, located where a highway crosses the equator line in Kayabwe, Uganda. Planeterra has partnered with A.L.I. and provided them with a grant to upgrade their kitchen, which once struggled to meet the needs of the busy café. A grant has also been given to provide training to the nine staff members working at the café and gallery. 

Planeterra connected the café with travellers from their tourism industry partners, where they have a meal at AidChild’s Café and Gallery, supporting the charity’s sustainable business so that more funds can be channelled towards A.L.I.’s innovative new models of care.

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Laem Sak Tourism Community Enterprise

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Laem Sak Tourism Community Enterprise

Ao Luk, Krabi, Thailand

Impact

Our partnership brings additional income to 450 community members in Ao Luk, allowing local businesses to grow. With improved tourism products, the community is better set up to benefit sustainably from tourism and perform in the niche market of adventure tourism. The community members take responsibility for their fragile environment seriously and are able to bring travellers through ecosystems in a way that is sustainable and is educational.

20
community members directly benefitting
55
community members indirectly benefitting

Critical Need

Laem Sak is one of the hidden gems of Southern Thailand, with its beautiful sea, mangroves, islands, cultural diversification, foods, and rich natural resources. Because of this, the Laem Sak Tourism Community Enterprise was launched in 2014 to allow community members to diversify their income. Unfortunately, the program had limited success in reaching customers, as it is considered to be far away from the typical tourist route. As a community near a fragile marine ecosystem, the community members felt a strong desire to attract visitors as a more responsible way to experience the Andaman Sea.  

Our Involvement

Planeterra partnered with the North Andaman Network (NAN), a local non-profit organization that provides training to small community tourism enterprises in order to upgrade the Laem Sak Tourism Community Enterprises’ tourism experience. This included the purchase of new equipment for marine tours and upgrades that would enable them to receive travellers for active tours that include hiking, biking and kayaking. Planeterra connected the Laem Sak community with G Adventures, who bring their travellers to experience the community through a 3-day sea kayaking experience with locals, and hands-on activities like batik making, sea-grape planting and experiencing local foods. These programs are supporting the women, men and youth of this community, making up 12 microenterprises.

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Soa Zara

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Soa Zara

Ranohira, Madagascar

Impact

Soa Zara and the ITC Lodge employ eight full-time and four part-time staff and their association is made up of five members which include someone from the forestry department and two community members. Soa Zara also works with the local community of Ranohira on a number of community programs that enhance their environmental work. Their “energy tree” project in the town is encouraging the community 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 project will also protect the longevity of the tree-planting project. 

Soa Zara is working to protect Madagascar’s natural environment while empowering its people, and the result will be the reforestation of the area around Ranohira.  This will lead to a renewal of habitat for species like endangered lemurs, but also expand the current ecosystem within Isalo National Park. 

33
people employed
198
Community members benefitting

Critical Need

Madagascar is home to an abundance of plants and animals found nowhere else on earth. However, because of destruction by humans, the island has lost 90% of its original forests, cleared mostly to make way for agriculture and to be used for fuel. This makes deforestation a major issue in Madagascar, and along with it, the vulnerability of many unique animal species.  

L’Association Soa Zara was founded in 2016, and since then they have planted more than 100,000 trees. Soa Zara has two tree-planting initiatives – the first is a project to replant a forest corridor between Ranohira and Isalo National Park, which will create a green corridor for future rescued lemurs and encourage the repopulation of the area’s wildlife. Green corridors are especially important in Madagascar, as the fragmentation of forests means wildlife can’t migrate and breed outside of small groups created because of isolation caused by deforestation.  

Our Involvement

Planeterra has partnered with Soa Zara to create a tree planting activity for travellers staying at the ITC Lodge. Travellers get hands-on planting their own trees in the “green corridor” next to the Isalo National Park, and learn about the reforestation project.

Along with this steady stream of income from the tree planting experience, Planeterra is helping to support Soa Zara’s current washbasin project. In order to protect the nearby river from pollution, Soa Zara is working with the local women’s cooperative 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. This is just one of their many community outreach programs that seeks to bridge the protection of the environment with economic development for the people of Ranohira.

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Penduka

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Penduka

Windhoek, Namibia

Impact

By ensuring a customer base, Planeterra connected Penduka to a reliable revenue stream for their restaurant. An added bonus is that while waiting for their lunch boxes, travellers visit the workshop to learn more about the work done at Penduka, and often shop for souvenirs to bring home. As a result, travellers are also making a difference in the lives of the cooperative’s women and 350 others, who do not work on the property but are contracted out from various villages in rural Namibia.

