Mekong River Homestays

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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Linkage_Planeterra

LinkAge

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

LinkAge

Yangon, Burma

Impact

The LinkAge Training Restaurant gives hope for a new future for youth. With the skills training and social support provided through the program, youth are setting themselves up for successful careers in the hospitality industry. Transferable skills, like English lessons, help to set these at-risk youth apart from the rest, helping them achieve stability and independence in Yangon.

18
students enrolled annually
130
households impacted
Linkage_Planeterra

Critical Need

Myanmar was an isolated country for five decades, only recently re-opening its doors to the outside world. This is a time of opportunity for youth in the country that was not available to them in the past – but this doesn’t come without challenges. During the military occupation of the country, access to education standards dropped tremendously. Many youth only have the basic skills to be part of a growing workforce. On top of this, many youth from rural regions of Myanmar come to the bustling capital of Yangon to find employment. With a lack of connections, resources, and training, they are left to fend for themselves.

Our Involvement

Inspired by the model of Friends International, Ms. Khin of Burma set out to support vulnerable youth and provide them with the education and training needed to succeed in the hospitality industry. To do this, she set up the LinkAge Training Restaurant. Now in partnership with Friends International, Planeterra provided funding and training to build out the hospitality program, while Friends International developed holistic and sustainable sources for social support such as housing, counselling and education for the students. Planterra provided training in health and hygiene, cooking techniques and child protection to LinkAge, as well as upgrading dining area chairs and tables to better accommodate guests. 

Linkage_Planeterra_1

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Senang Hati

August 21, 2020 planeterra Partners

Senang Hati

Ubud, Indonesia

Impact

The Senang Hati Foundation provides programs to develop self-confidence, physical and economic independence, and creates awareness for the rights of people who are differently-abled. The center provides skills training that enables members to become self-supporting through jobs related to hospitality, painting, sewing, and wood-working. Every year, 30 students benefit from the program, moving on to start their own businesses and families.

32
Differently-abled people benefiting
640
community members indirectly benefitting

Critical Need

Due to limited funding to support differently-abled people in Indonesia, nonprofit organizations like Senang Hati play a key role in empowering members of this community. In Bali, it is common for people who are differently-abled to be stigmatized as having bad karma. This cultural barrier is so strong that sometimes differently-abled children are hidden from society, leaving them without access to education and medical care, and further marginalized in society. Senang Hati is ultimately trying to change these attitudes and create an inclusive community for all.

Our Involvement

Senang Hati runs training programs for adults who are differently-abled in Bali to gain independence and confidence in the formal economy. Classes include arts, culture, wood-working, and hospitality training. Planeterra supported Senang Hati in renovating their “dream kitchen.” This kitchen is fully accessible with counters, sinks, shelves, and working spaces customized for those using mobility devices. Planeterra also linked Senang Hati with over 2000 travellers annually through our travel industry partners. Travellers enjoy a traditional Balinese lunch that is prepped, cooked, and served by the members at Senang Hati.

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Lusumpuko Women’s Club

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Lusumpuko Women’s Club

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Impact

The Lusumpuko Women’s Club, after pivoting from local catering to hosting international travellers for a traditional lunch, now uses their revenue to benefit the community of Victoria Falls as a whole. This includes a monthly lunch service, catered for the patients and healthcare workers at the local hospital, a garden project to provide produce for the community at a reasonable price, and a community fund to help cover funeral and burial costs. They also continue to grow their membership, providing opportunities for other women in their community. 

29
women employed
400
community members benefitting
Lusumpuko Women’s Club
Lusumpuko Women’s Club Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Critical Need

When Zimbabwe experienced the world’s worst case of inflation in 2008, many of the country’s inhabitants struggled to meet the basic needs of their families. Today, approximately 95% of the population of Zimbabwe is unemployed or partake in informal work on contracts or in subsistence farming. However, there is a growing movement for those with skills in trades to form cooperatives to create thriving businesses.

Despite a traditional gender disparity, many Zimbabwean women are forming cooperative groups to provide services like tailoring, catering, and animal husbandry. These groups are taking matters into their own hands – creating income for their families and communities while empowering other women to build and launch their own businesses.

Our Involvement

Planeterra partnered with the 29 members of the Lusumpuko Project to create a cooking demonstration and meal for the many travellers who visit Victoria Falls. Starting off as a cooperative rearing chickens and providing catering services for local churches and events, the group is thriving with the task of creating a traditional meal, much like their mothers and grandmothers used to prepare for international travellers. Planeterra gave the cooperative a grant to kick-start their traditional meal demonstration, to ensure the group launched the initiative successfully.

Not only are they rediscovering this cultural history, they are bonding as friends, and empowering one another. Harnessing the tourism industry in this small town will help the women of Lusumpuko to provide for their families.

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Princess Sewing & Laundry Co-op

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Princess Sewing & Laundry Co-op

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Impact

Through our partnership with the Princess Sewing & Laundry Co-op, the ladies have increased business acumen that has positively impacted their business. By expanding their marketing methods as well as embarking on a small-scale expansion, thanks to a Planeterra grant, the business has shown significant potential for growth. The increase of income into their households means that the ladies can now afford to pay school fees for their children while also leading above-average economic lives. The availability of increased income also means that the ladies can now continue with their studies as most of them only attained primary school levels of education. Doing so continues to open financial possibilities for these entrepreneurs, who can expand their business and potentially start new ones. With the high levels of unemployment in Zimbabwe, this partnership has also helped in job creation for other women in the community. Some of the members of the Princess Co-op who have a clothing shop, can now afford to hire extra help with their business, thus helping other families increase their income.