81
people employed
405
Community members benefitting

Critical Need

Namibia paid special attention to gender equality and women’s empowerment during the formation of the country’s constitution, and significant gains have been made since then, including increased school enrollment for girls, and political representation for women. However, there is still much improvement left to make for women in the country’s socio-economic sphere. The patriarchal nature of many local cultures combined with the impacts of the HIV/AIDS crisis mean women often face an uphill battle, particularly in women-headed households. Employment opportunities, particularly those that take into account the special circumstances of those living with conditions or illnesses such as HIV are needed throughout the country.

Our Involvement

Planeterra has partnered with Penduka, a women-owned-and-run business in the Katutura Township outside of Windhoek, which employs at-risk women, many of whom are living with chronic illness or are differently-abled. Planeterra provided Penduka with a link to more than 1,500 international travellers and assisted them in the creation of a takeaway-style lunch for travellers heading out of Windhoek to explore the rest of the country.

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Kao Thep Pitak

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Kao Thep Pitak

Ban Kao Thep Pitak, Suratthani, Thailand

Impact

The tourism program in Kao Thep Pitak engages women, men and youth. It provides a new income source for community members while also promoting local entrepreneurs. The income from tourism has allowed community members to improve their living conditions.

5
community members directly benefitting
25
community members indirectly benefitting

Critical Need

The Kao Tep Pitak community is located next to a beautiful suspension bridge with a clear view of a heart-shaped mountain – a perfect photo opportunity for travellers. With the support of a Thai national tourism organization, the community set up a community-based ecotourism enterprise providing homestays, meals and tours to travellers in 2014.  Unfortunately, even with their tourism enterprise, most travellers simply passed by the village to take a photo on the bridge. Few travellers came to the community and provided any economic benefits to locals. The association wanted to build a community centre that would allow them to better host guests, but they were unable to raise the necessary funds through tourism.

Our Involvement

In partnership with the North Andaman Network (NAN), who originally supported the creation of Kao Tep Pitak’s tourism association, Planeterra was able to provide community members with training in food and hygiene and improvements to the tourism experience. Further, Planeterra provided a grant to see the completion of a community centre which the association had started back in 2016. The community centre included a dining area, kitchen and restrooms for hosting guests. Through Planeterra’s corporate partner G Adventures, we were able to help them secure a stream of thousands of guests to come and visit the community, enjoy fruit orchards, and enjoy a local southern Thai meal. Community members are also able to showcase local handicrafts to the guests which benefits even more community members.

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Mekong River Homestays

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Mekong River Homestays

Ban Pak Ngum and Ban Huay Tom, Luang Prabang, Laos

Impact

The Mekong Community Homestays have allowed the Ban Pak Ngum and Ban Huay Tom communities to increase employment and income opportunities in the area while sharing and preserving their unique culture. Investments into the homestay’s tourism service have allowed the hosts to receive travellers in a professional manner, setting them up for future growth and sustainable tourism partnerships. Income from this program is used by many families to send their children to school.

25
people directly benefitting
75
community members benefitting

Critical Need

Traditional agriculture and fishing practices in rural Laos are often unable to provide the income needed for households to cover all expenses. Because of this, communities are in need of alternative income opportunities in order to stay in their ancestral villages. Planeterra believes that the travel industry can provide such opportunities for remote areas in Laos, while also providing a platform for a cultural celebration. The Ban Pak Ngum and Ban Huay Tom communities along the Mekong River are made up of three Indigenous communities: Laos, Khmu, and Hmong.  Entering the tourism industry for the first time, the Mekong River Homestays were in need of training to create a meaningful experience for guests and hosts.

Our Involvement

With support from Planeterra, CBT-I (The Thailand Community Based Tourism Institute) and Travel Treasure Laos (TTL), training was conducted for both homestay communities. The topics covered included ways to improve their tourism experience, food and hygiene training, developing new tourism products, interpretation skill-building, and an overview of the tourism industry to better prepare them for success in the future. Planeterra connected them with one of our corporate partner’s G Adventures, to secure a steady flow of travellers to the homestays.

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Tribal Textiles

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Tribal Textiles

Mfuwe, Zambia

Impact

As a true social enterprise, a portion of the proceeds from many of the products made and sold at Tribal Textiles are allocated towards local efforts such as the protection of African wild dogs, or the local Malimba Primary School. As a result, whenever a purchase is made, there are ripple effects felt throughout communities and for local wildlife organizations. Tribal Textiles is also home to the Mango Tree Artisan Market, which showcases the artwork of 15 local artists, and gives them the ability to sell their own locally-made handicrafts on-site.

62
people employed
496
community members benefitting

Critical Need

Zambia is a vibrant flourishing nation in Southern Africa, which has seen recent economic growth, though this has mostly been concentrated in urban centres. Employment opportunities are gravely needed in rural areas, and are perhaps even more imperative for communities which border national parks that hold the country’s precious wildlife. Tribal Textiles, located just outside of South Luangwa National Park, is one of the largest employers in the village of Mfuwe, and because employees and artisans are able to gain income from these opportunities, they are less likely to engage in poaching of resources from the tourist-frequented park. 

Our Involvement

Planeterra works with Tribal Textiles to connect the social enterprise with a larger customer market, which will benefit the workshop’s employees as well as the many conservation and community initiatives that they support in the surrounding area. Planeterra also encourages and has advocated successfully for tour groups to stop and have a meal at Tribal Textiles, which houses the Courtyard Café. The beautiful outdoor café, which serves travellers delicious food and gives them a glimpse of Zambian hospitality, is also run by a local female entrepreneur, Dorica. 

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Make A Difference Homestay

August 21, 2020 Rhea Simms Partners

Make a Difference Homestay

Bohol Island, Philippines

Impact

Through this partnership, 17 homestay families are able to receive additional income through tourism. Since this program began, members have been able to plant kitchen gardens and start chicken farms which provide food to travellers and increased food security to the community. The community has also launched a new MADster Chef program, improving their skills in cooking class delivery for guests

17
homes improved
50
families benefitting

Critical Need

Maribojoc is a seaside community on the island of Bohol. There are 50 families that rely on fishing and farming for income. In 2013, Bohol was hit with a 7.2 magnitude earthquake, followed by typhoon Haiyan which devastated much of the country. During this time, many people in Maribojoc lost their homes. Gawad Kalinga, the Philippines’ largest non-profit organization, works to build homes for marginalized communities across the Philippines. Their social enterprise offshoot, Make A Difference Travel, has helped the community of Maribojoc develop the organization’s first community-run homestay.

Our Involvement

Working with Make A Difference Travel, Planeterra provided funds for training and to support home renovations, converting 17 homes into homestays. The program helped people rebuild their homes, install new washroom facilities, and develop skills in hospitality. Travellers visit and stay in the community, homestays, dine at the local restaurant, and experience a farm tour and mangrove-planting outing.

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Sanon Training Restaurant

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Sanon Training Restaurant

Bagan, Burma

Impact

The training program at Sanon is well known as a “foodie” experience in Bagan. Graduates have gone on to work for organizations like Pandaw Cruises and several international hotel chains. All profits generated from the restaurant are used to fund student’s training, accommodations, uniforms, food, trainers and even a social worker. The Myanmar Youth Development Institute (MYDI) is confident that their holistic training model will result in all students finding employment, helping youth that were orphaned or from difficult family situations pave a future for themselves in the hospitality industry.

30
students enrolled annually
300
households benefitting

Critical Need

Bagan is located in one of the driest areas of Burma. Long dry seasons make it difficult for families to rely on agriculture for income. This leaves families and youth with a need for new, sustainable income sources. Our partners at MYDI are working to do just that, while paving a future for marginalized youth in the process.

Our Involvement

MYDI started the Sanon Training Restaurant in Bagan as a means to provide accessible hospitality training for youth in the region. This restaurant employs 30 marginalized youth every year, providing them the training and education they need to succeed in the hospitality industry. The youth are also provided with room and board during the training period. A major focus of the training is practicing verbal English skills to better accommodate international travellers and set these trainees apart from other hospitality workers. Once the students have graduated, Sanon goes beyond to provide two years of mentorship to the graduates, helping them find a job and succeed in the workforce. Planeterra provided Sanon with a small grant to purchase a television in their dining hall to better communicate with travellers and showcase their impact.

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+1(416)263-4671
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Canada Not-for-Profit Corporation Number: 793488-2, US 501 (c)(3) public charity, EIN 83-1619668