10
women employed
75
community members benefitting

Critical Need

When Zimbabwe experienced the world’s worst case of inflation in 2008, many of the country’s inhabitants struggled to meet the basic needs of their families. Today, approximately 95% of the population of Zimbabwe is unemployed or partake in informal work on contracts or in subsistence farming. However, there is a growing movement for those with skills in trades to form cooperatives to create thriving businesses. Despite a traditional gender disparity, many Zimbabwean women are forming cooperative groups to provide services like tailoring, catering, and animal husbandry. These groups are taking matters into their own hands – creating income for their families and communities while empowering other women to build and launch their own businesses. Even with these initiatives, many fail to make an adequate salary, and incomes range between $150 and $300 per month, per household. There is a great need, not only for capital investments in these cooperatives in order for them to grow, but also for business training and integration into the mainstream markets.

Our Involvement

In 2017, Planeterra identified Princess Sewing Cooperative, a women-run business that focuses on tailoring services in the Victoria Falls township of Mkhosana. Our partnership with them involved providing extensive business training as well as lobbying for the cooperative to become a laundry provider for local tour groups visiting Victoria Falls.

The cooperative was renamed as the Princess Sewing & Laundry Co-op, and their new customer base made it possible for the women in this group to increase their income while providing travellers with a laundry service at a reasonable cost.

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Ngadas Community Homestay - Java, Indonesia

Ngadas Community Homestay

August 21, 2020 Rhea Simms Partners

Ngadas Community Homestay

Java, Indonesia

Impact

Planeterra was able to secure over 1,500 customers to visit the Tengger tribe annually through our partnership with G Adventures. The program benefits 498 households with ripple effects supporting many micro-enterprises that include: local farmers, local guides, drivers, tour guides, and homestay hosts. The homestay program is located inside of Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park and allows the older generation to diversify their income; as well as creating opportunities to provide employment for the next generation of Tenngerese to stay in their local community to work. Travellers have a chance to meet and stay in a traditional Tengger home, and explore the surroundings on a community developed hike.

39
people directly impacted
156
community members benefitting
Ngadas Community Homestay
.

Critical Need

The village of Ngadas is home to 1,898 people in central Java. Ngadas is inhabited by the Tengger tribe, who claim to be the descendants of the Majapahit princes. This community acts as the protectors of the mountain, Mount Bromo Volcano, one of the most sacred sites in Indonesia. Over the past few decades, the Tengger people’s land has been subjected to illegal logging activities by external parties, and younger generations have begun relocating to urban areas. This has caused a loss of cultural retention in the area, leaving the older generation to sustain themselves. The Tenggerese people rely mostly on subsistence agriculture as their main source of income; with changes to climate in recent years, crop yields have also varied. Ngadas village had been introduced to homestay programs by the local government as part of a community tourism development program. Unfortunately, the homestays were left widely unvisited by travellers despite the community’s unique culture.

Our Involvement

Planeterra supported the Ngadas community to build their capacity and also provided a catalyst grant for infrastructure development. By working with the Tengger Tribe, we created a homestay and community tour program that was fully owned and managed by the Tengger people. Planeterra conducted a 6 month training program to improve locals’ skills and knowledge in guiding, meal preparation, healthy and safety, and homestay management. Further, a village walking tour and ancestor trek were designed with the community, and Planeterra provided a grant to improve the homestay facilities.

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AFER Association HomLunch

AFER Women’s Association Homlunch

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

AFER Women's Association Homlunch

M’Haya, Morocco

Impact

Through their partnership with Planeterra and the creation of AFER’s homlunch program, the association is able to inject more money into their community initiatives. This includes providing assistance to differently-abled individuals living in rural M’Haya, running a local ambulance service, empowering 19 literacy groups with lessons in French and Arabic, and five sewing cooperatives for rural women.

9
women directly employed
54
community members benefitting

Critical Need

Over the years there has been significant progress in support for women’s rights in Morocco. Women are being welcomed into the community decision-making process, and are receiving increased access to education. However, despite these advancements, rural women and girls still face challenges including: higher school drop out rates, high maternal mortality due to a lack of access to health care, domestic violence, and discrimination in society. Organizations that are promoting women’s rights, gender equality, and access into the formal economy are the way forward.

Our Involvement

Planeterra provided funding for the first hospitality program run by local partner AFER (Association Des Femmes et Enfants Ruraux) to develop the skills of rural women in Morocco. Planeterra helped AFER to develop the training program, provide funds to renovate their kitchen and dining area, provide kitchen equipment and resources, as well funding to outfit the administrative space with air conditioners and fans.

Planeterra also connected this new hospitality program to more than 3,000 travellers from their partners at G Adventures. Travellers visit the rural village of M’Haya for the AFER homlunch, and receive a warm welcome from a group of five women who serve up a delicious traditional lunch. This partnership helps support the long-term job development of women in rural Morocco, with additional funds supporting health and education programs for a network of over 700 women and children.

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